《The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits》
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
After a night of heavy snow, all the world was a field of white.
The stove where the medicine was simmering made a "gululu" sound. Two young servant girls were in charge of watching over it. They stood beside each other, muttering. Suddenly, two strong and powerful servants came in. They took away the medicine pot without saying a word.
"Hey! What are you doing? That''s the eldest young master''s medicine!" The younger servant girl grabbed the hand of the other girl and chased after them.
As they got closer and closer to the main courtyard, she didn''t notice the momentary expression of panic on the face of the girl behind her.
In a bedroom with closed windows and doors, a young man draped in snow-white fox fur half-reclined against the head of the bed, coughing asionally. Long, dark hair fell past his cheeks, and his skin was so white it was almost transparent.
"Are you feeling better? It''s been coldtely, so you should wear more clothes." The Zhenbei Marquis heaved a sigh of relief. His eldest son had finally woken up.
If something happened to his eldest son at a time like this, the marquis and his family wouldn''t be able to endure the consequences.
"Father doesn''t have to pretend. There aren''t any outsiders here. Does Father truly not know the cause of my illness?" As the young man spoke in anguid tone, he gave the Zhenbei Marquis a sidelong nce. "What''s more, who can say whether Father worries more about me or about taking the me? I''m afraid you''re the only one who knows."
"Shen Yu!"
"Yes?" Shen Yu provoked the Zhenbei Marquis'' anger with his words, but he didn''t care.
In his previous life, Shen Yu would have been worried about maintaining their father-son rtionship, but this was his new life, and Shen Yu wasn''t going to wrong himself for anyone.
"I know why you''re angry, but you have to go to the pce whether you want to or not!" The Zhenbei Marquis barely managed to suppress his anger and began persuading his son. "Father knows you don''t want to do this. If it was anything else, I''d let you decide, but the decree is from His Majesty himself."
Shen Yu frowned. No matter how grand and noble the marquis'' words sounded, they couldn''t hide the absurd fact that he was sending his only legitimate son and heir into the pce harem to secure his political future.
Shang JunLin, the emperor of Da Huan, had been on the throne for seven years, and the harem had been vacant the entire time. The ministers urged the emperor to ept one beauty after another, but Shang JunLin just ignored them. The ministers had lost all hope. Then, one day at court, Shang JunLin suddenly issued a decree ordering the son of the Zhenbei Marquis to enter the harem.
After Shang JunLin ascended the throne, his behavior became more and more violent, and no one wanted to risk their luck. The Zhenbei Marquis didn''t dare ask any questions. He just hurried back to his house while his colleagues looked on with eyes filled with envy or schadenfreude.
Aside from Shen Yu, the Zhenbei Marquis had another son, the child of a concubine. Although love between men was widely epted in Da Huan, there was no certainly no tradition where the eldest legitimate son would be married off as a wife. ording to reason, the marquis should have sent the concubine''s son to enter the pce. However, the child''s mother, Madam Ru, blew a pillow wind in the ear of the Zhenbei Marquis and persuaded him to send Shen Yu to the pce instead.
No one thought the Zhenbei Marquis would actually send his only legitimate son into the harem. When Shen Yu was informed of the news, he was so angry he fainted on the spot.
Shen Yu remembered when this happened in his previous life. At the time, he refused to ept the Zhenbei Marquis'' tantly entric decision. He hatched a n to make Madam Ru''s plot backfire. In the end, the person who entered the pce was his half-brother. But now Shen Yu was reborn.
The Zhenbei Marquis was still talking. The marquis knew how difficult it was for Shen Yu to ept his decision. It was true the emperor''s inner courtyard was empty, but the emperor''s mercurial temper and murderous nature were equally well-known. Shen Yu was the eldest di son of the marquis. If he didn''t enter the harem, he had a bright future ahead of him. On the other hand, if he entered the pce he might have the emperor''s favor all to himself, but no one really knew what the emperor was thinking.
After listening for a while, Shen Yu felt more and more bored. Did the Zhenbei Marquis really not understand how dangerous it was to enter the pce? No, he simply wasn''t interested. Compared to the marquis'' own future, what did he care about a son he hadn''t paid attention to since childhood?
"I know," he interrupted the Zhenbei Marquis. "Father goes on and on just to convince me to obediently enter the pce. Fine, but I have a request."
The Zhenbei Marquis didn''t think Shen Yu would give in so quickly. For a moment he was stunned. Finally he said, "Go ahead."
"One of the maids in my courtyard has dirty hands and feet. Since Father is here, why don''t you handle it for me." Shen Yu was lying in bed, and his tone was cryptic.
"If there''s a problem with your maid, just deal with it yourself. Why ask me to do it?" The Zhenbei Marquis didn''t understand how the topic suddenly jumped to dealing with a servant girl. He was a little confused.
His eldest son had always been assertive and handled such things by himself. This was the first time he''de to his father to help. For a moment, the marquis'' mood was a little uncertain.
It involves Madam Ru. Of course you have to deal with it, Shen Yu thought to himself. Just because he chose to enter the pce in this life didn''t mean he was going to ignore all the things Madam Ru and her son had done.
"Here is your medicine, young master." A servant boy came in.
The smell of the medicine filled the air. The Zhenbei Marquis frowned and stepped aside to let the boy bring the medicine to Shen Yu. "Take your medicine first. We''ll talk about the restter."
Shen Yu had been in poor health since childhood, and it wasmon for him to take medicine. When he smelled the medicine he epted it without changing expression. He picked up the spoon and stirred it gently.
The Zhenbei Marquis frowned more tightly when he saw Shen Yu hold the medicine without drinking it. The marquis was about to say something, but Shen Yu put down his spoon.
The spoon rapped against the medicine bowl with a clear sound. Shen Yu''s ice-cold voice sounded at the same time. "Bring in the people outside."
Two servant girls were brought in, and a servant boy was holding a medicine pot in his hand.
The Zhenbei Marquis didn''t know what to think. "What''s this about?"
"Father might as well ask them to tell you what they''ve done." He looked at the people kneeling on the floor with a half-smile.
The Zhenbei Marquis looked at the two servant girls. Both of them were young. The younger girl''s face was full of confusion, while the expression on the other girl''s face was a little intriguing.
It was fearful, stiff, and uncertain.
The Zhenbei Marquis'' face turned serious. "Tell me, what did you do?"
He seemed to be asking two people, but his gaze fell mostly on the servant girl who looked nervous.
This servant girl, Chun Yu, bowed her head and swept a nce at the young man half-reclining on the bed. She met his unfeeling eyes and looked away in panic.
"This, this ve didn''t mean to do anything. It was Madam Ru who threatened this ve''s family and told this ve to put something in the eldest young master''s medicine." Chun Yu continually kowtowed as she spoke. "This ve didn''t do it willingly. Begging the lord marquis and the young master, please spare this ve''s life."
The Zhenbei Marquis couldn''t help looking back at Shen Yu. His son looked unsurprised by this result. His eyes were half-closed and his expression couldn''t be seen clearly.
Turning back, the Zhenbei Marquis said in a stern voice, "Do you know that ndering your mistress is a felony! You said Madam Ru threatened you to drug the young master? Do you have proof?"
"This ve wouldn''t dare lie," said Chun Yu, whose forehead was bleeding. Trembling, she took out a jade bracelet from an inner pocket and held it up with both hands. "This is what Madam Ru gave to this ve."
The Zhenbei Marquis inclined his head, and the attendant behind him took the bracelet and presented it respectfully to the marquis.
It was a jade bracelet of superior quality, far from the kind of thing a servant girl like Chun Yu could afford. The Zhenbei Marquis had sharp eyes. He recognized it at a nce. This jade bracelet had once been worn by Madam Ru.
"If Father doesn''t believe it, ask a doctor to test the medicine," Shen Yu said, seeing the Zhenbei Marquis'' hesitation.
Since he was going to make trouble, Shen Yu had naturally prepared in advance. Madam Ru had ordered this servant girl to y tricks with his medicine more than once or twice. By the time he learned about it in his previous life, his health was mostly destroyed. After his rebirth, the first thing Shen Yu did was order someone to find Chun Yu''s family, which was under Madam Ru''s control, and then waited for Chun Yu to make a move.
As for how he got Chun Yu to betray Madam Ru, Chun Yu was willing to drug him for the sake of her family, so he was naturally able to turn her against Madam Ru with the same leverage.
The moment the Zhenbei Marquis saw the bracelet, he reached a conclusion. He looked at his eldest son and thought that he didn''t really recognize him.
"What do you want?"
"Isn''t that a question Father should answer? This son just hopes you''ll handle it impartially. This son will soon go to the pce. Father doesn''t want his son to enter the pce with a grudge against the marquis'' residence, right?" Shen Yu tossed the question back.
The Zhenbei Marquis had doted on Madam Ru for more than ten years. Shen Yu wanted to see how the Zhenbei Marquis would choose when his future was at stake.
"By the way, Father, don''t keep me waiting. Your son hopes you''ll give a satisfactory answer before it''s time for me to enter the pce." Shen Yu looked at the Zhenbei Marquis with a faint smile. His body was obviously sickly and weak, but his smile was chilling.
There were still more than ten days before he''d enter the pce. Shen Yu didn''t want the matter to drag to a standstill after he left. Because he upied the position of eldest son, Madam Ru had yed a lot of tricks on him in secret over the years. If it weren''t for Shen Yu''s vignce, she would have seeded in removing him long ago.
The Zhenbei Marquis gazed soberly at Shen Yu. For a moment, he thought he hardly knew his own son anymore. He pressed down his thoughts and nodded. "If this matter truly is rted to Madam Ru, this marquis will not tolerate it."
The Zhenbei Marquis left with the two servant girls and the medicine pot. Not long after, Shen Yu got the news that the Zhenbei Marquis had secretly invited a doctor.
"Why did the young masterpletely give the matter of Madam Ru to the lord marquis? The young master knows very well how the lord marquis treats Madam Ru"
Everyone in the marquis'' residence knew the Zhenbei Marquis spoiled Madam Ru, and if she asked for the stars he wouldn''t give her the moon. If it weren''t for thews in Da Huan that forbade concubines from ascending to a higher position, the post of Madam Marquis wouldn''t still be vacant.
This was the reason Madam Ru regarded Shen Yu as such a thorn in her flesh. He couldn''t say how much he''d suffered in secret as a child because of her.
He slightly raised his head and let the servant girl tie his cloak. Shen Yu held a hand warmer in his arms and said softly, "No matter how much the Zhenbei Marquis dotes on Madam Ru, he won''t be confused this time."
After wrapping himself tightly, Shen Yu went out the door.
"Shen Yu!"
Shen Yu looked back. When he saw the face of the visitor, he was in a trance for a moment.
The man was dressed in white and had an outstanding appearance. He looked much more youthful than Shen Yu remembered. In a daze Shen Yu watched as the man came closer and closer. A hundred different emotions flooded his heart.
This was the lover he''d chased in his previous life. Shen Yu sacrificed everything for him, but in the end he discovered it was nothing but a scam. The deep affection was fake, the heartfelt love was fake. Shen Yu would never forget the falseness and wretchedness the other man disyed when the plot was revealed.
Yes, who would have thought Shen Yu could be so crazy? He wove a tightly-knitted scheme without a single w, only to turn everything around at thest moment. On the eve of the man''s ascension to the throne, he dragged them both into the abyss.
"Why didn''t you tell me about something so important?"
The man in white looked gentle, and his eyes revealed just the right amount of concern. When Shen Yu saw it now, he thought it was funny. This man, this dignified prince, didn''t hesitate to lower his dignity to befriend him, and tenderly wove a of deception in the name of love to ensnare him. No wonder Shen Yu fell for it headfirst in his previous life.
However
Since this man hade to his door, he wouldn''t just let him go.
TL Notes:
Hello! I had some free time so I decided to start tranting this. I haven''t decided how many chapters to do. If you like it (or have other feedback) make sure to let me know, thanks~ ()
love between men was widely epted from a southerly wind prevailed An allusion to homosexuality
shu son son of a concubine. Historically, the shu children weren''t automatically entitled to an inheritance, which maybe exins some of the scheming
eldest di son eldest son of the official wife
di son son born of the official wife
(make) the plot backfire try to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice; go for wool ande back shorn
dirty hands and feet sticky-fingered; questionable in money matters
asked for the stars, wouldn''t give the moon An idiom which means one does whatever the other person wants
hand warmer An earthenware hot-water bottle
He wove a tightly-knitted scheme without a single w The phrase means "the most well-calcted/tightly-knitted ns will contain an oversight" (adding means itcked any oversights) TY to waterlemon for rifying this part
Handy mnemonic for "shu" vs. "di":
"A shu son is lowly like the shoes on your feet. Child of a concubine"
"A di son is the real deal. Child of the legal wife"
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
eldest young master d shoy
Shen Yu Shn Y Our MC
Zhenbei Marquis Zhnbi hu MC''s father''s title. Zhenbei means something like "guard the north"
His Majesty, Your Majesty bxi
Da Huan The name of the empire
Shang JunLin Shng Jn Ln The emperor. Our ML
emperor hungd
Madam Ru R frn Apparently is also another word for "old concubine" or "mistress", but she isn''t given another name and it''s more convenient to call her "Madam Ru" than saying "the madam" or "the concubine" over and over
marquis'' residence hu f The official seat or residence of the marquis
Chun Yu
lord marquis hu y
this ve nb ve, servant, servant girl, your servant
prince wngy A grown-up prince with his own pce also has the title of "king"
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Chapter 2
Chapter 2
There were some things that Shen Yu didn''t know until he died.
Like the fact he was only a stand-in.
After Shen Yu died, he happened to encounter a text. At the time, he was trapped in a gray, featureless world. Bored, he began to flip through the only thing that existed in the space aside from himself.
It was a book, and many of the words were missing strokes. Even though Shen Yu had to guess some of their meanings, after reading the entire text, a thousand curse words flooded his mind.
In the script, he was a spiteful viin who did all sorts of evil things and tried to interfere with the rtionship between the two protagonists. The protagonist shou was his shu brother, Shen QingRan, who originally entered the tyrant''s harem, and the protagonist gong was Shang JunYue, the King of Yue.
Shen QingRan was a transmigrator who possessed the knowledge ofter generations. Before he had a chance to show off his abilities, he was sent into the tyrant''s harem by the viin Shen Yu. Shen QingRan, who was parted from his lover and tormented by the tyrant, underwent a dramatic personality change. Later, after enduring all sorts of things, he finally managed to flee the pce and reunite with his lover, but he found someone else standing beside the King of Yuehis old enemy, Shen Yu. On the eve of the king''s ession to the throne, Shen QingRan quietly separated Shen Yu from the King of Yue and convinced the king to end his life. Then they lived the rest of their beautiful lives together.
Of course, that was only what happened in the book. In Shen Yu''s previous life, he was the one who killed the King of Yue.
The book was told from Shen QingRan''s point of view, and a lot of it was different from what Shen Yu remembered. For example, in order to help the King of Yue seize power, Shen Yu soaked his hands in blood, and the King of Yue treated him like a substitute for his real lover. But Shen Yu had no idea when he became a substitute.
When he thought that Shang JunYue looked at him as a substitute for his half-brother, Shen Yu was disgusted, and thest feelings he had for the King of Yue vanished.
Seeing the King of Yue again, Shen Yu lost hisposure for only a moment. He blinked his eyes and pretended to be unhappy. "Even if I tell you, it won''t change anything. Besides, if I don''t go, Shen QingRan will have to. Maybe you can think of a way to send my dear brother instead of me."
With that, Shen Yu gazed at the King of Yue with keen interest.
If the story recounted in that book was urate, by now the King of Yue had met Shen QingRan, and the first hints of love were blossoming between them. Shen Yu wanted to verify whether it was true.
The King of Yue was silent for a moment. Then, in a pampering, slightly helpless tone, he said, "If I had a way, I would never let you enter the pce."
He avoided Shen Yu''s suggestion.
Shen Yu hadn''t expected him toe up with anything. If the King of Yue really had that kind of ability, Shen Yu wouldn''t have had to expend so much blood, sweat, and tears to push him to the throne in his previous life, and he wouldn''t have ended up in a dead end despite all his efforts.
Even if the King of Yue hadn''t stabbed him in the back in his previous life, Shen Yu wouldn''t have lived long.
"Since you can''t do anything about it, why should Ie find you?" Shen Yu tilted his head and appeared puzzled.
The King of Yue kept getting the feeling Shen Yu had a barbed tongue today. He thought the other man was in a bad mood andforted him gently, "It''s not certain yet. There will definitely be a way."
As for Shen Yu entering the pce, of course the King of Yue didn''t want that. He came to the capital in disguise to develop contacts, and Shen Yu was the most capable person he''d found. He didn''t want to give up a valuable asset unless he had to. It wasn''t that he hadn''t thought of sending Shen QingRan to the pce instead, but he couldn''t reveal his true identity. If his presence was discovered, all his ns woulde to nothing.
Indeed, the King of Yue hadn''t revealed his true identity to Shen Yu, and Shen Yu didn''t intend to expose him just yet. It wouldn''t be fun to reveal it too early, right?
Shen Yu lowered his eyes, hiding his palm-sized face in his fur cor. It gave him a charming, delicate air. When the King of Yue saw it, he couldn''t help but step forward, stretching out his hand to touch that captivating face.
Shen Yu tilted his head to the side, avoiding the King of Yue''s touch.
The King of Yue was stunned for a moment, coughed a little, and withdrew his hand as if nothing had happened. He wanted to say something, but when he saw Shen Yu''s small face looking off to the side with a slightly stubborn expression, he swallowed back his words.
He thought Shen Yu was worried about entering the pce. The King of Yue was surprised when the emperor told the Zhenbei Marquis to send his son to the harem. If it happenedter, he wouldn''t be afraid to protect one of his people, but right now he was constrained everywhere.
Avoiding the touch of the King of Yue was apletely unconscious action on Shen Yu''s part. After dodging away, Shen Yu was toozy to guess the King of Yue''s thoughts. Now that he''d been interrupted by this visitor, his n to take a leisurely walk was in ruins.
Since he was unhappy, Shen Yu didn''t mind making the person responsible even more unhappy. He looked back at the King of Yue and said slowly, "His Majesty''s harem is empty. When I enter the pce, I''ll be the only one to receive his favor, right? His Majesty must like me too, don''t you think? Otherwise why would he appoint me and only me to the pce after so many years?"
Shen Yu said this deliberately. As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the face of the man opposite. Sure enough, he saw the anger the man tried to hide before thest of his words fell.
In his previous life, Shen Yu interacted with the King of Yue a great deal. One might say he understood the king''s thinking eight times out of ten. The King of Yue had a high opinion of himself and regarded the throne of Da Huan as already in his pocket. He couldn''t endure others saying anything good about the current emperor in his presence, let alone someone he considered his own property.
"Ah Yu, I know you''re not going there of your own free will. It makes me sad too." Of course he would be sad. He was losing such a useful chess piece. The King of Yue didn''t want his previous efforts to go to waste, so all he could do was try to calm the person down. "No matter what happens, Ah Yu, my feelings for you will never change."
As he spoke, the King of Yue tried to take Shen Yu''s hand. When Shen Yu avoided him once again, he was confused. "Ah Yu?"
"Who said I''m not willing?" Shen Yu looked at the man standing so close to him, and his eyes contained a burning emotion that couldn''t be concealed. "His Majesty is so powerful and brave. I''ve admired His Majesty a long time. Now I can enter the pce to serve him, and it''s all I could hope for. How could I be reluctant?"
Hearing Shen Yu''s words, the king could hardly maintain the gentle expression on his face. " If that''s what you think, it''s naturally for the best."
"Since I''m going to enter the pce, we should keep some distance. You don''t have toe to the marquis'' residence to see me in the future," Shen Yu said, cutting off the King of Yue''s escape routes without directly saying "I''m breaking off our rtionship".
After being trounced several times in a row, the King of Yue''s face was ugly. He hadn''te to Shen Yu for this kind of result. He originally wanted to appease the person. If Shen Yu agreed to convey messages for him in the pce, that would be best. He was extremely unwilling to give up a chess piece in such a way.
"Ah Yu, do you have to be like this?"
Shen Yu suddenly recalled his previous life. He''d just fallen for the King of Yue, and when he learned the Zhenbei Marquis was going to send him to the pce, he was desperate and angry and fell seriously ill. What was the King of Yue doing at the time? Sad to say, he was busy developing a rtionship with Shen Yu''s brother, the transmigrator, whispering sweet nothings in his ear.
Looking at the man who was acting so affectionate right now, it felt like such a joke.
If Shen Yu remembered correctly, the King of Yue disguised himself to enter the capital this time because the young son of the He family had been imprisoned for offending the Son of Heaven. In Shen Yu''s previous life, the King of Yue rescued Young Master He and won the unconditional support of the He family and the forces behind them. It yed a decisive role in several important battles.
Shen Yu wasn''t impressed with the He family, but he was very interested in the forces behind them. Of course, he was even more interested in how to make sure the King of Yue never received their help.
After noting to himself what happened with Young Master He, Shen Yu lost interest in continuing the conversation. He said coldly, "It seems that it''s none of your business how I am. And I don''t like the name Ah Yu''. Don''t call me that in the future."
You don''t dislike the name, you dislike that it''s me who''s calling you that, right? The King of Yue was angry. "Ah Yu, no, Young Master Shen, are you trying to distance yourself from me?"
"Hmm" Shen Yu pretended to be embarrassed and nced at the King of Yue. "I think it''s better if I don''t say it."
"What do you mean?" The King of Yue had a bad feeling.
"In fact, if you didn''t look one or two parts like His Majesty, I wouldn''t have paid any attention to you."
Shen Yu said this deliberately. In his past and present livesbined, he had little contact with the emperor, let alone deep love for the person. But he still wore an expression on his face like "You''re the one who asked, so don''t me me" to make the king believe it.
Blinking his eyes, Shen Yu continued, "Well, you know I''m entering the pce. As for you and me"
The King of Yue was so angry he almost fainted. What was that? Now that you can go into the pce to see the emperor, you don''t need me anymore? After taking a deep breath, he tried to calm down. The King of Yue warned himself over and over not to waste his previous effort.
He tried to make himself rx but couldn''t manage to do it. When he thought he was nothing but that man''s substitute, even if there was just a one in ten thousand chance it was true, he couldn''t calm himself at all.
"You''re just saying that, aren''t you? You''re angry with me and said that intentionally."
"I intentionally said what?" Shen Yu interrupted him impatiently. "Why else do you think that I, the son of a marquis, would befriend you, a man with no background, and apany you everywhere? Don''t say it''s because we share the same interests. There are a lot of people who want to share interests with me."
After all, Shen Yu was the only legitimate son of the Zhenbei Marquis, and he had looks as well as talent. There were countless people trying to befriend him. Why would this man alone catch his eye?
The King of Yue didn''t want to believe it, but once he followed Shen Yu''s train of thought, the more he considered it, the more he thought it was true. What''s more, he was the current emperor''s half-brother. They had simr eyebrows and eyes.
So in Shen Yu''s opinion, he was just a substitute for the emperor?!
TL Notes:
many of the words were missing strokes This means the text was written in simplified Chinese characters instead of traditional
shou The uke or bottom
gong The seme or top
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Shen QingRan
Shang JunYue
King of Yue Yu wng
Ah Yu A nickname for MC
He family H ji
Young Master He H xio gngz An archaic English equivalent for gongzi'' might be Childe'', meaning the son of a noble or official
Young Master Shen Shn gngz
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Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Shen Yu didn''t care howrge a psychological shadow he left on the King of Yue. He returned to his room in good spirits, and maintained his good mood even when he met Shen QingRan on the way.
After handing over Madam Ru''s case to the Zhenbei Marquis, Shen Yu didn''t sit idly by. He ordered someone to secretly pass arge quantity of evidence to the Zhenbei Marquis.
Shen Yu knew the Zhenbei Marquis would protect Madam Ru. It would be difficult to deal with herpletely with this matter alone, but that didn''t matter. He had a different purpose in mind.
Shen Yu ate and drank well, and after a few days, hisplexion was much better than when he first woke up. The Zhenbei Marquis took away a group of people who served in Shen Yu''s courtyard and soon sent another batch, followed by a steady stream of the highest quality clothes and useful things. Regardless of what was sent, Shen Yu epted it all.
The new servants must have received orders from the Zhenbei Marquis to serve Shen Yu wholeheartedly. Given the situation, he was now being given the treatment rightfully due the legitimate son of the marquis'' residence.
As the day he would enter the pce drew nearer and nearer, the pce sent its own people to serve him, and they gradually took over things around Shen Yu. These people worked in silence and never told Shen Yu what to do. Shen Yu was happy to remove the Zhenbei Marquis'' people, so he agreed to let the pce servants stay in the courtyard.
It must be said that these people were much easier to handle than the underlings of the marquis'' residence. Shen Yu enjoyed seeing the marquis'' people slumped over in defeat.
During this period, the King of Yue didn''t give up. He quietly sent Shen Yu several letters. Shen Yu didn''t even look at them. He threw them directly into the brazier.
In the bright light of the fire, the invisible shackles burned away. His dark eyes were tinted with warm orange light, and the corners of his mouth hooked with unknown meaning.
"Young Master" The servant boy who pushed the door open saw the handsome figure sitting by the brazier, and from the bottom of his heart he somehow felt a chill.
Shen Yu frowned. "What is it?"
"The Lord Marquis asks you to please go to the main hall." The boy bowed his head and didn''t dare to look directly at the seated young man.
The young servant was handpicked by the Zhenbei Marquis and sent to Shen Yu. The Zhenbei Marquis instructed him to take good care of the young master and neglect nothing while serving him. After he came, he found that the eldest young master who was usually overlooked in the mansion was nothing at all like he imagined.
Shen Yu pped his hands and stood up. "Let''s go."
There weren''t many people in the main hall. After Shen Yu went in, the Zhenbei Marquis waved his hand to dismiss some of the servants, leaving only those whom he trusted.
Shen Yu lifted his eyes and saw with a nce that Madam Ru had an ugly face. She stood below the Zhenbei Marquis with her son, Shen QingRan, whose expression was unsure.
"Father asked me toe. Does that mean there''s already a result?" Shen Yu slowly said under three pairs of eyes.
"Somewhat." The Zhenbei Marquis nodded. He''d found out the truth long before today, but he dragged out the matter while deciding what to do. Madam Ru was his beloved concubine, and Shen QingRan was the son he had high hopes for. He didn''t want to leave a stain on either of them.
"I brought you here because I want Madam Ru to apologize to you properly. Whatpensation do you want?"
Shen Yu raised his eyebrows. "Father wants me to turn such a big thing into a small one?"
"Madam Ru didn''t do it on purpose." The Zhenbei Marquis sighed. "She was influenced by someone else too. The person behind it will be handed over to you. Since she hasn''t made such a mistake before, let''s forget it this once. You''ll soon enter the harem, and it''s not a good time to spread negative stories to the pce."
"This concubine knows she was wrong. This concubine was momentarily obsessed and almost harmed the eldest young master. I''ll pray for blessings for the eldest young master every day." Madam Ru said. The Zhenbei Marquis wanted to hand over the most capable maid at her side. Madam Ru hated it, but she didn''t dare show the slightest inkling on her face. She gritted her teeth so hard they almost cracked.
"There''s no need to pray for me for blessings. I''m afraid I can afford them." Shen Yu smiled, but the smile didn''t reach his eyes. "What if I tell you I don''t wish to ept this result, Father?
"Don''t be in such a hurry to dismiss me. Whether the madam was tricked into identally'' doing wrong, I think we both know in our hearts. I handed this matter over to Father, trusting that he would act as my father. Now it seems my father doesn''t deserve this son''s trust."
When the Zhenbei Marquis heard this, his temple throbbed. Why hadn''t he noticed when his eldest son became so eloquent and stubborn?
Madam Ru could barely hide the distorted expression on her face, and an rm bell kept ringing in her mind. This child left by thete Madam Marquis needed re-evaluation.
She''d always regarded Shen Yu as a roadblock to her son inheriting the marquis'' title, and all her efforts had gone to prevent the marquis'' only di son from officially bing the heir. This time, when she heard that Shen Yu would be sent to the pce, she felt that heaven itself was helping her. But before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the people she''d nted in Shen Yu''s courtyard brought back bad news.
Fortunately, this was followed by additional news that Shen Yu handed everything over to the Zhenbei Marquis. She secretlyughed at Shen Yu''s navet, then turned around and figured out a way to wriggle out of the me.
Sure enough, the Zhenbei Marquis only cared about saving face. He didn''t want to make a big deal out of it. He epted her excuse and put the me on someone else.
Everything was going smoothly, and Shen Yu seemed to have no intention of intervening. Although it was painful to lose a maid who was her confidant, she would definitely find a way to take revenge.
She''d already lowered herself a great deal. But unexpectedly, Shen Yu not only didn''t appreciate it, he didn''t even seem to have much respect for the Zhenbei Marquis.
As she looked at Shen Yu''s half-smiling eyes, Madam Ru found she couldn''t read him at all, a man who was ten years younger than her.
Shen Yu''s attitude was careless. The Zhenbei Marquis was clearly biased towards his favourite, but there wasn''t a trace of anger in Shen Yu''s eyes. It was like he''d known the oue long ago. He stood there as if it were just a formality.
What exactly was his purpose?
That was the moment Madam Ru began to feel some panic. She thought the reason Shen Yu agreed to let the Zhenbei Marquis look into the matter was because he trusted and admired his father. Now it seemed that wasn''t the case at all. The reason he handed it over was because he didn''t care. He didn''t care about someone tampering with his medicine. Let alone the Zhenbei Marquis, he didn''t care about the entire marquis'' residence.
"Lord Marquis" Madam Ru couldn''t help but step back. She grabbed the sleeve of the Zhenbei Marquis and stared at Shen Yu in fear.
Aware of her frightened eyes, Shen Yu''s smile widened.
How funny. He hadn''t done anything yet, and she was already frightened.
Frowning, the Zhenbei Marquis patted the back of Madam Ru''s hand soothingly. "What exactly are you saying? What happened to everything you learned from studying the books of the sages for so many years? No matter what you say, Madam Ru is your elder. You can''t just make up nonsense."
"My elder?" Shen Yu sneered. "Let''s not talk about me speaking nonsense. She''s merely a concubine. I''m afraid she''ll never be entitled to the word elder'' from me."
In Da Huan, there was a clear distinction between di and shu children. The status of the official wife and her children was much higher than that of concubines and their children. The Zhenbei Marquis'' principal wife died early, and he never married another. He might have given Madam Ru the power to manage the courtyard, but thew was thew. No matter how much the Zhenbei Marquis favored her, he could never install her as the official wife.
Shen Yu''s words directly hit Madam Ru''s sore spot. Because she originally entered the house as a concubine, she could never rid herself of that status. Her children were born inferior to others. She might consider her child no worse than Shen Yu, but Shen Yu was of good birth, and that wouldn''t change. Her son would never rise higher than him in this lifetime.
The darkness in her eyes shed, and when Madam Ru looked up again, she was already crying. "This concubine is to me. The marquis and the eldest young master mustn''t quarrel because of this concubine. Since the eldest young master is certain this concubine did it, I ept it. Don''t make things difficult for the lord marquis."
As soon as his wife said this, the anger on the Zhenbei Marquis'' face deepened. "Shen Yu, you have no respect for your elders! You''re really bing more and more unruly!"
"Disrespecting my elders?" Shen Yu replied impolitely. "What if my elders are covering up a crime?
"Madam Ru''s skills are truly impressive. With just a few words she persuades the marquis to defend her, regardless of right or wrong. Will she really seed? Will the lord marquis drop the matter so easily?"
"Don''t talk that way about my mother!" Shen QingRan finally digested what was going on, and when he heard Shen Yu''s words, he couldn''t help but cut in.
"You have no right to speak here," Shen Yu gave Shen QingRan a cold nce. "Besides, except for the main wife, concubines can only be addressed as aunt''. Don''t get it wrong again."
When Shen QingRan met Shen Yu''s icy gaze he shivered. He mumbled a few words and didn''t dare to open his mouth.
Shen Yu found a chair and sat down, then slowly and methodically straightened the cuffs of his sleeves. "Let''s get to the point. The lord marquis doesn''t want the entire town to hear that his concubine attempted to murder me before I enter the pce, right?"
The Zhenbei Marquis finally realized that Shen Yu was no longer under his control. After a few days Shen Yu would enter the pce. He might use the marquis of anything. The Zhenbei Marquis couldn''t do anything about it, but he also didn''t want to sacrifice a person he valued. He fought back his anger and asked, "What exactly do you want?"
"It''s a shame that father wasn''t this sensible sooner, or things wouldn''t have gotten so ugly." Shen Yu lowered his sleeves. "Since Madam Ru is so easily confused to do wrong, it must be difficult for her to manage the great marquis'' mansion. Father should choose someone else."
The Zhenbei Marquis hadn''t married another official wife, but there were quite a few other concubines in the back courtyard. Madam Ru had always been the only one in charge. If she fell, the harem of the marquis'' residence would suddenly be an exciting ce.
"Also, although my mother is gone, I don''t want anyone to act in her name. Until Father marries a new official wife, there can be only one wife in the marquis'' residence, and that''s my mother. Father, do you understand? If Father wants a new wife, I''ll mention it to His Majesty when I enter the pce."
How cruel.
Madam Ru stumbled. She never thought the quiet di son of the marquis'' residence could be so powerful. In a few words he destroyed more than ten years of her efforts in the marquis'' residence. Without the right to control the household and the position of actingdy, what was the difference between her and all the other concubines?
So this was his n.
Madam Ru gazed at the man she''d loved for half her life. The expectation in her eyes nearly overflowed.
"What does Father think?"
What else could he do? The Zhenbei Marquis had no choice at all. He avoided Madam Ru''s eyes. "You don''t have to worry about your father remarrying."
Agreeing to Shen Yu''s request.
Madam Ru''s body went limp. She looked up nkly, just in time to meet Shen Yu''s meaningful gaze, and it dawned on her that today might only be the beginning.
In the imperial study, a man dressed in imperial robes, with a face like a crown of jade, half-supported his head with his hand as he listened to the eunuch give the report provided by the spies.
After reading the letter, Meng Chang, the Great Court Eunuch, couldn''t help but chuckle. "The eldest young master of the Zhenbei Marquis'' family is an interesting person."
The man said lightly, "Well, he can certainly make a scene."
There was no trace of disapproval in his tone. Meng Gonggong noted this and said, "When the young master arrives, the pce will be much more lively."
The man responded indifferently.
After reading a while, Meng Gonggong stopped. "Oh, this"
The emperor opened his eyes. "What?"
Meng Gonggong hesitated, then presented the secret letter to the man.
The man took the letter and scanned through it, ten lines at a nce. His expression became subtle.
The letter said that the eldest son of the Zhenbei Marquis had admired him for a long time, so much that he even sought out a substitute that resembled him.
TL Notes:
( )
regardless of right or wrong not distinguishing red-green or ck-white (idiom) / not to distinguish between right and wrong
gonggong gnggng husband''s father / grandpa / eunuch Amon form of address for eunuchs
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Great Court Eunuch d tijin Alternatively: Great Eunuch
Meng Chang
Meng Gonggong
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Chapter 4
Chapter 4
The Zhenbei Marquis did what he said. From that day on, Madam Ru''s privileges were withdrawn one by one. The other concubines vaguely heard rumors and didn''t dare to bother Shen Yu.
In hisst few days at the marquis'' residence, Shen Yu had noints.
The only surprise came three days before he was supposed to enter the harem. The pce issued a decree to seal Shen Yu as a noble monarch, something which had no parallel in his previous life.
Shen Yu calmly epted the decree along with various stares filled with delight, envy, jealousy, and resentment. The eunuch who came to announce it deliberately ttered him and said a lot ofplimentary things.
"The lord marquis has raised such a good son. More blessings are still toe."
Male-male love wasmon in Da Huan, and there was an existing system of titles for men who entered the imperial harem. Below the empress, the highest rank was noble monarch. In the eyes of the public, the eldest di son of the Zhenbei Marquis'' family had ascended to the heavens in a single step.
The Zhenbei Marquis'' face wore a proud smile, but there wasn''t a trace ofughter in his heart. If only he''d known before the incident with Madam Ru that his eldest son would receive such an honor. He didn''t know how joyful he would have beenbut now he was mostly anxious.
Shen Yu''s attitude was simply too hard to predict.
Along with the imperial edict, the pce sent all kinds of rewards. As there was no proper wife in charge of the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence, everything was directed to Shen Yu''s courtyard.
When Shen Yu returned after receiving the decree, he looked at the pile ofrge and small boxes in the courtyard and fell speechless.
A young eunuch came over with the list. "His Majesty said everything here should be handed over to Young Master Shen."
Shen Yu opened a box and saw an enormous pearl nestled inside. He paused, then opened several other boxes. Without exception they were filled with exotic treasures. As he scanned the list provided by the eunuch, Shen Yu didn''t have the slightest trace of a smile in his eyes.
Who would have thought that the young emperor who would be reviled and scorned by his people for in the future was such a wealthy lord.
Shen Yu didn''t look at the rest of the boxes. He ordered his servants to move everything to the small warehouse and tried to remember. Had Shen QingRan received the same rewards in his previous life?
Whether it was in his previous life or the book he read after his death, Shen Yu had no memories of such a thing happening. Shen QingRan entered the pce without the title of noble monarch or additional gifts. But Shen Yu didn''t think the man sitting on the throne was moved just because Shen Yu was the eldest di son of the Zhenbei Marquis.
"Young master, it seems His Majesty is very fond of you." Mu Xi felt a little satisfied as she helped her frail and sickly master out of his cloak.
Around them, Shen Yu''s attendants came and went. Mu Xi was one of the few remaining original servants. She knew the many wrongs her young master had suffered in the marquis'' residence just because he upied the post of eldest di son. This time, the Zhenbei Marquis'' selfishness drove him to send his own heir to serve the emperor in the harem as a man.
The current king of Da Huan was famous for his violent temper and vicious methods. Among the aristocratic families he had a ck reputation. Mu Xi worried what would happen to Shen Yu after he entered the pce. When she saw the emperor ce so much importance on her young master, she felt relieved. Now that the matter had been settled, she just hoped the young master would have a smoother path.
Shen Yu replied absentmindedly. His thoughts were heavy and far from as simple as Mu Xi''s, but the emperor''s actions had indeed helped him quite a bit.
Instead of guessing what the emperor was thinking, Shen Yu asked, "What of the matters at the estate?"
"Everything has been arranged as you said," a servant boy standing to one side replied in a low voice.
Shen Yu nodded. He''d always taken care of his people. He wiped his hands with a handkerchief and said to Mu Xi, "I arranged a ce for you at the manor. When I enter the pce, take my token with you and go there"
Before Shen Yu could finish speaking, Mu Xi knelt down. "Young master, this ve refuses to go! This ve is all alone. The young master is my only family, and this ve doesn''t want to leave!"
Mu Xi''s voice wasn''t loud, but her attitude was determined. She knew the young master made arrangements for her future, but she didn''t agree. "Young master, how can you enter the pce without a familiar person beside you?"
Shen Yu looked at the person kneeling with her forehead pressed to the floor and knew she''d made up her mind. He stopped trying to persuade her. "I understand. Get up."
In Mu Xi''s opinion, Shen Yu wasn''t properly thinking about his future. Over the years Shen Yu had trained many useful people, but the pce wasn''t like other ces. He''d never be able to bring those people in to serve him. In Shen Yu''s opinion, this wasn''t a big deal. His people would naturally be more useful to him outside.
After making the necessary arrangements, Shen Yu waved his hand to dismiss the other servants. Mu Xi waited on him, helping him change into his clothes for bed. Then she looked up at Shen Yu again, wanting to say something else but hesitating.
Shen Yu was lyingfortably in bed. "Ask whatever you want."
Mu Xi struggled for a moment, then asked anyway. "Why did the young master cancel his n?"
She wasn''t the only one who wanted to know the answer to this question. The others assigned to the manor were also confused. Shen Yu knew they must have wanted to ask this for a long time. After all, when the decree came from the pce, his resistance didn''t seem fake.
The people around Shen Yu knew his goal was to inherit the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. He was the rightful heir, and there was no reason to let others take advantage of him.
But Shen Yu suddenly fainted and didn''t give them any hints. His people didn''t dare to act rashly. They could only wait for their master to wake up.
Unexpectedly, when Shen Yu awakened, he suddenly dropped his resistance to entering the pce. Without orders from their master, the people below him could only stand still. Later, when their master acted, it wasn''t to escape from the pce, but to change the n entirely. He settled his people outside and prepared to enter the pce alone.
They were all bewildered by this development. Mu Xi hinted to him, explicitly or implicitly, countless times.
"They wanted you to ask?" Shen Yu turned through his thoughts and made a guess.
Mu Xi didn''t deny it. "This ve is also very curious."
"I''m tired of living in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. It''s better to live elsewhere." Shen Yu''s voice was unchanged, as if his career hadn''t been ended forever, as if he weren''t being forced to stay in a harem for the rest of his life.
Mu Xi felt anxious. "But you don''t have to enter the pce just because they want you to!"
Shen Yu faintly curved his lips. "Do you think that what just happened is something they wanted?"
Thinking of Madam Ru''s downfall, Mu Xi fell silent.
"Well, don''t worry so much. I have my own reasons for doing this."
After reassuring the maid who was worried about him, Shen Yu''s eyes darkened. In his previous life he found hints rted to his mother in the imperial pce. That was why he decided to go there now.
Shen QingRu, thete wife of the Zhenbei Marquis, was a short-lived woman. Aside from the son she''d left behind, there seemed to be no ties to connect her to the world. Shen Yu didn''t have many feelings for a mother he''d never met, but he wanted to find some answers to this mystery.
Closing his eyes, he felt like he''d returned to that stormy night in his previous life, hearing a faint voice through a curtain of rain.
" Can you be sure of this news?"
" Destined Predestined to return The imperial pce"
Shen Yu rubbed his forehead and suddenly a burst of sweet, fishy-tasty blood rushed up in his throat.
Racking coughs burst from his mouth.
"Young master! Young master"
Something was knocked over and made a loud bang as it fell. Shen Yu copsed against the head of the bed. His vision went dark.
"Someone, get the doctor!"
Before he could say anything, Shen Yu fell into darkness.
When he woke up, it was already noon the next day. The moment he moved, the servant girl who was standing by saw it and stood up in a hurry. Soon the doctor of the marquis'' family came in.
The doctor was followed by the Zhenbei Marquis and an unfamiliar man.
Shen Yu was unable to lift himself up. Hey on the bed without moving. The doctor took his pulse, then was led out by a servant. Shen Yu nced weakly at the Zhenbei Marquis and the strange man, but didn''t speak.
It was the first time the Zhenbei Marquis had seen his eldest son so weak. His delicate face was bloodless, and his eyshes were slightly lowered, giving an impression of frailty, a person in urgent need of protection.
The marquis turned to the man behind him and cupped his fist. "Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Gu."
Imperial Physician Gu returned the salute. "It is this lowly official''s duty."
Imperial Physician Gu came forward to feel Shen Yu''s pulse. Shen Yu gazed at him for a while, then looked away. Gu Chong was the youngest and most promising court physician since the founding of Da Huan. He would reach the highest rank in the imperial hospital at the age of twenty-seven, but in the same year, he lost his life in a man-made cmity.
Shen Yu remembered him because of a man he metter. Half of this man''s face had been destroyed, like a demon who''d crawled out of hell. The only time he showed emotion was when he spoke about Imperial Physician Gu. At the time, Shen Yu was in a desperate situation, and the people he needed to eliminate were the same group of forces that man was targeting for his revenge. They reached a short-term agreement. The conditions at the time weren''t good, but they had no choice but to take a risk. They achieved their goal, but the man met a tragic end.
This was Shen Yu''s first time encountering a person with such strong feelings, and it led him to doubt whether he was actually in love with the King of Yue. Afterwards, he found the bones of the two men and buried them together in a beautiful ce in the mountains. He didn''t expect that after being reborn he would meet the man he''d heard so much about, Imperial Physician Gu, so soon.
After taking his pulse, Imperial Physician Gu asked someone to bring in the prescription originally drawn up by the other doctor. After pondering for a while, he redrafted the prescription. "Young Master Shen''s body is too weak. These medicines need to be adjusted slightly."
"Will Imperial Physician Gu be responsible for my health in the future?" Shen Yu suddenly spoke up.
Imperial Physician Gu was startled and quickly replied, "It depends on His Majesty''s arrangement."
Shen Yu nodded and stopped talking.
After two days of recuperation, Shen Yu was a little better. It was time for him to enter the pce.
In light of the fact Shen Yu had just recovered from a serious illness, the emperor was considerate and all the ceremonies were simplified. The Zhenbei Marquis wasn''t happy about it, but Shen Yu found it wee.
On that day, for the first time, Shen Yu met the man he would be bound to for the rest of his life.
The man was dressed in ck regnal imperial robes. He was tall and noble in appearance, and on him the heavy robes didn''t appear bloated, but gave him an even more imposing aura. He was indeed a bit simr in looks to the King of Yue, but far more handsome. How blind was he to look at the King of Yue in his previous life.
"What are you thinking about?" Shang JunLin saw the beautiful young man staring at him in a daze and walked slowly towards him.
The man''s voice was deep and pleasant, and his words when deliberately lightened had a caressing sound. Shen Yu''s ears twitched. He felt a little bewitched.
Live life to the fullest, right? Such a great beauty was really pleasing to the eyes ah.
"I was thinking that Your Majesty is even better-looking than I realized." The ending sound rose slightly, as if he saw something he liked very much.
No one noticed that the young emperor, who was always steady and calm, missed a step.
"You like this emperor?" Shang JunLin strode forward to the edge of the bed and paused, looking down at the young man sitting there. A sense of oppression suddenly poured down.
This was the pressure that belonged to a superior, the killing aura of a man who''d cut down thousands of foes. By now the pce servants to the side had fallen to their knees, trembling in fear. Only Shen Yu''s face remained unchanged.
"Your Majesty, who wouldn''t like such an outstanding man?" Amid the silence, Shen Yu looked up and smiled. "I naturally like Your Majesty very much."
TL Notes:
( )*:
Regarding pronouns: The specifics depend on the dynasty, but in historical times it was considered impolite to use the pronoun "I" when speaking to someone of higher status. Some, but not all, of the dialogue in the raw reflects this. English isn''t really designed for that, which is why you''ll see workarounds like "this lowly official" and "this concubine"
In my opinion, that can sound stilted when it''s repeated over and over, so I''m going to do my best to convey the vor of this polite speech, but I''ll sometimes switch to normal pronouns when it gets repetitive. Also, please note the raw sometimes has people using "I" and "me" and "you" when etiquette says they shouldn''t, like when Shen Yu says "I was thinking that Your Majesty is super hot (or whatever)", he really does say "I" () there and nobody seems to mind.
This is my first time tling something in this kind of setting, so if you have suggestions lmk. (Just don''t ask to have people call themselves "zhen" or "nubi" or whatever because to me that looks weird) ty~~ ()
scorned by his people for in the future We don''t know the reason the emperor was scorned because that word was censored. At any rate, we''ve already been told the emperor is considered to be a bloodthirsty tyrant
cupped his fist make an obeisance by cupping one hand in the other before one''s chest
this lowly official this lowly official; subordinate official
this emperor zhn The emperor is using an imperial first person pronoun, sort of like the royal "we" in English. It''s a version of "I" no one else is allowed to use
ah modal particle ending sentence, showing affirmation, approval, or consent
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
noble monarch gu jn Alternatively: noble/precious lord/gentleman/ruler
Mu Xi
Shen QingRu MC''s mom This name is suspiciously simr to that of Shen Yu''s transmigrator half-brother, Shen QingRan (). However it''s never used again in 200+ chapters so it could be a mistake
Imperial Physician Gu G tiy Alternatively: Court Physician Gu
Gu Chong
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Chapter 5
Chapter 5
For a moment Shang JunLin stared at Shen Yu with obscure eyes, but didn''t say anything.
There was no doubt that Shen Yu was extremely good-looking. After all, he was famous for his beauty throughout the capital. Against the crimson backdrop of the bed quilt his fair face was even more enticing, and now this beauty in red was seated on the bed, his gaze glowing with affection, as if the man before him was the only one who could enter his eyes and his heart. Absolutely anyone would be moved.
The air pressure around Shen Yu was dropping lower and lower, but he seemed unaware of it. Heughed and pulled the hand of the emperor in ck. "Your Majesty, it''s time to sleep."
Hearing this, the pce attendants around them bowed their heads lower and lower. Meng Gonggong, who stood beside the emperor to wait on him, didn''t dare look up. He sighed to himself. The young master of the Shen family was so brave.
It had been more than ten years since Shang JunLin ascended the throne. After leading the iron cavalry to retake the empire, his actions became more and more violent. There were rumors that the emperor had killed his own father and brothers, and wrongfully took the throne. Of course, under the suppression of brutal force, no one dared to spread such rumors except in private.
Shen Yu nced at the shivering pce servants. His hand was already touching the emperor''s. In two lifetimes he''d never been this close to such a beautiful man, but Shen Yu also viewed it as a test. He touched the man''s hand lightly but was ready to withdraw. Then, to his surprise, the emperor took his wrist.
Shen Yu struggled but couldn''t break free. Puzzled, he looked at the man.
"Didn''t you say it''s time to sleep?" Shang JunLin waved his hand. "Everyone, dismissed."
The red candles were burning, and in the twinkling of an eye only two people remained in the room, one seated, one standing.
As the emperor in ck stared at him, Shen Yu couldn''t help but feel a little panic. He didn''t actually want to do it, right? Shen Yu had entered the pce because this man wasn''t interested in beauties. He didn''t want to get involved with him, OK?
The next moment, Shang JunLin suddenly leaned in. Startled, Shen Yu backed up.
Shang JunLin paused. "It seems the rumors are untrue. The eldest son of the Zhenbei Marquis'' family is not at all" a gentleman.
Shen Yu, the eldest son of the Zhenbei Marquis, was beautiful, noble, and elegant, a paragon beyond the dreams of countless people. But now that the actual person was before him, Shang JunLin discovered how greatly the rumors paled before the reality.
Shen Yu was confused, but then he remembered he was his current self, not the ttering sycophant everyone talked about ten yearster in his previous life. In this life he hadn''t gotten involved with Shang JunYue. He still had a sparkling reputation.
It made him a little nostalgic.
Shen Yu nced at the other man to make sure he wasn''t sexually aroused, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then, which does Your Majesty prefer, me as I am now, or the me in the rumors?"
Shang JunLin didn''t answer. He looked at Shen Yu''s face carefully. The rumors were not entirely untrue. Regarding Shen Yu''s appearance, in fact, they werepletely urate.
Shang JunLin let go of Shen Yu''s hand and stepped back. "This emperor thinks Noble Monarch Shen has a remarkably thick face."
Shen Yu responded with a smile. "As long as Your Majesty likes it, does it matter if my face is thick?"
Shang JunLin was nomittal. He raised his arms. "Didn''t you say you want to go to bed? Undress this emperor."
"Won''t Your Majesty call in the pce servants?" Shen Yu wanted to test Shang JunLin''s bottom line again, but the emperor didn''t budge.
"This is your duty," Shang JunLin said indifferently.
I see, then I have to do it myself.
Shen Yu got up from the bed. When he stood, he suddenly felt dizzy and fell down.
The expected close contact with the floor didn''t happen. Shen Yu fell into a hard, warm embrace.
Shang JunLin caught the young man with quick eyes and hands. "What, you keep saying you like this emperor. Don''t you want to undress me?"
Shen Yu was too dazed to answer. He waited to recover like he usually did, but instead suffered wave after wave of pain, getting worse and worse.
He closed his eyes and tried to resist the surging pain. Despite the cold air of winter, fine beads of sweat seeped on his forehead, and his face grew paler and paler. He unconsciously bit his lower lip and didn''t even feel the bleeding.
Shen Yu had dragged this sickly body for decades and knew it very well. Even in the most difficult times he''d never endured this kind of agony, like a raging flood was trying to drown him. Lost in endless pain, he couldn''t perceive anything of the outside world.
His hand clutched tightly at the ck fabric, and his clenched teeth were forced open by a big hand. He didn''t know how long itsted, or maybe it was just a few moments. Shen Yu barely struggled back to consciousness.
"Meng Chang! Imperial Physician Xuan!"
Confused, Shen Yu seemed to feel the arms holding him tighten.
The beauty in redy pale and weak in his arms, no longer as sharp-witted and agile as before. The emperor in ck gazed at him without expression, and his eyes were deep.
Meng Gonggong stood to the side and hardly dared to breathe. When he heard the emperor''s voice filled with suppressed anger he thought the young master of the Shen family had provoked the emperor, but aftering in he found it wasn''t so.
The court physicians arrivedte, led by Imperial Physician Gu.
"You need not pay respects. Come and see to him."
Imperial Physician Gu finished taking the young man''s pulse and reached the same conclusion asst time. "The noble monarch''s weakness is brought on by congenital deficiency in the mother''s womb. All that can be done for now is to care for him well. Please forgive your servant''s inability to devise a better cure."
"I see."
Shen Yu woke up at noon the next day. When he awakened, Shang JunLin was no longer beside him. Mu Xi brought in some medicine. The girl''s eyes were red as if she''d been crying.
Shen Yu drank the medicine and got out of bed despite Mu Xi''s objections. The pain came and went quickly. Aside from some weakness, Shen Yu had no other difort.
Yesterday Shen Yu was in too much of a hurry to take a good look at the ce where he''d live from now on.
Yuzhang Pce was thergest pce in the imperial harem, with beautiful architecture and pleasant scenery. It was also close to the emperor''s bedchamber. Shen Yu listened to the exnation of the pce servants as he walked.
The construction of Yuzhang Pce hadn''t taken ce over many years, but it cost a great deal of money. The pce was built by a previous emperor of Da Huan for his beloved. After that time, Yuzhang Pce was sealed until Shen Yu moved in.
The attendant hoped to please Shen Yu. "It can be seen that His Majesty cares greatly about the noble monarch. When His Majesty left this morning, he specially asked the ves not to disturb your rest."
Through some oblique questions, Shen Yu learned that His Majesty hadn''t announced Shen Yu''s illnessst night. Except for a few insiders like Meng Gonggong and Imperial Physician Gu, the others only knew that His Majesty spent the night in Yuzhang Pce.
That night, Shang JunLin came to Yuzhang Pce again, just in time for Shen Yu''s evening meal. Shen Yu had been weak since childhood, and he adhered to the principle of eating smaller, more frequent meals. Yuzhang Pce had its own small kitchen, and Shen Yu never skimped on clothing, food, housing, or transportation for himself, so he was already used to the living arrangements here.
"Will Your Majesty join me?"
Shang JunLin nodded and sat down.
"I thank Your Majesty for his kindnessst night, otherwise I wouldn''t have been able to get out of bed today." Shen Yu deliberately made his words ambiguous. He lowered his eyes and made a shy face.
Shang JunLin paused while eating his food and then said, "I''m d that you know I care about you."
"Your Majesty is vigorous and powerful. In the future I hope Your Majesty and I can do more"
Shang JunLin interrupted him lightly. "Eat."
Shen Yu: " Ah."
Around them, the pce servants ducked their heads with scarlet cheeks. Meng Gonggong fought to control the expression on his face. If he hadn''t known the real situation, he would have genuinely thought the two masters had engaged in an intense battlest night.
That evening, Shang JunLin stayed in Yuzhang Pce again. The bedding had been changed to a light color in ordance with Shen Yu''s preference. This time Shang JunLin didn''t tell Shen Yu to help him undress. After bathing with the help of the pce attendants, he changed into his nightclothes and walked in.
When he saw Shang JunLine in, Shen Yu moved to the bed. "Your Majesty,e quickly."
The man in his nightclothes was much more approachable than in ck regnal robes, and Shen Yu became more daring.
After waving away the servants, Shang JunLin walked over. "From today on, this emperor will make Imperial Physician Gu take charge of your health."
Shang JunLin didn''t want what happenedst night to repeat ever again.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Shen Yu''s small face nestled against the quilt. "Your Majesty is very kind."
"You''re a wise person. This emperor believes he doesn''t have to say certain things to you clearly."
Shen Yu nodded.
The two looked at each other and reached a kind of consensus.
Feeling the warmth from the other side of the bed, Shen Yu closed his eyes. The emperor he would be living with for a while seemed much better at "trickery" than he''d imagined.
Interesting.
For several days, Shang JunLin stayed in Yuzhang Pce. The news of how Shen Yu was favored spread like it was on wings.
Shen Yu lived quietly in the imperial pce, but tempests brewed outside because of him.
Many people who hadn''t been optimistic about Shen Yu were taken aback after he gained favor. Those who ridiculed the Zhenbei Marquis for sending his only di son into the pce immediately sang a different song andplimented him to the sky.
And a throng of sour, sarcastic people insinuated that Shen Yu had beguiled and bewitched the emperor, while others thought carefully to themselves in private: If there could be one Shen Yu, could there also be a second or third?
This was a possibility that hadn''t existed before. With Shen Yu as a living example, brave courtiers lined up to send their children into the harem.
During this period the Zhenbei Marquis received a lot of attention because of Shen Yu. Although he was happy Shen Yu was favored, he was terrified of Shen Yu''s attitudeunlike his concubine and shu son, who were merely frightened.
Shen QingRan, in particr, couldn''t help but wonder "what if". If he''d entered the pce, would he be the one with the emperor''s favor right now?
It had to be said that the decline in Aunt Ru''s status had an immediate impact on Shen QingRan. The people of the marquis'' inner courtyard knew exactly how Shen Yu had entered the pce, and they frequently mocked Shen QingRan and Aunt Ru.
Meanwhile, thanks to the hard and soft persuasion of Aunt Ru and a lot of effort, the Zhenbei Marquis'' attitude towards her began to rx. Just as she hoped for a restoration, the news that Shen Yu was favored beat her back into ce. Aunt Ru couldn''t have said how furious she was.
All kinds of news reached Shen Yu''s ears.
"How can they speak like that, young master?" Mu Xi was dissatisfied. "You obviously didn''t do anything. How can they say you beguiled the emperor? They even called you an alluring, seductive little" fox spirit.
She couldn''t bring herself to say thest part.
But she didn''t have to say it, because Shen Yu already knew what people said about him, and he knew it was just the beginning. Several factions hadn''t moved yet. Shen Yu hooked the corners of his mouth and smiled. "Since they say I''ve enchanted the emperor, I might as well make them feel it."
Mu Xi silently bowed her head. She thought the young master''s smile just now truly had the aura of a bewitching, devilish concubine.
Shen Yu took a container of soup stewed in the small kitchen with him to the imperial study. When Meng Gonggong saw him, he wiped his sweat and greeted him. "Why is the noble monarch here?"
"I came to bring soup to His Majesty. Is it possible to see His Majesty now?"
"Just a moment, noble monarch. This ve will ask at once."
Shortly after, Meng Gonggong came out and led Shen Yu inside. When Shen Yu entered the door, Meng Gonggong bowed his head and retreated.
The imperial study was silent. Shen Yu had no time to look around before he heard the voice of Shang JunLin.
Shen Yu.
He looked for the voicethen Shen Yu''s pupils constricted sharply. His eyes saw dazzling red, and there, at the center of the scarlet, stood the emperor in ck.
The heavy odor of blood filled Shen Yu''s nostrils. In the pool of blood at the emperor''s feety a man who might be either alive or dead, while another man cowered on his knees not far away but didn''t dare to raise his face.
Shang JunLin''s ink-ck eyes shed. He stretched out his hand to Shen Yu and said:
"Come here."
TL Notes:
Hello! If you were previously reading on Wattpad, don''t worry, I still crosspost there. Just note that Wattpad will usually be a chapter or so behind Foxaholic
fox spirit hlijng fox-spirit, vixen, witch, enchantress
bewitching devilish concubine yo fi "yao" means goblin / witch / devil / bewitching / enchanting / monster / phantom / demon
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Imperial Physician Xuan
Yuzhang Pce Yu means "jade", "zhang" is a type of ancient jade ornament. Among other uses, parents would give them to baby boys in the hopes their child would grow up to be powerful and strong (Baidu)
Aunt Ru R yning
aunt yning (married) maternal aunt / one''s father''s concubine
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Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Shen Yu didn''t speak. He stared nkly, as if frightened.
The temperature in the room was as cold as a winter''s wind, prating to the bone. The man kneeling on the floor kept his head down and did his best not to panic on the spot.
Shang JunLin gazed at Shen Yu, and the ink in his eyes grew darker and darker.
The low air pressure pressed on him, silently urging him to walk over. Shen Yu took a few steps forward. He stopped a short distance from the pool of blood.
He could feel the immense weight and force of those eyes as they focused on him. The air pressure in the imperial study was extremely low. If Shen Yu had any less courage, he might have fallen to the ground immediately.
"Your Majesty will stain your clothes. Why don''t youe here?"
The man who was about to fall to pieces choked. The very air around him seemed to freeze, and as he knelt on one side he couldn''t help lifting his head.
Shang JunLin nced at him carelessly, and the man immediately ducked his head in fright and didn''t dare do something so reckless again.
"Oh." Shang JunLin suddenlyughed. "You have some nerve."
As the pressure of that gaze fell on Shen Yu, he met it impassively, and their eyes met. Shen Yu couldn''t tell what Shang JunLin was thinking, but he thought the other man might be in a better mood.
Shang JunLin threw his handkerchief into the pool of blood, and the scrap of white was instantly stained red. Without ncing at it, he strode towards Shen Yu.
Shen Yu stood where he was and watched the emperor in ck move closer to him step by step, and with each step, the hostility in the man faded.
Until Shang JunLin stood before him, and the aggressive aura of the emperor in ck waspletely restrained once again.
Shen Yu raised the food box in his hand. "I brought soup for Your Majesty. Would Your Majesty like to have some?"
Without a single word to ask why such a scene urred in the imperial study.
"You''re not afraid?" Shang JunLin asked with great interest.
Shen Yu''s face didn''t have a hint of fear. The scarlet blood on the ground might as well not have existed for him, but as far as Shang JunLin knew, Shen Yu had never encountered a scene like this before.
An inquisitive gaze fell on his face. Shen Yu''s expression remained unchanged. Of course he wasn''t afraid. In his previous life he''d caused scenes of blood and death far worse and more cruel than the one before him now.
Shen Yu nced at the man lying in the pool of blood, then slowly turned his eyes to the man who was kneeling. Finally, his eyes returned to the face of the man in front of him.
The emperor was almost a head taller than Shen Yu. They were standing so close that Shen Yu had to look up to see his face.
"Since he displeased Your Majesty, he deserves what he gets." Shen Yu looked into Shang JunLin''s eyes and distinctly said each word.
Shang JunLin''s pupils shrank almost imperceptibly, and he lifted his hand to grasp Shen Yu''s chin. "This emperor didn''t expect my noble monarch to think so well of me."
His tone was calm, without the slightest trace of joy. Shen Yu was watching the man''s face and didn''t miss the momentary flicker in his expression.
Shen Yu reached out and grabbed the hand that was pinching his chin. "Your Majesty, I belong to you. Naturally, I side with Your Majesty in all things."
"You''d best remember those words at all times." Shang JunLin released his hand, and his expression became gentle. "Didn''t you say you brought this emperor soup? Let me try the noble monarch''s craftsmanship."
Shen Yu''s hand lightened as the weight of the food box was taken by Shang JunLin, then warmed as his fingers were held in the man''s powerful grip.
The emperor led him around the pool of blood and sat in front of the imperial desk.
Shang JunLin didn''t order the pce servants to attend them. He opened the food box himself. After a moment, the tempting aroma of the food floated out.
Although
The aroma mingled with the stench of blood that was too heavy to be ignored, which was indescribably incongruous.
Shen Yu nced down. No one dared to move without Shang JunLin''s orders. Seeing that Shang JunLin was going to drink his soup immediately, Shen Yu tugged his sleeve.
"What, is the noble monarch finally afraid?"
The man''s eyes were hidden behind a screen of mist and couldn''t be seen clearly.
"No, but doesn''t Your Majesty think" Shen Yu paused. "Isn''t it unappetizing to eat in such an environment?"
Shen Yu had a somewhat unusual fixation. To be specific, he didn''t like things around him to distract him during meals.
Shen Yu didn''t care about the person who was kneeling on the ground or the man who was lying in a pool of blood, and he didn''t care what they''d done to provoke Shang JunLin. The Shang JunLin of today wasn''t yet the tyrant who would indiscriminately kill innocent people a few years from now. He had his own reasons for doing what he''d done, and Shen Yu didn''t have any intention of getting involved in the affairs of the court.
Shang JunLin didn''t miss the sh of disgust on Shen Yu''s face. He paused, put the bowl in his hand back on the desk, and said in a light voice, "Meng Chang."
As the door of the imperial study opened with a creak, warm light filtered in from the door. Meng Gonggong came in with several men in ck uniforms.
These men wore masks on their faces which revealed only their eyes. Shen Yu had never seen people dressed like this before, and he looked at them with curiosity.
The uniformed men worked quickly, but they were otherwise unobtrusive. In less than a quarter of an hour, the imperial study returned to its usual state. Even the kneeling man was dragged out with his mouth covered. There wasn''t a single unnecessary sound during the entire process. The staff were obviously familiar with the work, and it seemed these incidents happened often.
"This is the Hidden Dragon Guard."
The words interrupted Shen Yu''s thoughts. Looking over, he found that the emperor in ck was regarding him with an unreadable expression.
The Hidden Dragon Guard. Shen Yu heard of this secret unit in his previous life. It was the sharpest knife in the royal family''s hand and their most loyal force. No one couldmand them except the current emperor.
Shen Yu had dealt with them in his previous life and knew exactly how terrible they were, an incredibly formidable opponent. Shang JunYue had suffered countless losses at their hands.
In this life, they wouldn''t be his enemies.
"Now that it''s clean, we can eat, right?"
Without waiting for Shen Yu to answer, Shang JunLin returned his gaze to the food and took another sip of soup. When no one was looking at him, a hint of a smile appeared.
Shen Yu apanied Shang JunLin as he ate and left after showing his face for a while.
All afternoon, Shang JunLin was in a much brighter mood.
Not long after, the emperor bestowed his bounty, and all kinds of treasures streamed into Yuzhang Pce. The news spread outside with the tacit approval of Shang JunLin.
As Shen Yu expected, the news of how he was favored spread once again. Not many people cared about what happened in the imperial study. People died in the imperial pce now and then. The apprehension they once felt about this had faded long ago, and everyone was ustomed to it now.
Power and money were potent motivations. With such a good example as Shen Yu, people with certain thoughts were no longer able to restrain themselves. If they seeded, they had an open road to the sky.
At the official residence of the Duke of Zhao.
The Duke of Zhao invited his son and his inner circle to discuss business in his study.
"Father, this is an opportunity. Right now the harem contains just one person, a man who can''t give birth. If a woman of our family enters the pce and has a son or a daughter, she might be able to" The second son of the Duke of Zhao pointed to the sky and left the rest unsaid.
"Yes, the second young master is right. We should act sooner rather thanter and seize this opportunity," one of the confidants agreed.
"It requires detailed nning. We must not anger His Majesty in the process, or the loss will outweigh the gain."
Simr things were being discussed in the houses of many other dignitaries. Before Shen Yu''s arrival, Shang JunLin never permitted any discussion of his inner courtyard. When people wanted to send their daughters into the pce before, they had no chance, but now things were different. They were certain that after getting a taste, His Majesty wouldn''t refuse to allow other beauties into the pce.
Hoping to acquire His Majesty''s favor as quickly as possible, some families also prepared beautiful men. If His Majesty found Noble Monarch Shen to his liking, he might be interested in other men as well.
The turmoil inside and outside the pce didn''t affect Shen Yu. After a good night''s sleep, he found out what happened in the imperial study that day.
As it turned out, a few people had reached their hands into the pce and tried to profit from the information they got. Shang JunLin was toozy to deal with these people, so he cut them down directly.
Shang JunLin acted so fast they had no chance to escape. After following the evidence and identifying the men responsible, he sent them to prison.
Aside from a few people who happened to be present, almost no one knew the details. All they knew was that Shang JunLin had suddenly attacked an aristocratic family with a good name, and they couldn''t help feeling chilled.
Some ministers with close ties to the family begged for mercy when they went to morning court. The young emperor looked on coldly and didn''t say a word.
"Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Zhang has always been strict and impartial. Your servant begs Your Majesty to forgive him."
"Please be lenient, Your Majesty."
"Since you think Imperial Censor Zhang is right, do you think this emperor is wrong?"
"Your servant wouldn''t dare!"
"This emperor thinks you dare very much. Anyone who pleads for leniency again will join Imperial Censor Zhang in prison. I believe he will be grateful for your devotion."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hall fell silent, and some of those who asked for mercy began to retreat. The ministers knew the emperor wasn''t joking. If anyone continued to intercede, they really would be sent directly to jail. It had happened several times before.
A few people looked at each other and took a step forward. Apparently they didn''t intend to back down.
By the time Shen Yu heard about this, it was already a dayter. His Majesty was in a bad mood, and there was a jittery feeling in the pce. The attendants were afraid, and the atmosphere in Yuzhang Pce was a bit depressed.
"Young master" Mu Xi''s face was worried. She was close to the young master and knew more of the inside story than the other pce servants. Outsiders might talk about how greatly the emperor favored the young master, but she was the only one who knew it wasn''t so.
"Is it true that three gentlemen were imprisoned after asking for mercy?" Shen Yu asked, fiddling with a string of beads.
"Yes, His Majesty had them dragged off before morning court ended."
Shen Yu was silent. The incident with Imperial Censor Zhang happened in his previous life, but it urred muchter. Although Imperial Censor Zhang appeared clean and upright on the surface, he did a lot of things behind the emperor''s back, like buying and selling official titles and posts, embezzling goodnd, conspiring tomit murder It was just that he hid himself deeply and did a good job hiding his tracks, so no one knew.
Shang JunLin arrested the man but didn''t announce his crimes, which caused others to misunderstand him. Or did he really not know
Shen Yu took a hand warmer, stood up, and said, "I''ll go out for a walk."
Mu Xi got his cloak and helped Shen Yu put it on. They left Yuzhang Pce with a few servants.
"Do you still think you can leap to a high branch and be a phoenix? Don''t you know what you look like?"
"Hey, hey, who are you trying to seduce by dressing up like this?"
"Your master''s in prison. Why are you so proud of yourself?"
They heard the noise from a distance away. One of the servants was about to step forward and scold them, but he was stopped by Shen Yu.
Shen Yu stood at a corner and could just make out a scene that wasn''t too far away. Several pce servants were punching, kicking, and taunting a thinly-dressed woman. The woman''s head was lowered, her face was hidden by her hair, and her hands were tightly clenched at her sides as she endured the maliceing from all around.
Shen Yu deliberately made some noise, and he and his party were soon noticed. The other servants quickly knelt to greet him. When Shen Yu approached, a gust of wind blew, the woman''s face was exposed, and Shen Yu drew to a halt.
Her face and eyes were three points simr to his.
TL Notes:
imperial censor A formal title of a dynastic official, or a general term for supervising officials in ancient China. In very ancient times it was a title for historians and record-keepers, but in most dynasties it was a type of official responsible for inspecting and supervising the officials of the court and impeaching them for crimes or negligence (Baidu)
gentleman dren A title of respect for superiors. Depending on context it can mean: Your Excellency, lord, Mr., adult, grownup, etc.
three points simr somewhat or to some degree simr In Chinese it''smon to say something is "three points" or "six or seven parts" simr to something else. It''s like saying it''s "3 parts out of 10 simr" or 30% simr or 60-70% simr. A rough estimate
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Hidden Dragon Guard
Duke of Zhao
Imperial Censor Zhang
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Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Shen Yu was shocked, but so was Mu Xi, who was standing behind him. Shen Yu resembled his mother. None of his half-brothers in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence looked like him as much as this woman did.
Shen Yu didn''t intend to get involved in feuds between pce servants, but after he saw the woman''s face, he couldn''t stay out of it. Whether it was a coincidence or not, he needed an answer.
It was getting dark. Shen Yu simply told the pce servants to take these people back to Yuzhang Pce.
On the way, Mu Xi reported the information she''d obtained to Shen Yu.
Mu Xi: "The woman''s name is Shen Yue. She was sold into the pce as a child. She has a withdrawn personality and doesn''t like tomunicate with others. The other pce maids are jealous of her outstanding appearance and like to make trouble for her in various ways. Not long ago, Shen Yue changed her usual low-key style, though it''s not clear why or how she got the opportunity. She began to wear beautiful dresses, and her jewelry became more and more expensive day by day."
Shen Yu: "Is Shen Yue her real name?"
Mu Xi: "This ve asked. She''s had this name since entering the pce. In addition, she seems to be involved with a certain faction outside. On the fifteenth day of each month she avoids people and goes to the northwest corner gate. It''s very remote. Ordinarily not many people go there."
Mu Xi had been specially trained by Shen Yu and was talented at collecting information. After Shen Yu entered the pce, there weren''t many people he could use, but Mu Xi was one of them.
Shen Yu: "Has anything like this happened before today?"
Mu Xi: "Yes, you could even say it''smonce. Ever since His Majesty ascended the throne, the harem has been without a mistress or master. Although the pce people don''t dare to provoke His Majesty to his face, they''re very presumptuous."
Shen Yu could understand. The imperial pce of Da Huan was enormous, and the previous emperor was erratic. The pce was the site of the fiercest power struggles. It wasn''t surprising that things happened in the dark.
If it wasn''t for Shen Yu''s whim, no high-ranking person would have set foot in such a secluded area. The pce was sorge that it had many simr ces.
Mu Xi continued, "As for this pce maid, Shen Yue, people used to iste her but they didn''t do much to her otherwise. I don''t know what angered them this time, but they tricked her into going to a remote location and proceeded to teach her a lesson."
By the time they returned to Yuzhang Pce, Shen Yu basically understood what had happened. Speaking of which, the incident was also rted to Shang JunLin.
In general, Shang JunLin didn''t use his bloody methods against the pce staff. The servants were afraid of him because everyone was, but after a long enough time, they inevitably began to have a few quiet thoughts. At first they took advantage in small ways, but when they saw that no one took action, they grew bolder and bolder, and now dared to openly spread pce gossip outside.
In Shen Yu''s previous life, there was an appalling, bloody incident in the imperial pce when the servants angered the emperor. Half of the pce attendants were ughtered, and there was so much blood it formed a stream. At the time, the entire pce reeked with the smell of blood, and the capital was on tenterhooks for a long time.
After this incident, more and more people began to call Shang JunLin a tyrant. By that time in his previous life, Shen Yu had returned to the fiefdom with the King of Yue. He didn''t know the details of the situation in the capital, but it now seemed there was a story behind the massacre.
Shen Yu half-reclined against the imperial concubine''s couch in his pce. All the servants they brought back, including the woman, knelt in the main hall. No one dared to make a sound.
The imperial pce had recently weed a new master, and he was very much favored by the emperor. Everyone knew the noble monarch was in poor health. The scope of his activities was basically confined to Yuzhang Pce. Aside from the people who served him, the other pce people didn''t know much about Shen Yu.
"Tell me, why did you bully this pce maid?" Although he knew the general situation, there were some things they needed to say themselves.
"Noble monarch, please forgive this ve. This ve was angry because of Shen Yue''s behavior. She''s obviously a pce maid, but she doesn''t do her work seriously and shows up in ces His Majesty passes by every day."
Shen Yu understood that this maid was trying to have a chance encounter with the emperor. The best way to change from a maid to a mistress in a stroke was to be seen by the emperor.
And Shang JunLin, who''d never taken interest in anyone before, not only took interest in someone, he began to spoil them, regrly sending gifts to Yuzhang Pce. Shen Yu knew that Shen Yue wasn''t the only person in the pce with the same idea.
But Shen Yu was a little confused. ording to the information obtained by Mu Xi, Shen Yue used to do her duty honestly. She knew how to y it safe and avoid trouble. Why did she suddenly be so ostentatious?
Shen Yu tapped the arm of the couch. "Shen Yue, do you have anything to say?"
"This ve admits her guilt." Shen Yue bowed her head, but her eyes were full of discontent. She''d actually transmigrated here. After dropping out of high school, she had no choice but to work in a factory. She relied on her good looks to get the men around her to help her with work, and framed the other good-looking women out of jealousy. Somehow, she suddenly woke up in this world.
After learning about the situation from the original owner''s memory, Shen Yue couldn''t help feeling that her opportunity hade. When she discovered that her face was ten times more beautiful than in her previous life and somewhat simr in appearance to Noble Monarch Shen, the emperor''s only favorite at the moment, she was even more determined to take this path.
A few days ago, the original owner got a message from a person outside, ordering her to find a way to get close to the emperor. If she could take advantage of her beauty to be the emperor''s woman, that would be even better. The person also sent a lot of exquisite clothes and jewelry.
Shen Yue was almost mesmerized. She''d never seen anything so beautiful. She couldn''t help thinking that if she became a noble concubine, she''d have many more precious things, as many as she wanted.
The man who contacted the original owner promised to help her in the pce and painted a beautiful picture. Shen Yue didn''t know what the original owner thought about this offer, but she was tempted.
Shen Yue had read a lot of transmigration novels. When she looked at her own situation, she was more and more convinced that she was the "protagonist". Why else would an emperor who''d been on the throne a few years have an empty harem? As for this Noble Monarch Shen who''d recently appeared, Shen Yue firmly believed he was the viin she needed to defeat.
So she dressed herself up in fine clothes and used the information provided by the people outside the pce, frequently appearing in ces the emperor would pass by.
However, she was really unlucky. Recently the emperor liked to stay in Yuzhang Pce. His habits changed, and she never once met him.
Shen Yu might have rescued her from being bullied, but Shen Yue didn''t feel the slightest bit of gratitude. She only felt deep jealousy.
Although Shen Yu was a man, he had a face that could drive men and women crazy. Shen Yue was proud of her current beauty, but she looked like a poor imitationpared to Shen Yu.
When a man looked like this, it was no wonder he was brought into the inner courtyard of an emperor who was immune to most beauties, and it was no wonder he was honored and pampered all by himself as soon as he entered the pce. Shen Yue thought maliciously that no matter how beautiful he was, he was just a man who couldn''t give birth to a prince. When it was her turn to gain favor, she would destroy that face!
Shen Yu observed Shen Yue''s malice and felt a little strange. He hadn''t even done anything yet. Why did she feel so malevolent towards him?
Shen Yu thought back for a while and confirmed itwhether it was in this life or his previous life, this woman did not appear in his memory.
Shen Yue''s animosity wasn''t well hidden. Mu Xi, standing beside Shen Yu, was almost face-to-face with this spiteful person. She frowned and disliked the pce maid more and more.
Shen Yu: "Mu Xi, ording to the pce rules, how should these people be dealt with?"
Mu Xi: "Replying to the noble monarch, ording to the rules of the pce, those who maliciously cause trouble should receive twenty blows with a cane."
In such frigid weather, would a person still be alive after twenty blows?
A pcedy turned white with fear, kowtowing and begging for mercy. "Please spare this ve''s life, noble monarch! This ve begs you!"
"Just follow the pce rules." A few light words from Shen Yu decided the fate of these people.
"As for this one" Shen Yu''s eyes fell lightly on Shen Yue, and he saw her twitch with excitement. "Take her away and confine her."
"You can''t do that!" With surprising strength, Shen Yue broke free from the people who were restraining her. "I don''t care if you''re a noble monarch. You can''t restrict my freedom!"
"Oh? Then in your opinion, what should I do?" Shen Yu lifted his eyebrows.
"I''ve done nothing wrong. You should let me go!"
"How dare you? Who gave you permission to be so presumptuous before the noble monarch?!"
"What''s this noise?"
A low, majestic voice came. In unison the pce people knelt down to salute, and Shen Yu also stood up.
The young emperor walked in with a cold air, nced around, and raised his eyebrows slightly. "What''s all this?"
"Dealing with a few disobedient pce servants. Is Your Majesty finished?"
Because of the incident a few days ago, Shang JunLin had been very busytely. He was almost overwhelmed with work ording to various ounts.
"None of those things are as important as you."
Shang JunLin nced at Meng Gonggong, who immediately ordered everyone to "clean up" the hall.
The moment Shen Yue saw Shang JunLin, her eyes lit up. So this was the current emperor of the dynasty. He was more handsome than she imagined and very much in line with her image of a "male lead".
But before she could say a word, she was dragged out of the pce with her mouth covered. Her "male lead" didn''t even nce at her.
Shang JunLin easily noted the simrity between the pce maid and Shen Yu, as well as the ambition and covetousness in her eyes.
After the hall was cleared, Shen Yu said, "Your Majesty, there are several things wrong with that maid. Her clothes, ornaments, and behavior Nothing ords with a servant who was sent to the pce as a child."
Shang JunLin: "What did you find out?"
Shen Yu: "Nothing just yet, but that maid regrly sends messages outside. I''m not certain who she''s in contact with."
Shang JunLin: "This emperor will send someone to check."
When the two finished their meal, a pce official came to report. Shen Yue was moring to see the emperor.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin looked at each other. "Go and have a look."
Shen Yu was curious about Shen Yue''s story. He had a vague suspicion in his mind, and he wanted to verify it.
Before they arrived, he heard Shen Yue shouting, "I have something important to say to His Majesty! Go ask His Majesty toe!"
Shen Yu deliberatelygged behind Shang JunLin, concealing himself behind His Majesty''s figure to hear what Shen Yue had to say.
When she saw the emperor, Shen Yue calmed down and saluted properly. "Your Majesty, this ve is willing to tell you the person who instructed me. This ve hopes Your Majesty will believe that I serve Your Majesty!"
Then, in one breath, she exined the ns of the man behind the scenes.
The corners of Shen Yu''s mouth twitched. He began to wonder if this person had a bad brain.
After Shen Yue was done speaking, she gazed at Shang JunLin expectantly. All of a sudden, she noticed Shen Yu behind Shang JunLin and said in shock, "Why are you here?"
Shen Yu smoothly walked out from behind Shang JunLin and leaned against him. "His Majesty brought me. Of course he wouldn''t leave me behind. But don''t you seem very unhappy to see me?"
And gave her a spoiled, arrogant look.
TL Notes:
If you''re nervous about Shen Yue:
Click for minor spoiler
Don''t worry, she''s not an important character.
[copse]
y it safe and avoid trouble be worldly-wise and y safe; an attitude to shirk principled struggle so as to protect one''s personal interest and keep oneself from incurring troubles; be wise for personal survival; be wise to protect oneself from something unfavorable
pce maid, pcedy gng n a maid in an imperial pce; maid of honor, maid in waiting, female court attendant
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Shen Yue
noble concubine gufi A historical title, usually the highest rank for a concubine below the empress. In this story, the equivalent for male concubines is "noble monarch"
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Chapter 8
Chapter 8
How could Shen Yue be happy to see the person she viewed as her archenemy? When she saw Shen Yu standing there with an air of superiority while she was reduced to a prisoner, her mind reeled.
Her emotions fluctuated so wildly they were more or less revealed on her face, but she was in a weak position right now. She could only restrain her anger.
She bit her lower lip in a show of weakness. "This ve didn''t mean it."
Shen Yu knew she was dissembling, but he didn''t care. "You said you have something important to tell His Majesty. His Majesty is here. Whatever it is, just say it."
Shen Yue didn''t want to talk in front of him. She was nning to trade the original owner''s secrets to secure her future, but with Shen Yu here, he might stand in her way.
"What I have to say is important. Your Majesty, can we be alone?"
"How presumptuous! His Majesty doesn''t take orders from a criminal ve!" Without waiting for Shen Yue to finish, the pce servant standing to one side scolded her sharply.
Shen Yue trembled with fear. She lowered her head, not daring to speak. After a while, she secretly nced in the direction of the emperor.
With that one look, she almost cracked a mr.
The young and handsome emperor was holding the gorgeous young man in his arms, whispering to him. His face was tender,pletely different than when he looked at her.
Jealousy surged in her heart. "Make him leave! Otherwise I won''t talk!" Shen Yue said quickly, stumbling over her words.
Shen Yu paused when he heard this. He began to doubt his guess from earlier. Were the people from that ce this stupid?
Shen QingRan never acted this stupid, right?
Meanwhile, Shang JunLin''s face turned cold. ording to his usual habits, suspicious people were to be killed. If Shen Yu hadn''t hinted there was something strange about this woman, he wouldn''t havee here at all.
With his hand on Shen Yu''s shoulder, Shang JunLin said lightly, "If she doesn''t talk, kill her."
Shen Yue was dumbfounded as she watched the two people leave. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to speak. She just didn''t want to bow her head in front of Shen Yu.
When a pce man walked up to her, Shen Yue hurriedly called out, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! I''ll talk! Don''t kill me!"
Only now did Shen Yue truly begin to panic, as she realized exactly what kind of ce she''d transmigrated into. This was the imperial pce, and she was facing the emperor himself, the one who stood above all others. Her status was that of a pce maid, while he was the head of a country with power over life and death.
Fear welled up in her heart. Shen Yue understood in hindsight just how foolish she''d been.
"Your Majesty, don''t you want to listen?" Shen Yu asked in a low voice, feeling the strong grip on his shoulder.
Shang JunLin wasn''t interested. "Meng Chang will provide a report. If you want to know you can read it."
Shen Yu thought that made sense. Besides, there were too many people around to ask her what he wanted to confirm.
The two left together.
This time Shen Yue was well-behaved. She answered every question put to her. It didn''t take long before she revealed everything the original owner knew.
After they returned to the bedchamber, Shen Yu took off his cloak. "Your Majesty, can you spare Shen Yue''s life?"
Shang JunLin also changed out of his clothes with the help of the pce attendants. "Why? Interested?"
Shen Yu touched his face, thoughtful. "I''m just a little curious why someone in the pce looks simr to me."
It was an irrefutable reason. Shang JunLin knew Shen Yu''s family history and nodded. "As you like."
"Your Majesty is very kind." As Shen Yu looked at Shang JunLin, his eyebrows arched in a smile and his eyes seemed full of stars.
It was a sentence Shen Yu said often. Somehow Shang JunLin wanted to touch those starry eyes, and he resisted a sudden rise of desire. "Rest well."
Imperial Physician Gu had been charged by Shang JunLin with restoring Shen Yu''s health. The physician came to Yuzhang Pce every other morning to take Shen Yu''s pulse.
After taking the pulse as usual, Imperial Physician Gu asked Shen Yu about his recent condition. Shen Yu answered the questions one by one. When the physician was about to leave, Shen Yu stopped him.
"Imperial Physician Gu."
"What does the noble monarch wish?"
"I have to admit to Imperial Physician Gu that I''ve always been a domineering person. If Imperial Physician Gu wishes to take care of my health and put my mind at ease, you should push aside all other patients."
Imperial Physician Gu paused and looked over at the young man half-reclining against the head of the bed. He was dressed in red and his skin was as white as snow, like a red plum flower blooming wantonly in the snow. His face was careless when he spoke, as if he didn''t realize he''d made a very difficult request for a healer.
"This minister"
Imperial Physician Gu instinctively wanted to refuse, but he was interrupted by Shen Yu.
"Imperial Physician Gu should do as I say. I''d never harm one of my benefactors."
As he met Shen Yu''s pointed gaze, Imperial Physician Gu swallowed back what he would have said. He saluted respectfully. "This minister will obey."
After Imperial Physician Gu left, some of the pce servants were puzzled. "Why would the noble monarch do this? You will ruin your reputation for no reason."
Shen Yu smiled and said nothing. He wanted to repay a kindness from his previous life. Besides, he got along well with Imperial Physician Gu. Without this gentle and polite court physician, who would take care of his health?
Not to mention, Imperial Physician Gu''s medical skills really were outstanding. After taking the medicine for a few days, Shen Yu felt much better this winter than before.
Elsewhere, the situation at court was getting more and more tense. After three ministers were sent to jail in session, no one else dared to speak for Imperial Censor Zhang, but that didn''t mean they agreed with the emperor''s decision.
Beneath the calm surface of the water, a dark tide was rising, and various forces were stirring. The Son of Heaven sat high on his throne and had a panoramic view of everything below.
Shen Yu more or less heard the details. Combined with the memories of his previous life, he could roughly guess the situation. Some people stretched their hands out too far, thinking they hadn''t made any mistakes, but they didn''t know a pair of eyes was watching their every move.
Imperial Censor Zhang was the first to go, but he was merely the "bait" put forward by several parties. Shang JunLin caught him so quickly the rest were unprepared. No one knew who would win out in the end.
Shen Yu thought back and recalled that in his previous life the King of Yue seemed to have said he''d benefited a lot from this incident. Shen Yu wasn''t involved, so he wasn''t sure how.
The matter erupted after the King of Yue secretly entered the capital, and it certainly had something to do with him. Shen Yu was the type to seek revenge for even the smallest grievance, and since this was rted to the King of Yue, he wouldn''t stand idly by. He didn''t care about anyone else, but in this life, the King of Yue would never get what he wanted!
For the time being, the imperial pce was calm, but Shen Yu knew it wouldn''t be long before the storm of his previous life swept into the harem.
Sure enough, when he got up early the next morning, Shen Yu heard the sound of suppressed crying.
Shen Yu: "What happened?"
Mu Xi was tying up Shen Yu''s hair. "Last night several attendants from our pce were disposed of."
Shen Yu: "Why didn''t you inform me?"
Mu Xi: "His Majesty gave orders not to disturb your rest."
When Mu Xi thought of the scenest night, her fingers slightly trembled. It was one thing to hear that His Majesty was ruthless and murderousit was totally different to witness it firsthand.
Afterst night, Mu Xi realized more clearly what kind of person the current emperor was. When he was around Shen Yu, he waspletely different, even mild. Butst night the emperor was more in line with the rumors. Tyrannical and brutal, violent and cruel, a merciless killer.
He didn''t have to do anything himself. All he needed to do was lift his chin as a signal, and everyone, whether they were arguing or begging for mercy, would die in an instant.
Shen Yu noticed Mu Xi''s strangeness and slightly narrowed his eyes. "Did you see it too?"
Mu Xi: " Yes."
Shen Yu adjusted to a morefortable position. "Tell me what happened."
Lately Shang JunLin had been busy. He no longer stayed in Yuzhang Pce every day like at the beginning. Shang JunLin was absentst night, and Shen Yu followed the doctor''s advice and went to bed early.
When he thought of this, Shen Yu frowned. Did he really sleep so deeplyst night? Despite all that noise he hadn''t woken up.
When she recalled the situationst night, Mu Xi couldn''t help but shiver. "After you fell asleep, a pair of mysterious shadow guards took over Yuzhang Pce. All the servants were taken to an isted pce. No matter what we asked, no one answered. Not long after we got there, His Majesty arrived with a group of imperial guards, and then"
And then came the sight of bright scarlet and the disgusting smell of blood. Mu Xi huddled with the other servants from Yuzhang Pce and watched the silent execution, shaking with fear.
After recounting these memories, the color in Mu Xi''s face drained away. She wasn''t some neer, but who could keep their face unchanged when witnessing such a scene?
"Mu Xi." As she became more and more upset, Shen Yu had to interrupt her. "It''s all right."
"This ve has lost her manners." Mu Xi gradually returned to her senses. After all, she was a strong-minded woman. It didn''t take long for her to calm herself.
"Was there a great deal ofmotion when you left the pcest night?" Shen Yu was still a bit concerned.
"Not much. His Majesty probably didn''t want to disturb you. There wasn''t much noise the whole time." When Mu Xi thought of the troops who came and went like shadows, she felt a chill.
In that case, it made sense. Imperial Physician Gu''s new prescription made Shen Yu sleep more heavily. If Shang JunLin gave orders not to disturb him, it wasn''t strange that he hadn''t noticed anything.
"Young master, what do you think His Majesty meant?" He specifically ordered them not to wake the young master. Was that because he cared?
Shen Yu shook his head. He didn''t know what the emperor thought.
"Please go back and reassure the other servants of Yuzhang Pce. Pick some things from the warehouse and reward them," Shen Yu ordered.
"Yes, young master."
"You should also have a good rest today."
Mu Xi was about to refuse when she heard Shen Yu continue. "Give the others in Yuzhang Pce a holiday as well."
"Very well."
Shen Yu usually didn''t like the pce servants to wait on him too closely. Mu Xi adjusted the personnel for each shift and left the rest of the time free for everyone topose themselves. Doing this didn''t affect the normal operation of Yuzhang Pce.
Shen Yu thought of the scene in his previous life when the King of Yue gloated about how his reputation was so much better than the tyrant''s. Shen Yu was determined to make sure the King of Yue would never have such an opportunity.
Inter years, the image of Shang JunLin as a tyrant became more and more widespread, a fact which couldn''t be separated from the wanton smears of the King of Yue and simr individuals. Some people ahthey ndered others without any self-awareness of how much worse they were themselves.
After Shang JunLin dealt with court affairs, he hesitated for a while, then went to Yuzhang Pce.
Meng Gonggong, who was following the emperor, said in surprise, "Isn''t it too quiet here?"
Compared to its usual state, Yuzhang Pce seemed almost empty all of a sudden. They hardly encountered any pce servants along the way.
The bedchamber was dim. The attendants apanying Shang JunLin went forward to light the candles. Only then did the pce regain its usual illumination.
"What happened?" Shang JunLin looked at the young man who sat at the table and didn''t rise to meet him. "Where are the pce attendants?"
"I saw they were all distracted, so I sent them to rest." Shen Yu still didn''t get up. His eyes remained on the mirror in front of him.
As for why he was distracted, everyone present could guess without Shen Yu needing to say it.
Meng Gonggong didn''t think His Majesty would encounter such a thing at Yuzhang Pce right after finishing his official duties. Cold sweat ran down his face. He said to himself: My little ancestor, even if you''re unhappy with His Majesty''s actions, you shouldn''t throw it in His Majesty''s face ah.
Shang JunLin took a few steps to Shen Yu, grasped his chin, and turned Shen Yu''s head towards himself, asking coldly, "Are youining about this emperor?"
To the emperor''s surprise, Shen Yu, who was enveloped in the icy aura, wasn''t the least bit afraid. Instead his eyes were full of interest. "Does Your Majesty also intend to see my blood?"
TL Notes:
Current posting schedule says every 4 chapters I take a day off, so I won''t post tomorrow. Thank you for reading (and forments and emojis etc. etc. etc.)! I feel happy every time Shen Yu gets a little insolent
air of superiority superior; sit up high in a leading position; be far removed from the masses and reality; be very lofty
"Your Majesty is very kind." a sentence Shen Yu said often Last sighted: Chapter 5
push aside all other patients from The original is more like "push off all other activity/work", which is pretty vague
seek revenge for even the smallest grievance seek revenge over a dirty look, not let anyone get away even with a hostile look
shadow guards Alternatively: dark or secret guards. In most novels, they''re bodyguards who protect the Emperor in secret. They may or may not be the same as the Hidden Dragon Guards mentioned in Chapter 6
imperial guard The imperial army serves directly under the emperor, usually guarding the emperor, the pce and the capital (Wikipedia)
came and went like shadows e and go like a shadow; act swiftly and wittingly; alert and quick; divinely appearing and demonically vanishing
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Chapter 9
Chapter 9
This time it wasn''t just the pce servants who were stunned. Shang JunLin, who was standing close to Shen Yu, couldn''t sense the slightest trace of fear in him.
Shen Yu was trembling, but not because he was afraid. It was more like the intense excitement of encountering something extremely interesting.
Without conscious thought, Shang JunLin released the hand gripping Shen Yu''s chin. Shen Yu shook his head andined in a low voice, "You pinched me."
Shang JunLin couldn''t help looking at the skin he''d just grasped. It was already tinged with a lightyer of crimson.
So delicate.
Unexpectedly, a flicker of irresolution crossed his face. Shen Yu''s eyes sparked with interest. He stood up, slowly approached Shang JunLin, and leaned close to his ear. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, "Does Your Majesty feel guilty?"
Shang JunLin grabbed Shen Yu''s shoulder to stop him from getting any closer. "Shen Yu, you''re overstepping your bounds," he scolded in a low voice.
Shen Yu immediately straightened and gave a formal and proper salute. "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Shang JunLin wasn''t sure why, but when he saw Shen Yu suddenly act like this, he felt a hint of loss. Covering up the unsettled emotions inside him, he took Shen Yu''s hand and led him to the side of the bed to sit down. "Are you truly angry with this emperor?"
Shen Yu: "Does Your Majesty want to hear the truth or a lie?"
Shang JunLin: "This emperor dislikes people who lie."
Shen Yu: "The truth is I''m not angry."
Shang JunLin didn''t believe it. "You''re acting like you''re angry."
"Well, in fact, at first I was a little angry." Shen Yu lifted his hand and indicated a short distance between his thumb and index finger. "Just a bit. But I''m not angry anymore."
Shang JunLin turned Shen Yu''s head towards him again, but this time he was careful with his strength and avoided hurting Shen Yu. He looked into Shen Yu''s eyes as if he was trying to see into his heart.
"Really?"
"How could I dare lie to Your Majesty?" Shen Yu let the man inspect his face. Curious, he asked, "Why didn''t Your Majesty tell me?"
"It wasn''t an important matter." Shang JunLin avoided Shen Yu''s focused gaze. "The doctor said your body needs rest to recuperate. It wasn''t worth making a scene in front of you."
It was because of his health? Shen Yu was startled, and a warm current welled up in his heart. He''d grown up with a sickly body but received little thoughtfulness or concern even as a child. Whether in this life or his previous one, there weren''t many people who cared about his well-being.
As if aware he might have said too much, Shang JunLin added, "This emperor was also afraid you''d have nightmares and disturb my sleep."
"Don''t worry, Your Majesty. With Your Majesty by my side, nothing can scare me." Shen Yu didn''t try to poke further. Smiling, he leaned closer to the man and rested his head on his shoulder.
"This emperor has discovered you''re not afraid of anything in heaven or earth." Feeling the unfamiliar weight on his shoulder, Shang JunLin''s lips slightly turned up.
"No, I''m only afraid Your Majesty will ignore me," Shen Yu murmured.
Without waiting for Shang JunLin to speak, Shen Yu continued, "I know Your Majesty did it for my own good. How can I be angry with Your Majesty for that? Besides, how could some strangers I don''t even know be more important than Your Majesty?"
The rancor in Shang JunLin''s heartpletely vanished. His index finger nudged Shen Yu''s forehead, and he took the initiative to mention, "The confession of that pce maid isplete. Do you want to see it?"
Shen Yu gave a small nod. Because he was leaning against Shang JunLin''s shoulder, every time Shen Yu''s head moved, Shang JunLin felt his shoulder being gently rubbed.
"Meng Chang, bring the confession."
"At once." Meng Gonggong was amazed. Tsking to himself, he admired Shen Yu''s skill from the bottom of his heart. He''d never seen anyone who could calm His Majesty''s anger so quickly.
And not only that, Shen Yu had coaxed the emperor into a good mood. His Majesty''s facecked much expression, but Meng Gonggong knew him well and could tell that His Majesty was now in good spirits.
The confession was quickly brought in. Shen Yu leaned on Shang JunLin''s shoulder and read it together with him.
Perhaps because Shen Yue was frightened, she revealed every detail known to the original owner. When Shen Yu looked at it, he couldn''t help but frown.
After all, Shen Yue was a marginal character. She didn''t have much inside information about the plot. Still, her confession was enough to provide a faint glimpse of how ambitious the person behind the scenes was.
Shen Yu knew there were spies outside the pce, but he hadn''t thought their schemes were buried so deep.
Shen Yue was ced in the pce ten years ago. In other words, ten years agoor even longerthose people had already begun to plot. What Shen Yue knew was just the tip of the iceberg.
What was beneath it, far below the surface, remainedpletely hidden.
The pce had many servants like Shen Yue, but it was rare for them to take any action. Their secret masters were extremely cautious and would only order their people to act at a critical moment.
After Shang JunLin took the throne, he spent more time on the battlefield than in the pce. It was only in the past few years, now that the country was recaptured, that he wasn''t constantly away at war.
After Shen Yu read the confession, he understood why Shang JunLin made the pce people watch the ughter. On the one hand, it was killing a chicken to frighten the monkeys, scaring them into line. On the other hand, it was the bloodiest possible warning to the people behind them: don''t y games in front of the emperor.
Even if he didn''t have aplete list of guilty people, what did that matter? Afterst night, how many pce servants would dare to make the same mistakes again? Moreover, in the past, Shang JunLin hadn''t spent much time in the pce, but in the future, he would live here at all times. Now his control over the pce would be greatly increased.
"The maid was only able to exin a small part, but it''s enough. This emperor''s people will follow the clues to find out the rest."
Shen Yu was immersed in his thoughts when he suddenly heard Shang JunLin''s voice. He felt startled for a moment, and then he realized Shang JunLin was exining to him. Hesitating, he said, "The confession"
"Last night was a smokescreen. The Hidden Dragon Guard found more."
Shen Yu understood. The emperor had acted to confuse the enemy''s line of sight and conceal what happened to Shen Yue. The conspirators could only guess how much the emperor really knew about their movements.
"This emperor had no idea that Imperial Censor Zhang''s hand stretched so far."
Then it wasn''t a coincidence. Some of the details in Shen Yue''s confession pointed directly to Imperial Censor Zhang. He appeared upright and honest on the surface, but he''d done a lot of "clever things" in secret. The Hidden Dragon Guard followed the chain of clues and turned up a lot of incriminating evidence.
Shang JunLin didn''t conceal any of this from Shen Yu. "This emperor thought he was merely greedy, a snake trying to swallow an elephant. As it turned out"
Imperial Censor Zhang belonged to an aristocratic family, but he was one of the few officials who did productive work during the reign of the previous emperor. He always had a good reputation. After Shang JunLin ascended the throne, he dismissed many corrupt officials, but Imperial Censor Zhang was one of the few who remained. Who would have thought it was all fake?
"Your Majesty, are you going to publish the evidence of Imperial Censor Zhang''s guilt?"
"Do you want this emperor to make it public?" Shang JunLin stared at Shen Yu with unclear meaning.
"I just think he''s done too many wrong things. It''s only right for the people to scold him." To let a man like Imperial Censor Zhang keep his good name after death was going far too easy on him.
Shen Yu: "People should be held responsible when they do wrong, shouldn''t they, Your Majesty?"
Shang JunLin: "Everything the noble monarch says is reasonable."
Shen Yu: "And Your Majesty frightened my servant girl. Are you going to make up for it?"
Shang JunLin didn''t expect the topic to suddenly turn there. He looked at Shen Yu with a half-smile. "Was that the noble monarch''s n all along? To ask this emperor to reward the little servant you brought into the pce?"
"If possible, I hope Your Majesty can do the same for the other pce people as well."
"Fine." Shang JunLin was in a good mood and happy to satisfy Shen Yu''s small request. "Meng Chang, do as the noble monarch said."
"Aiyo, this ve thanks the noble monarch for remembering everyone." Meng Gonggong smiled and gave thanks for his kindness.
When the reward came down, it diluted the fear of the pce servants. The King of Yue waited several days without receiving the good news he''d expected from the pce. He was so angry that he threw his cup.
"Is this what you call a foolproof n? Who told me he wouldn''t care about the lives of pce servants?!"
"This" His advisor couldn''t say anything. He too wanted to know why the emperor suddenly changed his routine. The pce servants who received a reward for being frightened were now more respectful than afraid of the emperor. The n was in ruins.
"Useless!" The King of Yue took a deep breath. "Everyone, think carefully. Has anything unusual happened around the emperor recently?"
The King of Yue had some understanding of Shang JunLin. He knew that his royal brother disdained to exin himself. He didn''t care about other people''s opinions at all. Appeasing the pce servants over this matter wasn''t something he''d do.
"If I had to guess, does the newly appointed Noble Monarch Shen count?"
The King of Yue suddenly clutched at the table. His face darkened. When he heard Shen Yu''s name, he remembered the way Shen Yu viewed him as a substitute for that man. However, the others didn''t know about this and continued to talk.
"They say Noble Monarch Shen is greatly favored, and what happened took ce in the harem. It could very well have something to do with him."
"Stop talking!" The King of Yue felt almost sick enough to vomit, but no matter how bad he felt, there were important things to decide. "We can discuss thatter. The rest of you think about how to save Young Master He."
He hadn''t forgotten the most important reason for concealing his identity and entering the capital.
Meanwhile, Shen Yu didn''t care what the King of Yue might do. He cleaned up a bit and prepared to explore Shen Yue''s background again.
Shen Yue was locked up in a special, dark prison, and Shen Yu naturally wasn''t allowed to go there. He ground down Shang JunLin over several days and finally got Shang JunLin to promise to take him there.
"You could have asked for something else, don''t forget." Outside the secret prison, Shang JunLin lightly reminded him.
Shen Yu: "I know. I just hope Your Majesty can give me a little time alone with her and ensure no one is secretly watching during that time."
Shang JunLin: "This emperor is really curious what big secrets you''re going to discuss."
Why was Shen Yu so certain he could get information from her that the Hidden Dragon Guards couldn''t?
Shen Yu followed a Hidden Dragon Guard member into the prison. The dark prison was like its name, poorly illuminated and cold in climate. After taking one step inside, it was like he''d entered a deep and terrible underworld.
Shen Yu wrapped his cloak more tightly around him and saw someone in a single person cell.
The jailer opened the cell door and ordered everyone else to retreat.
"Shen Yue."
The person cowering by the wall raised her head at the sound. Then she saw that the person who entered was Shen Yu, the man she least wanted to see. She was about to say something when he lowered his voice and said a few words.
Shen Yue: ! ! !
The next moment, Shen Yue widened her eyes in horror.
How could this be?!
How could Shen Yu know?!
He really
Who was he?!
TL Notes:
irresolution lose one''s presence of mind; lose one''s head / to be floored, overwhelmed, stupefied, at a loss
formal and proper behave oneself; remain orderly; be well-behaved;w-abiding / lit.pass and set square
smokescreen cover other''s eyes and ears; cast a mist before sb.''s eyes; cover up the story; fool public opinion
aiyo hey / ow / ouch / interjection of pain or surprise
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Chapter 10
Chapter 10
What Shen Yu said was "cell phone".
It was something he happened to hear from Shen QingRan in his previous life. Apparently it was amunication tool, and everyone in that era owned one. Shen Yu was only testing Shen Yue. He had no idea she''d reveal herself with so little effort.
It saved him a lot of trouble.
"You transmigrated from modern times too?" Shen Yue asked with astonishment.
"Modern times", "transmigration"it was the same as Shen QingRan!
Shen Yu was delighted. At first he worried he wouldn''t find a way to learn more about Shen QingRan''s origin, but Shen Yue sent herself to his door. It wasn''t much effort at all.
Before asking what he wanted to know, Shen Yu began with a few questions to stabilize her mood. Shen Yue didn''t hesitate to tell him everything about the original owner of her body. She didn''t care at all about the original owner and openly called her stupid. She had never told anyone about her origin until now.
Shen Yue was shocked to learn there were other transmigrators in this world besides herself. "When did you"
"Shh" Shen Yu interrupted, putting a finger to his lips.
Shen Yue hurriedly covered her mouth. When she saw there were no other people around, she rxed a little, leaned closer to Shen Yu, and said eagerly, "Since we''re from the same ce, we should be on the same side. Get me out of here fast. I don''t want to stay in this hellhole another moment. It''s scarier than an imperial edict prison."
Imperial edict prison.
A new term. Shen Yu''s eyes narrowed, but he could roughly guess its meaning from Shen Yue''s behavior.
Shen Yu didn''t have much time. He calmly continued the conversation. "How did you get here?"
"I don''t know. I was on my lunch break in the workshop. When I opened my eyes, I was here." Shen Yue had only one thing on her mind, leaving this hellish ce quickly. She didn''t bother thinking about the deeper meaning of Shen Yu''s words.
Shen Yu asked a few more questions, and she answered all of them. He soon understood what kind of era Shen Yue came from.
He established several points. First, transmigration was not under human control, and the reasons for transmigration were currently unknown. Second, Shen Yue, Shen QingRan, and other transmigrators came from an era that must be thousands of years in the future, where every person was equal and there was no royal family. Technology was far more advanced than in Da Huan.
Beyond that, Shen Yue didn''t say much, and Shen Yu couldn''t ask for too many details in case he made her suspicious.
Shen Yu was extremely interested in the technology ofter generations. Unfortunately, Shen Yue''s knowledge was only superficial, and he had to give up.
Footsteps came from behind him. Shen Yu understood this was a reminder that time was up.
"Done talking?"
A low voice spoke from behind him. Shen Yu turned back. Sure enough, Shang JunLin, dressed in ck, emerged from the darkness.
When she heard Shang JunLin''s voice, Shen Yue shivered. The original owner was a pce maid, and Shen Yue had been taken to witness the massacre. How could someone who grew up in a peaceful era and never even killed a chicken endure such a bloody scene?
For the first time, Shen Yue had a profound understanding of the ancient times she now lived in and how cruel life was in this era. For some ancient people, killing was as easy as eating or drinking water.
Ever since that night, thest bit of fantasy she had about the emperor was erased. When she saw the emperor now, she only wanted to find a crack to hide herself in.
Fortunately, Shang JunLin didn''t pay much attention to her. Seeing Shen Yu''s rxed attitude around the emperor, Shen Yue''s admiration for her "fellow citizen" increased by leaps and bounds.
"The prison is cold and damp. Time to go back."
Shen Yu felt a sudden warmth on his hand. He felt stunned as he met Shang JunLin''s slightly concerned eyes. His hands had gotten cold so quickly, and he hadn''t noticed.
As the man held his hand, a steady stream of warmth spread from his fingers and pooled in his heart. Shen Yu smiled. "Yes, Your Majesty, let''s go back."
"Any results?"
Shen Yu shook his head. "To be honest, I didn''t have much hope. After my mother died, I couldn''t find anything about her in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence, much less the capital. It''s almost like everything about her was erased overnight, and my mother never existed in Da Huan."
When Shen Yu told Shang JunLin he wanted to talk to the pce maid alone, he said it was because he was "looking for clues about his mother". The background of Shen Yu''s mother was genuinely strange. Shang JunLin asked the Hidden Dragon Guard to check as well, but unusually, they were unable to find anything useful.
Now there was a woman whose looks were simr to Shen Yu, and she was deliberately ced in the pce. It was normal for Shen Yu to take interest.
For a while Shang JunLin was silent. He didn''t ask Shen Yu for details of his conversation with Shen Yue. "Don''t be anxious."
"Is Your Majestyforting me?" Shen Yu said with a smile. "I expected this result, so I''m not too disappointed. I have Your Majesty''spany now. I''m no longer the little boy who longed for his mother."
The two walked together through the cold, dark prison, but there was a steady flow of warmth beside him. Shen Yu tilted his head. Shang JunLin''s profile was handsome and his facial features were sharp. To think that such a man, who stood at the height of power, would grant his request and show tenderness to him in such small details. It really
Really made his heart tremble.
"Your Majesty."
Shen Yu stopped. Shang JunLin looked at him doubtfully.
"I" Shen Yu was about to speak when a sudden movement caught his eye. Two surreptitious figures were passing by not far away. When Shen Yu looked around he saw only a few pce servants far behind them.
Young Master He!
Something in Shen Yu''s mind exploded. There was no time to think. He grabbed Shang JunLin and ran after the sneaking figures.
"Your Majesty, is anyone following us secretly?" Shen Yu gasped. He was physically exhausted.
"You mean"
"The Hidden Dragon Guard." The situation was urgent. Shen Yu wasn''t going to stand by and watch Young Master He escape from the emperor under his nose. "I saw some suspicious people just now and suspect they''re trying to break someone out of the prison."
Shang JunLin didn''t say much. He immediately gave orders to the Hidden Dragon Guard.
Shen Yu tugged at his sleeve. "Your Majesty, about Shen Yue"
"This emperor will arrange for someone to watch her."
Because of Shen Yu''s weak body, they were a step slower than the Hidden Dragon Guard. By the time they arrived, the suspicious people had already been subdued.
Shen Yu stood behind Shang JunLin, half-hidden by his body. The emperor took the sword handed to him by a subordinate and used the point to lift up the chin of one of the criminals.
"Speak, who ordered you toe?"
"You''re a tyrant who brutalizes the innocent! Even if you kill me, I won''t talk."
"Oh? Is that so?" When Shang JunLin lowered the sword, a few scarlet beads of blood dripped from the de. The man who''d just spoken fell to the ground, dead before he could close his eyes.
The jailer and the other people who''d taken bribes were frightened out of their wits. They never expected Shang JunLin to suddenly appear in the dark prison, let alone that the emperor would kill so abruptly.
Shen Yu smelled the heavy odor of blood. He stuck his head out from behind Shang JunLin.
In addition to the man who fell in a pool of blood, there were three other men in the cell. Two were dressed as prison guards and kept their heads lowered. The third was dressed like a prisoner. He was huddled against the wall with his hair over his face, concealing his features.
Shen Yu poked Shang JunLin. The man didn''t respond, so Shen Yu cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, please ask someone to check the condition of the prisoner."
"No" A man dressed like a prison guard instinctively opened his mouth, realized something, and went pale.
Of course, no one present was going to listen to him. The moment Shen Yu''s words fell, Shang JunLin made a gesture, and one of the Hidden Dragon Guards walked up to "Young Master He". Despite "Young Master He"s struggle, the guardsman roughly pushed aside the hair concealing the man''s face.
The moment he saw the face of this "Young Master He", Shang JunLin narrowed his eyes. An amazing aura of cold erupted from his body.
This was not the real Young Master He.
No matter how simr his body shape was, it couldn''t hide the fact he wasn''t Young Master He.
"It seems that this emperor has been too lenient with you."
One of the dark prison guards arrived in a hurry after hearing the news. When he heard these words, his legs went weak and he fell to his knees.
"This servant begs Your Majesty''s forgiveness for failing in my duty."
Shang JunLin didn''t give him a single nce. He walked over to the man dressed as a prisoner, who hadn''t spoken throughout, and put the point of his sword at his neck. "Raise your head."
The man didn''t move.
Shang JunLin''s hand was steady. The edge of the de pierced the man''s skin little by little, and blood trickled slowly out.
The man panicked. He could feel Shang JunLin''s killing intent. If he didn''t raise his head, no matter whether he was Young Master He or not, he would die!
Shen Yu was still standing safely behind the emperor, with two Hidden Dragon Guards at his side. He watched the man slowly lift his head, revealing a face that showed the vicissitudes of life.
It wasn''t Young Master He.
In the end, Shang JunLin didn''t kill the man. He tossed away the sword, took a handkerchief offered by a subordinate, and wiped his hands. In a cold voice he said, "Go and check."
The moment Shen Yu had said something was wrong, the Hidden Dragon Guard took control of the entire dark prison. In a little while, someone brought in a young man whose body waspletely limp.
He was also dressed as a prison guard. After he was thrown into the cell, his body kept shaking.
Shen Yu gazed at Young Master He, the person who would bring about so much bloodshed in the future. He could still be considered young and handsome, but his expression was so frightened that it damaged his looks.
After the man was found, Shang JunLin didn''t bother to stay much longer. He immediately reced most of the dark prison guards.
Shen Yu didn''t care what happened to the previous guards. He was escorted back to Yuzhang Pce by Shang JunLin, covertly followed by several Hidden Dragon Guards.
Shen Yu knew that his actions today were far too conspicuous. It was normal for Shang JunLin to take precautions against him.
Young Master He was being detained in secret. It was something Shen Yu should know nothing about. After entering the pce, Shen Yu tried to think of ways to warn Shang JunLin that someone wanted to secretly take Young Master He away, but before he found an excuse, he went to the dark prison to speak to Shen Yue and happened to encounter the scene of the jailbreak.
He didn''t know if Shang JunLin would believe his exnation.
The conspirators did everything quietly. They bought off the jailers in the dark prison and reced the real Young Master He with a fake. They also arranged for several people to meet them outside. If Shen Yu hadn''t persuaded Shang JunLin to go to the dark prison today, this group might have stolen away the real Young Master He before anyone noticed.
One day passed. Shen Yu didn''t have to wait for Shang JunLin to "call him to ount". His movements weren''t restricted and he didn''t feel watched. It wasn''t so much that people were sent to monitor him, but to protect him.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Shen Yu stood up so quickly he knocked over the teacup on the table.
"In such a hurry?" As soon as Shang JunLin walked in, he saw Shen Yu fumbling to pick up the cup.
"I was just thinking about Your Majesty, and Your Majesty arrived. Doesn''t that mean my heart is connected to Your Majesty?" In a sh, Shen Yu''s panic vanished. Heposed himself.
"Don''t you have something to say to this emperor?" Shang JunLin said with cool emphasis.
The author has something to say:
Today is another chance for Little Cat Shen to frantically dance on the edge of the cliff
TL Notes:
imperial edict prison A royal prison in ancient China. Most of the prisoners were high-ranking officials jailed personally by the emperor (Wikipedia) The prison was under the direct control of the emperor, outside the normal legal system, and was considered prone to abuses (Baidu)
heart tremble heartbeat / heart rate / One''s mind is perturbed. or One''s desire, enthusiasm or interest is aroused / (fig.) emotionally affected / aroused (of desire, emotion, interest etc)
dead before he could close his eyes die without closing one''s eyes [with grudge unsatisfied]; He can''t close his eyes at the hour of death.; His eyes can''t be closed in death; turn in one''s grave; cannot die in peace; die dissatisfied; die with evesting regret; die with injustice unredressed;
the vicissitudes of life from from seas into mulberry fields and from mulberry fields into seastime brings great changes to the world Another way of saying a person has rugged features or looks a little older
so much bloodshed a foul wind and a rain of blood reign of terror; winds carrying an offensive smell of blood; sanguinary ughter; great blood-shed
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Little Cat Shen Shn mo mo
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Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Shen Yu pretended to be ignorant. "What does Your Majesty mean? What do I have to say to Your Majesty? Does Your Majesty want me to say every day that I like"
"Shen Yu," Shang JunLin interrupted him lightly. "You know what I''m talking about."
"If I said it was truly just a coincidence, would Your Majesty believe me?" Shen Yu lowered his eyes. His voice was full of uncertainty.
"What do you think?" Shang JunLin asked.
I wouldn''t. Shen Yu knew that if it were him, he wouldn''t believe it either. How could there be so many coincidences in the world? Coincidences were rare, and most were man-made.
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu took a deep breath. "I went to see Shen Yue to question her and for no other reason. Believe it or not, what happened after that was really and truly an ident."
Shen Yu had no idea that the day he chose to visit the dark prison was also the day of Young Master He''s escape attempt. He didn''t know if the heavens were trying to help him or harm him.
"Put that aside for the time being. When you saw those suspicious people, you insisted they were trying to free someone from the prison. This emperor asks youhow did you know that? How did you know about He JinYuan?"
Shang JunLin drew closer to Shen Yu with a sense of oppression like impending thunder. His eyes stayed on Shen Yu''s face, and not a single flicker of expression escaped him.
Shen Yu remained impassive, but inside he felt a little flustered. He JinYuan was the personal name of Young Master He. Shen Yu could find a reasonable excuse for anything that happened that day, except when it came to Young Master He.
Shang JunLin reached out and touched Shen Yu''s cheek. His hand was warm as usual, making Shen Yu feel cold by contrast.
"Shen Yu, don''t lie to me."
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu reached up and covered the man''s hand with his own. "Your Majesty must believe that I''ll always be on your side."
"Of course this emperor knows that. Otherwise you wouldn''t be in Yuzhang Pce but in the dark prison." Shang JunLin''s eyes were dark and unreadable. His fingertips stroked Shen Yu''s face.
Shang JunLin had full confidence in the Hidden Dragon Guard he''d personally trained. He deliberately revealed information to a few people, but it was impossible for anyone else to know He JinYuan was in the dark prison. Shen Yu couldn''t know unless
He was involved with those people.
Before entering the pce, Shen Yu had associated with the King of Yue. Were there other connections between them he didn''t know about?
As the shadows in Shang JunLin''s eyes grew darker and darker, Shen Yu quickly rummaged through his memories. He had to dispel Shang JunLin''s suspicions. He came here to live an easy life. There was no point in being reborn if he was just going to cause trouble for himself.
"Your Majesty, before I entered the pce, I overheard some people talking about a dark prison'' and recing'' someone. The person who said this looks somewhat simr to Your Majesty, and he was speaking to his subordinates. I only heard it once. When I saw suspicious people in the dark prison the other day, I suddenly remembered what I heard and my mouth was faster than my brain."
After it happened, Shen Yu knew he''d been too impulsive, but at the time, his only thought was that he couldn''t let the King of Yue''s men escape with He JinYuan. He didn''t stop to think that he was the son of an aristocratic family who hadn''t left the residence for many years due to illness, and he shouldn''t be so perceptive.
"I know what I said may be a little difficult to believe, but the fact is everything was a coincidence. The reason Your Majesty chose toe here and question me about it alone is because your investigation didn''t find anything else, right?"
"True, this emperor didn''t find anything." Shang JunLin had nopunctions about threatening Shen Yu. "And you should pray this emperor never does."
"I haven''t done anything. Your Majesty can feel free to investigate further." Shen Yu sensed the atmosphere had eased, and he rubbed his cheek against the hand on his face. "Your Majesty, don''t scare me. I''m timid and can''t stand to be frightened."
"This emperor thinks you have a lot of courage."
The skin under Shang JunLin''s hand was warm, and it felt better than the finest jade. Under those bright and innocent eyes he withdrew his hand. Without changing expression, he rubbed his index finger with his thumb. "Are you going to ask this emperor forpensation again?"
His noble monarch was delicate and didn''t like to suffer any grievances. Shang JunLin thought of an imperial concubine who was favored by the previous emperor, one who''d raised a pet cat sent by a foreign country. The cat was beautiful and noble, with clear, shining eyes, just like Shen Yu.
"Your Majesty understands me very well, but I don''t want a reward this time. Your Majesty, just satisfy my curiosity and tell me what happenedter." Shen Yu knew that for a man in a position of power like Shang JunLin, the more magnanimous his attitude, the better.
Shang JunLin was surprised. "You''re not afraid this emperor will doubt you?"
"Is Your Majesty saying you don''t doubt me now?" Shen Yu asked.
Shang JunLin lifted Shen Yu''s chin and looked at his face. "Sometimes this emperor can''t tell whether you''re clever or careless."
Shen Yu didn''t hesitate. "Then I must be clever. How could a foolish person stand beside Your Majesty?"
"The noble monarch is always reasonable." Shang JunLin released Shen Yu, then went to the side of the bed and sat down. "Come here. Don''t you want to know what happened next?"
Shen Yu obediently walked to Shang JunLin and sat down.
"This emperor ordered men to investigate, but all they found was a few marginal figures. The conspirators were too cautious and didn''t reveal themselves from beginning to end. Every order was passed through several intermediaries."
Young Master He''s imprisonment was a secret, and there was no news in the court. Shang JunLin asked his forces to pay close attention to the movements of several ministers, but they found nothing.
"The conspirators intend to push the me onto a few ministers who''ve been imprisoned. My people have been busy for several days, but none of the clues lead anywhere."
"The man who''s responsible is certain Your Majesty won''t publicize what happened. Why doesn''t Your Majesty drag it into the light?"
They talked for a while. Shang JunLin had never treated Shen Yu like a bird in a golden cage. asionally when Shen Yu asked about the previous dynasty, Shang JunLin would discuss it with him. Their conversations weren''t deep, but it wasn''t difficult for Shang JunLin to notice Shen Yu''s sensitivity to political affairs.
The Zhenbei Marquis was incredibly stupid to send such a son to the pce.
During morning court, Shang JunLin changed his usual practice and announced that someone tried to break into the prison, but he concealed the details about the criminals. The court officials thought Imperial Censor Zhang and his allies were involved. They were in an uproar.
It was true the ministers wanted to free Imperial Censor Zhang and the other jailed officials, but they certainly didn''t want to break into the prison. The current Shang JunLin hadn''t been tyrannical to the point ofpletely outraging them. They wanted to know what Imperial Censor Zhang had done to so greatly offended the emperor.
"The matter will be assigned to Minister Fang. This emperor wants a satisfactory answer in half a month."
Minister Fang saluted respectfully. "This minister will obey."
Shang JunLin ignored the surprise of the ministers and assigned several assistants to Minister Fang.
"If there''s nothing else, morning court is dismissed." Shang JunLin gave themand and made ready to leave.
"Your Majesty." The Minister of Rites stepped forward. "Your Majesty''s birthday ising soon. Will everything be the same asst year?"
The audience counted the days and realized that His Majesty''s birthday was indeeding soon. In previous years, the preparations would have already begun, but this year so many things had happened that it was almost overlooked.
Shang JunLin was about to nod when he thought of something. "Discuss it with Noble Monarch Shen."
Startled, the ministers remembered that their emperor was no longer single.
Shen Yu also heard the pce servants discussing this topic.
"His Majesty''s birthday?" he asked while trimming a spray of plum blossoms in a vase.
"Yes, His Majesty''s birthday is half a month from now. Every year at this time the imperial pce holds a birthday banquet. Now that the noble monarch is here, the pce will certainly be more lively than in the past."
The pce attendants liked their master, Shen Yu, a great deal. Their opinion of him soared after the previous incident.
"Noble monarch, the Minister of Rites, Minister Lu, requests an audience," a servant came in to report.
"Why would the Minister of Ritese to see me?" Although he was puzzled, Shen Yu asked the attendants to invite him in.
The Minister of Rites was confused as well. It was true that Shen Yu was a man, but after all, he was the emperor''s concubine. It didn''t seem proper for him to meet a man who was unrted to him. When the minister mentioned this to His Majesty after court, His Majesty just told him toe directly.
So the Minister of Rites had no choice.
"This minister greets the noble monarch."
"There''s no need to be polite, Your Excellency. Come take a seat." It wasn''t the first time Shen Yu had met the Minister of Rites. Thest time was when he entered the pce.
Minister Lu got straight to the point and exined his purpose. After listening to the minister describe the relevant protocols, Shen Yu didn''t think there were any major problems. He picked out a few small details and made changes.
After settling the process, Minister Lu said goodbye. Shen Yu sat in his chair and tried to remember if this was the year the vassal kings would return to the capital. And then he wondered why the vassal kings were summoned in the first ce.
Shen Yu decided to wait for Shang JunLin and ask him.
In a humble mansion somewhere in the capital.
When the King of Yue heard that the emperor nned to conduct a thorough investigation, he didn''t understand what was happening. Why was everything in the capital this time so different from what he expected?
The emperor''s usual style had changed drastically. Every single thing the King of Yue tried to do had failed, and every time the result almost made him want to vomit blood.
He took a deep breath. "What about the people we sent? Is there no news at all?"
In order to save Young Master He, the King of Yue spent a lot of money to hire a troop of people. But not only did they not rescue Young Master He, the people all disappeared!
The subordinate ducked his head and said with difficulty, " That''s correct."
"This king shouldn''t have expected anything from you. What a bunch of trash!" The King of Yue paced a few steps. "What about the aftermath? They won''t trace anything here, will they?"
"Don''t worry, Your Highness, they won''t find anything." The subordinate was certain of this. Strictly speaking, the prison break never touched their hands. Whether it was giving orders or hiring men, it had nothing to do with the King of Yue.
"All ns are suspended for now. Get out." The King of Yue waved his hand weakly. This time there really weren''t any good results froming to the capital.
Or maybe not. The King of Yue thought of the shu son of the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence who always had such fascinating ideas, and narrowed his eyes.
The news that the King of Yue and Shen QingRan were once again colluding reached Shen Yu''s ears through Mu Xi.
"This ve thought that man was truly devoted to the young master. I was really blind," Mu Xi said, pursing her lips. "Fortunately, the young master has a clear mind and good eyes and wasn''t cheated."
"Your young master is so clever he can only cheat others. Who could possibly cheat him?" Shang JunLin''s low voice came from outside the door.
Mu Xi flinched slightly. She''d dispatched the pce agent who gathered the information for Shen Yu. If His Majesty heard everything she said just now
TL Notes:
personal name mnghu taboo name (e.g. of emperor), true name, real name
threatening (Shen Yu) picking on, telling off, reproaching, admonishing, upbraiding, etc.
(clever or) careless broad-minded, thoughtless, sloppy, negligent, simple-minded, nitwitted
Ministry of Rites In most dynasties, this was one of the six ministries of the central government. Among other things, it was in charge of ceremonies, banquets, the imperial examinations, and receiving foreign vassals and envoys (Wikipedia)
this king bn wng
pce agent from pce talent / pce person of ability, talented person, qualified personnel, attractive looks
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
He JinYuan
vassal kings fn wng rulers of vassal states / fiefdoms
Minster Fang Fng drn. Alternatively: Lord Fang, His Excellency Fang, Mr. Fang
Minister Lu L drn etc.
Your Highness wngy Alternatively: Prince, Marquis, Nobleman, Your Majesty
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Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Mu Xi had no idea Shang JunLin would arrive just now, and the emperor didn''t tell anyone to announce him when he entered. Shang JunLin came to Yuzhang Pce at specific times, mostly in the evening or at night, while Mu Xi usually discussed things with Shen Yu in the morning.
After entering the pce, Shen Yu continued to have his people keep an eye on the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. His focus, of course, was the original book protagonist, Shen QingRan. Reports made their way back to him in the pce every so often.
He hadn''t expected the King of Yue and Shen QingRan to hook up so soon, much earlier than in the book. Was it because Shen Yu was no longer in the way?
By this time in hisst life, Shen QingRan had already entered the pce, and the progress of his rtionship with the King of Yue naturally stagnated for a while. But Shang JunLin was now here, and Shen Yu didn''t have time to think about anything else. He quickly gathered his thoughts and got up to meet the emperor.
"Did Your Majesty finish your work today?"
Shang JunLin was diligent about government affairs. He spent most of his day managing his duties, and sometimes even brought official reports to Yuzhang Pce.
Shang JunLin didn''t answer Shen Yu''s question. "If this emperor hadn''te here at this hour, I wouldn''t have heard your little servant say such interesting things." His falcon-like gaze fell on Mu Xi. "Tell this emperor, who troubled our noble monarch?"
"Your Majesty, forgive this ve. This ve" Mu Xi fell to her knees with a "thump" and bowed her head.
Shen Yu was unconcerned. "His Majesty is just curious. What''s the harm of saying it? At worst, your dear master will be ridiculed."
Mu Xi couldn''t help looking at Shen Yu. She was surprised to see that his face wasn''t flustered at all. He seemed to think what she had to say wasn''t a big deal.
Shen Yu really didn''t care if Shang JunLin knew. The rtionship between himself and Shang JunLin wasn''t the normal rtionship between an emperor and a concubine. And the emperor might already know what Mu Xi wanted to keep from him.
"Then I''ll say it. Your Majesty, don''t make fun of me." Sighing, Shen Yu walked to Shang JunLin and pulled his sleeve with an aggrieved expression. "I just found out that a person who said he liked me before I entered the pce is now involved with my di brother at home. Obviously, when that man spoke of love, it was just empty talk,pletely untrustworthy."
"Oh?" Shang JunLin smoothly took Shen Yu''s waist, trapping Shen Yu in front of him. Shang JunLin bowed his head and said intimately, "Then is the noble monarch broken-hearted?"
His voice was full of affection, with an indefinable meaning. The skin on Shen Yu''s neck turned pale pink beneath the man''s warm breath.
As that jade-like skin was dyed with a blush, the emperor''s eyes darkened.
His voice was low and hoarse. "This emperor will take vengeance on him for you, all right?"
The atmosphere was suddenly ambiguous, and the strength of the arms around his waist increased. Shen Yu stared into the man''s dark eyes and felt his heart pound.
Warm sunshine poured in from the open window, partly falling on them. Shen Yu thought the arms around his waist were even hotter than the sun itself, as if they were about to burn up.
"Your Majesty" Shen Yu turned his head and avoided the man''s heavy gaze. "You''re hurting me."
Shang JunLin looked at him deeply for a moment, then loosened his arms. "The noble monarch is so delicate. Whatever shall we do in the future?"
The other meaning of those words sessfully spread scarlet into the young man''s cheeks. It was especially obvious on his earlobe, like a ripe, lustrous fruit that longed to be picked.
Shang JunLin''s fingers slightly moved, wanting to touch that reddish earlobe.
Freed from the heat of the man''s body, Shen Yu''s mind slowly calmed down. If Shang JunLin wasn''t still here, he would have rubbed his face.
"Mu Xi, you can go." Shen Yu''s eyes swept to the servant girl kneeling to the side. He cleared his throat.
Mu Xi bowed her head and retreated.
Shang JunLin had arrived alone. When Mu Xi left, only Shang JunLin and Shen Yu remained in the room.
Shen Yu poured himself a cup of tea. After drinking it, he felt he was being rude and poured a second cup. "Would Your Majesty like some?"
Shang JunLin took it and drank. "Does the noble monarch really not want this emperor to take revenge for you?"
Shen Yu looked up at the man and was stunned. There was no yfulness on Shang JunLin''s face at all. It was a serious question.
Shen Yu rubbed the teacup. He said lightly, "Your Majesty, I don''t care about things that happened before I entered the pce. Besides, how can anyone elsepare to Your Majesty? With Your Majesty here, nothing they do matters to me."
"You"
Shen Yu interrupted after one word. "But if Your Majesty can cause them misfortune, I''d be happy to see it."
Those two were the protagonists from the book he saw after his death. Shen Yu would be delighted to make them unhappy.
Meanwhile, the situation in the court was changing rapidly. Minister Fang was an official from a humble background, promoted by Shang JunLin soon after the young emperor ascended the throne. He enforced thew impartially and had great talent in investigating cases.
He was a member of Shang JunLin''s own faction and served in the Court of Judicial Review. At present his official rank wasn''t high. Shang JunLin began to cultivate his influence in the court on arge scale after ascending the throne, but there still weren''t many people he could use.
The deeper Fang Jun investigated, the more he thought the case was moreplex than it appeared. He was originally supposed to investigate the people who tried to break into the prison. To his surprise, what he found was evidence that pointed to Imperial Censor Zhang''s corruption and perversion of thew.
Bit by bit, piece by piece. It was shocking.
He finally understood why Imperial Censor Zhang was sent to prison so abruptly.
The officials who assisted him with the case fell silent when they saw the evidence. Not long ago, they wereining about the injustice done to Imperial Censor Zhang with genuine concern. Now those memories pped them in the face one at a time.
Their faces stung.
"Minister Fang, this"
The evidence was hot in their hands. The most worrying thing was that they didn''t know the emperor''s attitude. Did the emperor know about Imperial Censor Zhang''s crimes? If so, how much did he know? And why didn''t he make it public when Imperial Censor Zhang was first imprisoned?
"I''ll go to the imperial pce. Don''t act rashly and don''t leak the news. Otherwise"
"This lowly official knows, yes indeed, Minister Fang can rest assured."
The officials exchanged nces. There was no getting around it now.
Minister Fang took the incriminating evidence to the pce. He spoke with Shang JunLin in the imperial study all afternoon. No one knew what they said, but Fang Jun''s words set off huge waves in the court the next day.
How could this be?
The ministers stared at each other in dismay. Several who obviously knew the inside story averted their eyes, not daring to look at the man on the throne.
Did His Majesty know? How much did he know? Were their secrets also exposed? Countless questions swirled in their minds. In their panic they couldn''t help but pray: Please don''t let the emperor find out about me!
After the initial shock, a minister stepped forward. "Daring to ask Minister Fang, can you guarantee the evidence is authentic?"
"This official has verified all the evidence and witnesses separately. The evidence is conclusive. There is no possibility of false usation." Fang Jun knew what they were thinking. When he first saw the evidence, he had the same doubts. It was only after confirming everything that he dared to enter the pce to face the emperor.
"Wow"
The discussion in the court grew even louder. No one thought Fang Jun would uncover such a big story when investigating the prison break case. So, did His Majesty suddenly and mysteriously put Imperial Censor Zhang in jail because he knew about this all along, or did a blind cat happen to find a dead mouse?
"Have you finished your discussion?"
An emotionless voice spoke from the throne. The court officials suddenly quieted down, and a pin drop could have been heard in the main hall.
Shang JunLin''s eyes skimmed carelessly over the ministers. Several with poor psychological quality almost knelt down then and there.
With one hand on his chin, Shang JunLin said coldly, "Fang Jun, tell them what you found."
Fang Jun cupped his fist. In a loud voice, he said, "The criminal official Zhang YuHua appropriated two thousand mu of fertilend in the seventeenth year of Qingping, and in the twenty-first year of Qingping"
In therge space, only Fang Jun''s voice could be heard. It took close to half an hour to read through the incriminating evidence.
Amid the silence, Shang JunLin''s slightly cold voice rang out, "Does anyone else wish to plead for Imperial Censor Zhang?"
No one dared to answer. A few days ago they unanimously knelt here and asked the emperor to take mercy on Imperial Censor Zhang. And what was the result?
They were wrong about the whole damn thing.
Trembling, an elderly minister stepped forward. "Your Majesty, was it for this reason that Official Zhang, the criminal minister, was arrested in the first ce?"
Shang JunLin: "What does Old Chen think?"
Old Chen: "This minister was deceived by appearances."
Shang JunLin: "Fang Jun, this emperor will leave the matter of Imperial Censor Zhang to you. Don''t disappoint this emperor."
Fang Jun: "This minister will obey and will live up to Your Majesty''s trust!"
After morning court came to an end, the ministers were in aplex mood, and the story of Imperial Censor Zhang spread all over the capital. The people who were stillining about the injustice done to Imperial Censor Zhang were dumbstruck.
There was a small number of people who still refused to believe it, but given the conclusive evidence, there was nothing they could do.
The news also spread in the pce.
"I told you His Majesty wouldn''t attack an innocent person. Sure enough, Imperial Censor Zhang deserved to be arrested."
"Yes, Imperial Censor Zhang was always known as fair and honestwho would have thought he was actually doing all sorts of evil in private?"
"Outside they talk about how cruel His Majesty is, but if you think about it, we''ve worked in the pce for years and years, and we''ve never seen His Majesty dispose of people randomly."
"True, and that includes the servants who diedst time. Didn''t they exinter that all those people were conspiring with outside officials and secretly selling information from the pce? I''ll just say it, those people were killed for good reason."
When Shen Yu heard this chatter in front of him, he stopped, and the person walking beside him stopped as well.
But, as it happened, they''d already made too much noise. The pce servants ahead of them stopped talking and began to head their way.
Shen Yu took Shang JunLin over to the side to hide.
Of course, it was already toote. The pce servant who came to check found them immediately.
"Your, Your Majesty"
The man immediately knelt down. When the servant thought of what he''d just said, he went white with fear.
When the other servants heard themotion, they immediately knelt to pay their respects. Their bodies trembled and their expressions were ugly.
Shang JunLin''s face was cold, and he didn''t speak. Shen Yu pulled his sleeve, and when the emperor gave no sign of opening his mouth, Shen Yu quietly sent the frightened servants away.
After they left, Shang JunLin asked coldly, "Is this emperor so unpopr with everyone? When we ran into a few pce people, you tried to pull this emperor into hiding."
Shen Yu didn''t know why the emperor was unhappy, but he automatically smoothed the man''s fur. "What is Your Majesty thinking? I just didn''t want to scare them. Look, they''re shaking as they hurry away."
Shang JunLin frowned, realizing he''d spoken out of turn. "This emperor"
"Your Majesty," Shen Yu cut in. He suddenly leaned closer to Shang JunLin. "Does Your Majesty want to say something?"
Shang Jun''s sight was suddenly upied by a magnified, gorgeous face. For a moment he was stunned. "What?"
"Just now, when you heard those little pce maids, did anythinge to Your Majesty''s mind?" Shen Yu''s eyes sparkled with interest. "Maybe Your Majesty would like to exin to the outside world what those maids just spoke of?"
Shang JunLin narrowed his eyes dangerously. "This emperor sees that you''re getting bolder and bolder."
TL Notes:
official reports a booklet in ordion form with a slipcase Sometimes refers to memorials to the throne (), which were written on paper folded the same way (Baidu)
take vengeance, take revenge give vent to anger, vent one''s spleen; feel avenged; air out
Court of Judicial Review Dl S Sometimes called "Dali Temple" or "Dali Court" in mtls AKA Court of Judicature and Revision A central government agency in charge of reviewing judicial proceedings at all administrative levels and singling out cases for retrial by court officials or the emperor himself. It worked closely with the Ministry of Justice and the Imperial Censorate and was one of the Nine Courts, the service agencies below the Three Departments and Six Ministries (Wikipedia)
deceived by appearances (zhuo) A Buddhist term which means to cling to appearances and one''s pre-existing concepts, deviating from essence (Baidu)
smoothed his fur This means to brush an animal''s fur in the direction of growth, a soothing or appeasing type of action (Baidu)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Fang Jun
Zhang YuHua
Qingping Means something like "Celebrating Peace". We can infer this is the era name for the previous emperor''s reign
Old Chen Chn lo
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Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Thanks very much to Anonymous Reader and G. for the ko-fi ()
"Go on, Your Majesty." Shen Yu didn''t let up.
"Noble monarch, worry about your own affairs." Shang JunLin''s tone was a little unpleasant. "Things you should not meddle in"
"I see." As if overflowing with obedience, Shen Yu ended the topic.
The atmosphere suddenly quieted down. Shang JunLin didn''t know why Shen Yu didn''t continue, or why something he''d obviously asked for made him feel even worse.
In winter, the grounds of the imperial pce never looked bare or grim but possessed their own distinctive splendor. Cold-resistant flowers as well as nts sent from the south grew freely, and not far away were beautiful red plum blossoms in full bloom. Thanks to the colorful decoration, winter in the pce had a unique beauty.
The two walked forward in silence. Shen Yu''s eyes were full of the scenery around him. He was usually forced to stay indoors during the winter because of his health. After the slightest exposure to wind, he would need to stay in bed for ten days to half a month. If not for Imperial Physician Gu looking after his health this winter, Shen Yu wouldn''t be able to walk outside without any worries like today.
A light snow had fallen the previous night, and the ces without footprints were covered with a perfect, thinyer of white. Shen Yu looked around as he walked, not noticing that the man beside him was looking at him.
"This emperor doesn''t speak because I am the emperor. This emperor doesn''t need to exin my actions to others."
When the indifferent voice spoke, Shen Yu paused his footsteps. He realized His Majesty seemed to be answering his question from before.
Shen Yu turned sideways to look at Shang JunLin. "But if Your Majesty doesn''t speak, they might specte and misunderstand Your Majesty''s real intentions."
"The noble monarch seems very concerned about this emperor''s reputation." Shang JunLin spoke as though stating a fact.
"I''m one with Your Majesty now. Your Majesty is my husband. Isn''t it normal to care about my husband''s reputation?"
"Is that really what you''re thinking?" Uncertain, Shang JunLin gave him a searching look.
Shen Yu was afraid of the cold. Whenever he went out he had to wear heavyyers, but even if dressed warmly he didn''t look bloated, and it couldn''t obscure his transparent temperament. The young man''s eyes were clear and his face was open, as if he sincerely meant what he said.
"Does Your Majesty think I mean something else?" Shen Yu tilted his head. "Well In fact, I hope Your Majesty understands that I don''t like what those people said, but I don''t really want them to die."
Shen Yu''s eyes darkened. In his previous life, the King of Yue and the others relied on conspiracy and intrigue to seize what they wanted. To be honest, Shen Yu didn''t care who''d eventually end up with the throne, but as long as he was alive, the King of Yue would never get what he wanted.
After a long time outside, Shen Yu''s face was red with cold. Shang JunLin reached out and lightly touched his face. "This emperor feels your heart."
Shen Yu: ? ? ?
Wait, how can you feel my heart?
"The noble monarch need not feel embarrassed. This emperor already knows how you feel about me" Realizing this information was secretly gathered by the Hidden Dragon Guard, Shang JunLin quickly changed the subject. "This emperor willply with the noble monarch''s request."
The rest of the way back to Yuzhang Pce, Shen Yu was confused by Shang JunLin''s attitude. That was also why he forgot to ask Shang JunLin about the return of the vassal kings to the capital.
"Forget it, I''ll ask next time," Shen Yu told himself.
"Noble monarch, this is the revised protocol for the pce banquet. Please have a look."
Shen Yu took it, looked through it carefully, and said, "Send it back and tell them to follow the arrangements as written."
"Very well."
After the pce servant withdrew, Shen Yu stood at the window and stared into the distance.
Yuzhang Pce wasn''t far from the emperor''s bedchambers. Shen Yu didn''t know what the original designer of Yuzhang Pce intended, but from Shen Yu''s current position, he could just make out a corner of the emperor''s room. He couldn''t see his figure specifically, but a hint was enough to bring him to mind.
After standing for a while, Shen Yu felt a little cold. He paced back to the table and sat down. In his previous life, Shen QingRan was never sealed as a noble monarch, nor did he attend the pce banquet. Shen Yu hadn''t been able to attend it either and didn''t know what happened there.
The protocol for the pce banquet was formal and cumbersome. Fortunately, Shen Yu experienced simr asions in his previous life and was helped by old servants who were familiar with the process. It wasn''t difficult to manage.
As the emperor''s birthday approached, the news announced by Fang Jun grew more and more shocking. This time, at the emperor''s direction, the details weren''t concealed. The people and the officials heard the news at almost the same time.
When the officials heard it, their first reaction was disbelief. Imperial Censor Zhang had skillfully managed his reputation, and everyone in the capital had a good impression of him. After suddenly learning he''d done so much in secret, they refused to believe it.
However, the evidence provided by the imperial court was overwhelming. The facts might be shocking, but everything wasid out before them. They had no choice but to ept the truth.
"So Imperial Censor Zhang was arrested not because he irritated that person, but because his behavior was unpardonable?"
"But In that case, why not announce his crimes at the very beginning?"
"That person must have his reasons. Think about it. After Imperial Censor Zhang was imprisoned, didn''t they arrest several of his aplices?"
"That''s true. Thanks to His Majesty''s great wisdom and skill, he anticipated someone would try to break into the prison and set a snare to catch everyone."
The crowd eagerly traded gossip. A few people who were quietly guiding the direction of the conversation looked at each other and turned to leave.
These people were working under Shen Yu''s orders. Although he was in the imperial pce, there were few restrictions on his activities, and he had his own secretwork. It wasn''t asrge as in his previous life, but it wasn''t hard to do small things in the capital.
"Young master, the thing you ordered is done," Mu Xi whispered as she poured tea for Shen Yu.
"How is the situation outside?" Shen Yu picked up the teacup and took a sip.
"Everything is as usual, except" Mu Xi''s face changed expression. "The second young master broke his leg. Somehow he angered the lord marquis, and in a fit of anger the marquis ordered him to be imprisoned."
Shen Yu suddenly thought of the day Shang JunLin asked him if he wanted to take revenge. Shen Yu intuitively felt Shen QingRan''s misfortune was connected to it, but would the emperor of an entire country really trouble himself with such a trivial matter?
Shen Yu''s mood wasplicated. He put down his tea cup and asked, "Do you know how Shen QingRan fell?"
Mu Xi shook her head. "Our people don''t know the reason. This ve will tell them to investigate carefully."
"No need." Shen Yu rubbed the side of the cup. If it was really done by Shang JunLin, they might not find anything even if they investigated.
"Well I''m his older brother, after all, and I just heard my little brother broke his leg. Shouldn''t I send someone there to wish him well?"
"If the young master does so, the lord marquis and the second young master will rejoice." A wry look shed in Mu Xi''s eyes. Shen Yu had been away from the marquis'' residence a long time and never sent anyone back. The Zhenbei Marquis would certainly wee it. As for the second young master, he would have to pretend to be happy no matter how unhappy he felt.
Because Madam Ru was so highly favored, when they still lived in the marquis'' residence, the second young master frequently bullied her young master and even robbed him of his share of things. Mu Xi had never forgotten it.
"Then you can make the arrangements." We mustn''t let the Zhenbei Marquis forget about the legitimate eldest son he sent to the pce. Shen Yu didn''t like thinking about the Zhenbei Marquis, Madam Ru, and her son enjoying themselves like a happy family of three now that he was out of the way.
"Yes." Countless ways to embarrass the people of the marquis'' residence shed through Mu Xi''s mind, and she began to review them one by one. She needed something that would not only turn those people''s stomachs, but also make sure others couldn''t criticize the noble monarch.
"Why didn''t Imperial Physician Gue today?" Shen Yu suddenly remembered he hadn''t seen the physician in a while.
"Imperial Physician Gu took a leave of absence a few days ago. He said his family''s child made some trouble and he had to deal with it." Mu Xi brought in the heated-up medicine. "Imperial Physician Gu prepared the ingredients for the young master''s medicine and also left a token. If the young master needs anything, you can call for him at any time."
"How" Shen Yu remembered that a while ago, Mu Xi was frightened by Shang JunLin, and he deliberately gave her a day off. Imperial Physician Gu hadn''t visited Yuzhang Pce since then. Whatever happened must have been around the same time.
Mu Xi''s words confirmed his guess.
"It''s this ve''s fault. This ve wanted to find time to discuss it with the noble monarch, but" But somehow in these past few days, His Majesty visited Yuzhang Pce whenever he was free, and Mu Xi was afraid he''d overhear them again. She hadn''t found a chance to talk to Shen Yu.
"It''s fine. Did Imperial Physician Gu say where to look for him?"
"A medicine shop on Xi Street in the capital."
Shen Yu''s knowledge about Imperial Physician Gu came from the man he met in his previous life. He didn''t know exactly when Imperial Physician Gu was convicted. He asked Mu Xi about him because he was worried he didn''t know enough, and Imperial Physician Gu might end up suffering the same fate as in his previous life.
Shen Yu didn''t know it, but at the exact same moment, Imperial Physician Gu was worried too.
In a small, secluded courtyard, a young man in a ck soldier uniform was practicing his swordsmanship. A man in pale blue robes and a gentle expression watched the young man in the courtyard and felt relieved.
"Ge!" When the young man noticed the presence of Imperial Physician Gu, he put away his sword and ran over.
Imperial Physician Gu touched the boy''s sweaty temple and said, "I have to return to work tomorrow. Stay at home and don''t cause trouble."
"Are you going to look after that noble monarch or whoever again?" The youth pouted.
"Don''t be rude. The noble monarch is my benefactor. You should respect him as well." Knowing the child was stubborn, Imperial Physician Gu told him about what happened at the pce recently.
"I didn''t know you were in such a dangerous situation," the young man said in a muffled voice. Worried, he hugged the other man''s waist. "I, Gu Huai, will also consider Noble Monarch Shen my benefactor from now on."
But when Imperial Physician Gu wasn''t looking, Gu Huai''s eyes were dark.
At noon, the imperial chef in the pce made a new dessert. The white cakes were decorated with colorful plum blossoms, enticing and sweet without being oily. Shen Yu couldn''t resist eating a few more. Later he felt a little full and walked around outside.
When Shang JunLin arrived, what he saw was Shen Yu strolling aroundzily. He went over to Shen Yu and wrapped his arms around him. Shen Yu leaned on him, letting the emperor support him with his strength.
Shang JunLin: "When you''re tired, go in and rest."
Shen Yu shook his head. "I just ate and I need to walk around a little."
"So that''s the matter with you." Shang JunLin had a smile in his eyes. "Why did you eat so much?"
"It''s all because of the new imperial chef sent by Your Majesty. The dessert he made was too delicious," Shen Yu pretended toin.
"Then I should transfer him away?" Shang JunLin lowered his head and leaned closer.
"No, whatever you give me is mine" Shen Yu turned back in a hurry, but his voice suddenly stopped.
His lips touched the sharp line of Shang JunLin''s jaw.
Both of them froze.
TL Notes:
I don''t like what those people said from "I don''t like what they did/are doing/their actions" Slight change due to vagueness
Ge elder brother Amon way to address an older man of the same generation as you
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Xi Street West Street
Gu Huai
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Chapter 14
Chapter 14
A tangle of emotions filled the air. For a moment Shen Yu forgot to move. He maintained his position, half-reclining against the emperor''s body.
Shang JunLin didn''t know what to think. He didn''t immediately push Shen Yu away.
Finally Shen Yu returned to his senses and hurriedly withdrew.
"Careful."
The path was slippery because of the snow. Shen Yu backed away so quickly he almost slipped.
With his quick reaction speed, Shang JunLin caught Shen Yu in his arms.
Shen Yu''s mood fluctuated wildly. For a moment he almost rxed, and then he saw Shang JunLin''s arm firmly supporting his body. He awkwardly lowered his eyes.
After a while, the man showed no sign of releasing him, and Shen Yu nced at him carefully. "Your Majesty?" he asked tentatively.
"Hmm?"
Shang JunLin''s expression was calm and his eyes were clear. He was obviously unperturbed. Shen Yu had tough at himself for thinking too much. It was just an idental touch. How could Shang JunLin be flustered by something as minor as that?
"Go inside."
"Very well."
Shang JunLin escorted him back to his room. After visiting a short while longer, Shang JunLin left.
While Shen Yu wasn''t overly perturbed by the mishap, he had no idea how many waves were surging through Shang JunLin''s heart at the moment.
Shang JunLin walked all the way back to the imperial study, then dismissed all the pce servants except Meng Gonggong.
Usually he could handle official business with ease, but right now his whole mind was filled with the sensation of that gentle touch on his jaw.
Cool and soft.
He couldn''t help reaching up and lightly pressing the ce Shen Yu had touched. His eyes shed with a trace of bewilderment.
Why
Meng Gonggong stood to the side, eyes fixed carefully on nothing. He didn''t dare to disturb the contemtive emperor.
Shen Yu took a nap at lunchtime. When he woke up, he was startled to see the man sitting by his bed.
Shen Yu sat up, clutching the quilt. "Why didn''t Your Majesty have someone call me?"
"When this emperor saw you sleeping soundly, I didn''t want to wake you." Shang JunLin didn''t understand why he''d suddenly returned to Yuzhang Pce and sat by Shen Yu''s bed the rest of the afternoon.
The emperor''s face was calm as usual. Without thinking about it too much, Shen Yu got up and dressed. "How long has Your Majesty been here?"
"Not long," Shang JunLin lied.
Clearly he''d been here more than an hour. Mu Xi, who was sorting out Shen Yu''s outer robe, identally nced at Shang JunLin. Meeting the emperor''s eyes, she immediately looked away.
Well If His Majesty said it wasn''t a long time, it wasn''t a long time. Anyway, it wasn''t her own young master who was waiting around for someone. She didn''t try to guess what the emperor was thinking.
After tidying himself, Shen Yu followed Shang JunLin from the room. Mu Xi poured hot tea and retreated.
Shang JunLin looked at Shen Yu without speaking, and Shen Yu asked in a mischievous tone, "Your Majesty, did something important happen for you toe here at this hour?"
Shen Yu never made things difficult for himself. His waking and resting times were quite regr, and after entering the imperial harem, he kept the same habits. The only person he answered to in the pce was Shang JunLin, and since the emperor had no opinion about it, no one else dared to say anything either. Shen Yu thought pce life was a lot morefortable than the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence.
Shang JunLin knew Shen Yu''s usual schedule. He usually didn''te during his rest time. Of course, most of the time when Shen Yu was taking his naps, Shang JunLin was still working on official business. What was going on today?
"The pce banquet ising soon. If you have any questions, you can ask this emperor. It''s your first time handling this kind of thing. It''s only normal to run into a few problems."
"Is Your Majesty concerned about me?" Shen Yu felt slightly warm inside.
"If there''s nothing"
"What a coincidence Your Majesty happened to ask about this. There really are some things I was wondering." Shen Yu mentioned a few areas that a person who hadn''t lived in the pce wouldn''t understand. "Can Your Majesty rify these things for me?"
Shang JunLin answered the questions one by one in a good mood, and Shen Yu thanked him with a smile. When Shang JunLin saw that smile he was caught off-guard and felt dazed.
"Your Majesty, I''m surprised the vassal kings returned to the capital this year. I didn''t think it was the customary time. Why did Your Majesty call them back?" Shen Yu had thought about this question for several days, but he couldn''t think of a reason. In his previous life, the King of Yue was the only one who returned to the capital, but he did so alone and for his own reasons.
"Now that the noble monarch has entered the pce, you should meet the imperial family."
Shen Yu was startled. He''d thought of countless ns Shang JunLin might have in mind, but that wasn''t one of them.
"Tsk, although this emperor isn''t on good terms with the imperial family, the noble monarch doesn''t need to worry about them. Just recognize a few faces." Shang JunLin mentioned the people who were his rtives and elders without any affection or respect.
Shang JunLin didn''t have a good rtionship with the imperial family. Shen Yu had learned a little about this from the King of Yue in his previous life. Shang JunLin was the only legitimate son of the empress and should have been sealed as the crown prince, growing up smoothly and inheriting the throne. However, the first emperor wasn''t pragmatic or sensible. He threw away his legitimate son to make way for the son of his favorite concubine. And what came next
In the end, Shang JunLinpletely destroyed thete emperor''s son as well as the favored concubine. He took the throne by bloody means, something the imperial family had always criticized.
In Shen Yu''s previous life, the King of Yue had seized on this point, enlisting other members of the imperial family and making a lot of trouble. Unfortunately for him, Shang JunLin was too strong. In the early stages, his enemies could only inflict superficial damage. It was onlyter that Shang JunLin was really affected.
What imperial rtives were there?
Shen Yu fetched several names from his memory and decided the pce banquet would be a good opportunity to meet them.
The imperial edict to order the vassal kings to return to the capital had already been sent to the fiefdoms. There weren''t many vassal kings, and most were from the previous emperor''s generation. As for the princes of Shang JunLin''s generation, he''d eliminated most of them. The others had tucked in their tails and didn''t dare to make any moves.
After Shang JunLin''s brothers received the edict from the imperial capital, their first reaction was fear. Was the emperor finally going after them? When they found out they were just returning for a banquet they felt relieved.
No one dared to dy at all. They gave orders to pack their luggage as quickly as possible and immediately began the journey to the capital.
There was only one person caught off guard by the newsthe King of Yue. He''d been looking for an excuse to return to the capital a long time, but he was already in the capital when the imperial messenger left with the decree.
The King of Yue had no choice but to stop what he was doing and rush back to hisnds. He couldn''t let the emperor find out he''d secretly left his fief!
He rode several fast horses to death on the road. Traveling day and night, he hurried back and finally arrived just as the imperial delegation reached his fief. With no time for even a moment of rest, the King of Yue concealed the traces of his absence and met with the emperor''s messenger.
After the King of Yue received the decree, the pce eunuch who delivered it thought the King of Yue didn''t look healthy. He said with concern, "Is Your Highness unwell?"
"This king is sorry to cause the eunuch concern. This king is fine."
The servant behind the King of Yue handed a purse to the messenger. The gonggong calmly weighed it in his hand, and his expression became more friendly. "Your Highness, take good care of your health. This one won''t disturb your rest," he said with a smile.
After the messenger from the capital had gone, the King of Yue''s legs went weak and he almost fell. The servants behind him quickly helped him. "Your Highness!"
The King of Yue saw ckness before his eyes. He lost consciousness amid the anxious voices of his subordinates.
The King of Yue''s residence fell into turmoil.
The news immediately reached the ears of the Hidden Dragon Guard, some of whom were mixed in with the messenger delegation, which was then encrypted and quickly sent on to Shang JunLin.
The King of Yue had no time to rest. The emperor''s decree was urgent, and he was forced to set off for the capital immediately.
His subordinates worried he wouldn''t make it in time. Before the King of Yue woke up, he was loaded onto a carriage headed back to the capital. When he awakened in the rickety carriage and heard from his confidants, his insides twisted with anger.
One of his confidants bowed his head, ready to bear the king''s wrath. The King of Yue was a man who was extremely concerned with status. Arge number of people had seen him embarrassed this time, and his anger was bound to be intense.
The King of Yue was so enraged he could do little but wave his hand. "This king knows."
He was incredibly furious. He''d never endured so much suffering in his entire life, and there was another huge mess waiting for him in the capital. Just thinking about it made his head ache.
Shen QingRan was also having a bad time. In addition to his broken leg, he was imprisoned by the Zhenbei Marquis. He couldn''t visit the person he liked, and despite sending a message, he hadn''t heard from him in several days.
What made it even more unbearable for Shen QingRan was the constant chatter in his ears about how Shen Yu gained favor after entering the pce and the many things His Majesty did for him. Whenever Shen QingRan thought of how that could have been him, he almost went crazy with jealousy.
"The second young master beat several more servants yesterday. The underlings in the marquis'' residence are bing reluctant to serve him," Mu Xi reported as she put some plum blossoms in a vase.
Mu Xi had always thought the second young master was a two-faced phony. Day after day he told the servant girls that everyone was equal, but he never asked for fewer people to serve him or look after him less. However, those servants whose eyes weren''t as sharp believed his words and liked him more and more.
"Oh?" Shen Yu raised his eyebrows. "I thought he always objected to beating and scolding people at will?"
"Empty words," Mu Xi said with disdain. "He just says nice things. I asked about it before. He''s never treated the servants in his courtyard as well as you treat your people, young master. I don''t know what enchanted potion those servants have been drinking to think he''s somehow better than you."
Shang JunLin was approving official reports to one side. Hearing her say this, he raised his head. "Short-sighted and shallow, no eyes for a pearl. This emperor must say, the shu son of the Zhenbei Marquis is nowhere near as good as your young master."
Mu Xi nodded emphatically. Her fear of Shang JunLin had subsided a lot. Recently Shang JunLin liked to take memorials to Yuzhang Pce to review them, and Mu Xi wasn''t as jittery around him.
"Your Majesty is finished?" Shen Yu paced over with a hand warmer in his arms. Shang JunLin had taken over Shen Yu''s normal reading spot. It was sofortable that Shen Yu could nestle there all afternoon.
Seeing Shen Yu approach, Shang JunLin moved over to give him some room. Heined, half-sincere and half-pretend, "The noble monarch really doesn''t put me in your heart anymore."
"Why does Your Majesty say that?" Shen Yu sat down, unworried, and sweet words came from his mouth. "Nothing will ever rece Your Majesty in my heart."
"Noble monarch, look at this." Shang JunLin handed him a folded missive.
Shen Yu took it, read it silently, and handed it back. Then he gazed at Shang JunLin without saying anything.
It was a letter persuading the emperor to ept another imperial concubine.
"What does the noble monarch think?" The expression on Shang JunLin''s face was impassive. "This emperor has received many requests just like it."
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu suddenly grabbed the man''s cor and pulled him closer, and his voice was incredibly cold: "Your Majesty, believe it or not, if you invite anyone else into the pce, do you want to find out how many corpses I''ll make?"
TL Notes:
more than an hour more than half a shichen A sh chen () is one of the 12 two-hour periods into which the day was traditionally divided. Therefore, half a shichen = 1 hour
(growing up) smoothly drift with the wind and the current; sail with the wind
superficial damage scratch an itch from outside one''s bootfail to get to the root of the matter; attempt an ineffective solution
(Shang JunLin''s) brothers xingdmen brothers / younger brothers
This one I / me / my / (often used in early vernacr literature) / we / my home / my house
short-sighted and shallow be shortsighted; improvident; myopic; a narrow vision
no eyes for a pearl have eyes but fail to see; be as blind as a bat [a mole]; blind; eyes and no eyes; fail to recognize a thing for what it is; have a narrow vision; ignorant; seeing sth. without knowing it; unable to discriminate
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Your Highness din xi Alternatively: His Highness, Her Highness
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Chapter 15
Chapter 15
The pce servants who were waiting to the side fell to their knees. They never thought Noble Monarch Shen, who was always so gentle and good-tempered, would suddenly say such things. No one dared to look up at the emperor''s face, but they all knew of his temperament. Noble Monarch Shen''s words would certainly anger him.
What they didn''t understand was why Shen Yu would dig his own grave. Everyone knew the emperor favored the noble monarch, but since ancient times there''d always been more than one beauty in the imperial harem. Shen Yu openly revealed his jealousy and made threats. Wasn''t he bringing ruin on himself?
Mu Xi''s forehead was covered with a thinyer of sweat. She restrained her fear and nced up. Unfortunately, from her position she could only see the face of her young master, not the emperor''s reaction.
In the sudden, oppressive silence, Meng Gonggong cautiously looked at the emperor''s face. He felt a sudden jolt of astonishment.
The man didn''t look angry at all.
The emperor was gazing at Shen Yu, and there was still a smile on his lips. It was only when you looked at his dark eyes that you felt chilled to the bone.
Meng Gonggong felt more and more confused by the di son of the Zhenbei Marquis'' family.
The two protagonists of this scene, who were being silently watched, didn''t care what their attendants were thinking. Shen Yu looked at the handsome emperor in front of him, and in a voice as soft as an orchid, he said, "Does Your Majesty really wish to bring more people into the harem?"
"Why is my noble monarch so jealous?" Shang JunLin leaned closer to Shen Yu''s ear. His voice was low and deep as he hinted, "If the noble monarch dispels this emperor''s thoughts with practical actions, this emperor willply with your request."
It was like they were discussing something trivial, not a major event like expanding the harem.
Shen Yu lowered his eyes, then he swept a nce at the kneeling pce servants. His gaze lingered on one of the young eunuchs for a while. When the emperor noticed something was wrong, Shen Yu looked away. "Does Your Majesty really want to proceed in front of these people?"
Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s waist and pulled him into hisp. He nced at Meng Gonggong carelessly. "Meng Chang, send them out."
Meng Gonggong didn''t dare to disobey. He bowed his head and ushered all the servants out.
After they left, Shen Yu loosened his grip on Shang JunLin''s cor and tried to get up from Shang JunLin''s legs.
The moment he moved, he felt the emperor''s arms tighten around his waist. Shen Yu gave Shang JunLin a suspicious look. His eyes seemed to say: Everyone''s gone. Shouldn''t you let go of me now?
Unexpectedly, Shang JunLin not only didn''t let go, he took Shen Yu into his arms, as if to reply, "Noble monarch, what do you mean?"
"Is Your Majesty dissatisfied with my performance?" Shen Yu red at him. "I''m sure everyone in the capital is about to hear that Noble Monarch Shen, the recent entrant to the pce, is so jealous he actually threatened His Majesty not to allow new people into the harem.
"Your Majesty, how are you going topensate me for my lost reputation?"
Shang JunLin lifted Shen Yu''s chin and looked at him with deep eyes. "What form ofpensation does the noble monarch want?"
"I''m tired of the treasures currently in Yuzhang Pce, Your Majesty."
"You have quite an appetite."
Shang JunLin''s words were urate. Yuzhang Pce was the most gorgeously-decorated pce aside from the main pces, and it was decorated with countless rare treasures. In terms of the degree of sumptuousness, it was even more magnificent than the emperor''s own bedchambers.
After Shen Yu became the master of Yuzhang Pce, the emperor sent an endless stream of rewards. Anything that was precious was sent to Shen Yu. And now, with a few light words, he said he was tired of looking at everything and Shang JunLin ought to send over a new batch of priceless gifts.
"Your Majesty is too kind," Shen Yu said, as if Shang JunLin had just praised him. His eyebrows curved in a smile, and his index finger prodded the man''s shoulder. "When is Your Majesty going to let go?"
Shang JunLin had imprisoned Shen Yu with one hand wrapped around his waist and his chin pinched by the other. After hearing the question, Shang JunLin rxed his grip, and Shen Yu slowly moved down from hisp.
This time Shang JunLin didn''t stop him.
When Shen Yu looked back at the emperor, he''d already returned to reading his folded reports. Except for the way he stopped Shen Yu a moment ago, there was nothing unusual about him.
Shen Yu shook off his thoughts and picked up the imperial genealogy sent by Shang JunLin.
The imperial family, especially Shang JunLin''s generation, didn''t consist of many people. Aside from the King of Yue, the imperial rtives were peaceful at the moment, and even the King of Yue didn''t dare to reveal any ambition at this stage.
Shang JunLin spent the night in Yuzhang Pce. The next morning, he sent arge number of gifts to Yuzhang Pce to appease the clever noble monarch. Meng Gonggong came in person to proim the decree. After worrying all night, everyone in Yuzhang Pce felt utter relief.
Mu Xi chose the things Shen Yu liked the most from the warehouse and redecorated Yuzhang Pce. Shen Yu held a book and sat outside, basking in the sun.
Imperial Physician Gu, who hadn''t visited in many days, came to see him. Mu Xi knew her master paid attention to Imperial Physician Gu and personally brought him in.
"I haven''t seen Imperial Physician Gu in a while. Are you still well?" Shen Yu asked in azy voice, looking up from the book.
Imperial Physician Gu knelt and gave a formal salute. "This minister thanks the noble monarch for your life-saving grace."
"What does Imperial Physician Gu mean? I''ve been here in Yuzhang Pce the whole time. How can I have done anything for you?" Shen Yu tilted his head. "Please get up."
Imperial Physician Gu couldn''t ignore Shen Yu''s life-saving grace just because he refused to admit what he''d done. However, Imperial Physician Gu knew the imperial pce had many eyes. He followed Shen Yu''s words and stood up. "Noble monarch, please extend your hand. This minister will take your pulse."
A snow-white wrist stretched out from the wide sleeve. Imperial Physician Gu checked Shen Yu''s pulse without looking directly at him. "The noble monarch''s pulse condition is calm. You can now change to another prescription for your recuperation."
"Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician Gu."
"It is this official''s duty." Although it was indeed Imperial Physician Gu''s responsibility to look after Shen Yu''s health, from now on there would be an added element of unspoken kindness to it, and the doctor would have even more care and concern for Shen Yu''s health.
Imperial Physician Gu was truly grateful for Shen Yu''s act of kindness. If Shen Yu hadn''t ordered him not to treat any other patients that day, he wouldn''t have been able to refuse those people when they came to his door. He would have been forced, for no reason, to get involved.
He only escaped death because of Shen Yu. It didn''t matter what Shen Yu''s true purpose wasit happened. Given His Majesty''s attitude towards those people, if he''d really gotten involved, he could not have avoided punishment.
At best, he would have lost his official position. At worst his own life.
As Imperial Physician Gu left, he couldn''t help but wonder: when Noble Monarch Shen said those words, how much did he know?
When the doctor returned to the imperial hospital, his colleagues came over to greet him. Imperial Physician Gu had always been popr, and soon there were several people gathered around him.
As they walked inside the building, a few other people were there discussing medical techniques.
Suddenly they heard a low-pitched discussion from not far away.
"Exactly how beautiful is Noble Monarch Shen? He even charmed His Majesty into promising not to ept anyone else into the pce."
"It''s not only that. I heard he actually threatened to kill any neers who entered the harem."
"That''s too much. And His Majesty let him?"
"He''s in favor now. What wouldn''t His Majesty let him do? They say His Majesty sent all kinds of things to Yuzhang Pce to soothe the noble monarch''s feelings."
"But he''s just a man who can''t even have children. Does that mean His Majesty won''t appoint an empress for the rest of his life just because of one man?"
"The Zhenbei Marquis really did well for himself when sent his beguiling di son to the pce. He won''tck for anything in the future."
""
When Imperial Physician Gu came to a halt, the man who was discussing a pathology case with him was surprised. "What is it?"
"Please wait here a moment." Ignoring the puzzled expressions of his colleagues, Imperial Physician Gu walked up to the group of people who were talking.
His colleagues were confused. "What''s going on?"
"I don''t know. Let''s follow and see."
"Who gave you permission to gossip about the imperial family?" Imperial Physician Gu asked coldly.
The people who''d been talking loudly a moment ago suddenly shut their mouths and bowed their heads sheepishly. "This lowly official was mistaken," one said.
They were all junior officials of the imperial hospital, and Imperial Physician Gu was their immediate superior. Naturally, they couldn''t afford to offend him.
Imperial Physician Gu took note of their names. "Don''t let me hear you discussing this ever again."
They all agreed. No one could deny it was inappropriate to talk about the private affairs of the imperial family.
The colleagues who''d followed Imperial Physician Gu were more and more confused. Since when did he care about this kind of thing?
After that incident, the world once again understood how deeply Shen Yu was favored. His Majesty was even willing to keep the harem empty for him, which showed how deep his affection was.
The ministers who wanted to send family members into the pce were forced to give up. His Majesty''s attitude was clear. If they really tried to send people into the harem, they might be gone in less than a day.
In particr, courtiers who wanted to send their own children into the pce no longer dared to make a sound. They wanted their sons and daughters topete for favor and gain benefits for their families, not lose their lives.
At morning court, the emperor made clear he had no intention of epting neers into the harem. When court was dismissed, the Zhenbei Marquis left in a trance, surrounded by the envious eyes of the other officials.
"Lord marquis." Someone walked up to him and said, "The lord marquis really raised his son well."
Several more people gathered around him. "Lord marquis, you have to try to persuade the noble monarch. How can anyone who''s married to an emperor be so jealous?"
"Yes, it may be fine if His Majesty likes him now, but someday"
The Zhenbei Marquis was so annoyed his face turned cold. "Don''t pretend to be worried about my son. If you have the ability, get His Majesty to favor your daughter too."
With that, disregarding the ugly face of the other person, the marquis turned and left.
In the past, he would have been ecstatic that Shen Yu was so highly favored, but these days he wasn''t nearly as certain about Shen Yu''s attitude towards the Zhenbei Marquis'' family. But even if Shen Yu hated the Zhenbei Marquis, Madam Ru, and Shen QingRan, he hadn''t taken action.
The Zhenbei Marquis secretly decided to find an opportunity to test Shen Yu''s attitude.
After morning court, Shang JunLin went directly to Yuzhang Pce. Meng Gonggong followed, along with two young eunuchs holding memorials.
Since that day, His Majesty seemed to want topensate Noble Monarch Shen. Aside from going to court every day, the emperor stayed in Yuzhang Pce most of the time.
Shen Yu was tending to a pot which contained a pale green nt. Its leaves were shaped like spikes, about half a palm high, and it was nted in a porcin flower pot decorated with a white and blue pattern.
"This nt''s growing well," Mu Xi said.
"It''s called a jun ling'' nt." Shen Yu took the handkerchief offered by Mu Xi. "It''s doing well. I think it will probably survive the winter."
"Imperial Physician Gu said it can help you sleep. Is that true?" Mu Xi was skeptical. That nt looked no different than ordinary grass, except the leaves were a little more tender.
"Since Imperial Physician Gu sent it, it must be effective." Shen Yu looked at the nt for a while and gave it some water. "Did you find out what happened to Imperial Physician Gu?"
The matter of Imperial Physician Gu involved a sensitive topic at the moment, and it wasn''t possible for Shen Yu to ask about it openly. Shen Yu still didn''t know how or why Imperial Physician Gu got involved in something that eventually cost his life.
"This ve" Mu Xi was about to answer when she was interrupted by the man who suddenly walked in the door.
"If the noble monarch wants to know about Imperial Physician Gu, why don''t you ask this emperor directly?" Shang JunLin caught sight of the nt on the table, which was obviously cared for by Shen Yu personally, and the corners of his mouth gradually ttened.
TL Notes:
pulse condition Refers to the speed, strength, and depth of the pulse, used for diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine (Baidu)
jin ling monarch fungus/tuber There''s a traditional Chinese medicine with the same name, but it''s made of a few different things like ginseng and atractylodes (a member of the sunflower family) (Baidu)
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Chapter 16
Chapter 16
It wasn''t the first time Mu Xi had been interrupted by the emperor when talking to Shen Yu. Compared with her initial fear, she now felt much calmer.
Meng Gonggong, who came in behind Shang JunLin, ordered the pce attendants to put down the official reports, then he withdrew. The other servants followed one by one.
In the twinkling of an eye, only Shen Yu and Shang JunLin remained in the room.
Shen Yu looked at the empty room, walked over to the emperor, and tilted his head to look up at him. "Will Your Majesty tell me?"
Shang JunLin looked at him quietly. "If the noble monarch asks, this emperor will answer."
"Your Majesty really knows?" Shen Yu was startled. He thought Shang JunLin was asking rhetorically. Imperial Physician Gu was just a doctor. If Shang JunLin bothered to investigate him, it meant he must be involved with Imperial Censor Zhang''s case.
In Shen Yu''s previous life, Imperial Physician Gu experienced tragic consequences. Was that because he was involved with Imperial Censor Zhang somehow? But if that was true, why was he still alive and well in this life?
The doubts in Shen Yu''s eyes were too obvious. Shang JunLin frowned. "What is the noble monarch thinking about?"
"I''m wondering why Your Majesty is paying so much special attention to Imperial Physician Gu" Shen Yu blurted. After saying this, he realized it sounded wrong, so he quickly added, "I mean, I''m curious why Your Majesty knows so much about him."
The more he spoke, the smaller Shen Yu''s voice became.
Shang JunLin was angry enough tough. And the inexplicable emotions that surged in his heart a moment ago were swept away. "Then why does the noble monarch think this emperor would pay special'' attention to Imperial Physician Gu?"
He specifically emphasized the word "special".
"No matter why Your Majesty is paying attention to him, if there''s one specific reason, Your Majesty should stop thinking about it." Shen Yu stared at Shang JunLin with burning eyes.
What reason was that? Just as Shang JunLin was about to ask, Shen Yu continued.
"Your Majesty promised me no new people would enter the harem."
Shang JunLin boggled. "What makes you think this emperor has such thoughts?"
"Why else would Your Majesty pay attention to Imperial Physician Gu?" Shen Yu quietly threw the question back.
"Why else? Of course it''s because of you." Shang JunLin responded abruptly. He caressed Shen Yu''s neck, giving him a rather oppressive squeeze. "Noble Monarch Shen is certainly brave to throw this emperor''s words back at me."
Shen Yu didn''t dodge or shrink away, but he slightly lowered his eyes. "I''m just a little worried. After all, in this world all I have is Your Majesty."
"Shen Yu." Shang JunLin rubbed the skin of Shen Yu''s neck. Then he pinched Shen Yu''s chin and forced him to lift his head. "Don''t y petty games with this emperor."
"Why would Your Majesty think that?" Shen Yu suddenly smiled. His eyes and eyebrows curved, and his eyes seemed full of light. "I belong to Your Majesty now. Isn''t it normal to worry that Your Majesty has someone else?
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu covered the man''s hand. "Your Majesty''s words are gold. I take everything you say seriously."
Shang JunLin''s heart jumped. He immediately rxed his grip as if he''d been scalded and slightly averted his gaze. "Naturally, this emperor is a man of my word."
Shen Yu knew the adage about quitting while you were ahead. He withdrew his hand and returned to his usual soft appearance. "Can Your Majesty tell me about Imperial Physician Gu? After all, my health is much better thanks to his care."
His words exined why he was concerned.
"This emperor learned that some relevant people tried to contact him, so I asked someone to look into it," Shang JunLin said. He gave Shen Yu a deep look. "This emperor is a little curious. Why is the noble monarch so certain that Imperial Physician Gu is involved with Imperial Censor Zhang''s case?"
No matter how good Imperial Physician Gu''s medical skills were, he was a doctor with little power. Most of the people connected with the case of Imperial Censor Zhang were court officials. They shouldn''t have anything to do with a pce physician. Why did Shen Yu think Doctor Gu was associated with them?
That was the main thing Shang JunLin couldn''t figure out.
Shen Yu seemed not to notice Shang JunLin''s probing. He approached Shang JunLin and said, "Your Majesty, I''m a little cold."
The man''s body was warm, like arge stove providing a constant source of heat. This was also the reason Shen Yu tacitly allowed Shang JunLin to stay overnight in his bedroom.
Shang JunLin looked around and found that the window had been blown open by the wind at some point. He closed the window with his internal strength and wrapped Shen Yu in a fox fur cloak.
"Is that better?"
Shen Yu held onto the cloak and nodded.
His body was frail, and Imperial Physician Gu said it was best if he avoided cold drafts. Ordinary people could recover from a chill in a few days, but for Shen Yu, it might kill him. Shang JunLin had seen Shen Yu fall suddenly ill once before. Maybe it had shocked him, because he gave specific orders that Shen Yu''s chambers must be kept warm.
Shen Yu was the type who never treated himself badly. Thefort level of Yuzhang Pce was much higher than the other pces. Sometimes Shen Yu suspected that Shang JunLin worked and rested here because it was so much morefortable.
Seeing that Shen Yu''s face was pale, Shang JunLin poured him a cup of hot tea. "The only person in the world this emperor serves is Noble Monarch Shen."
"Your Majesty is very kind." Shen Yu took a few sips and felt his body warm up. His face rxed.
"Your Majesty hasn''t told me about Imperial Physician Gu yet." Shen Yu held the cup and looked at him.
Shang JunLin was surprised he was still thinking about Imperial Physician Gu when he was unwell, but since he insisted, Shang JunLin had no choice but to tell him.
"There''s a chess piece the Zhang family nted in the pce many years ago. They wanted to use Imperial Physician Gu to ry information from this person. If it hadn''t been for your brazen order telling Imperial Physician Gu to refuse all other duties, he would have fallen into the trap theyid for him the very next day."
Shang JunLin gave Shen Yu a meaningful look. "Imperial Physician Gu is devoted to medicine. When those people came to his door and asked him to treat a patient, he definitely would have agreed if not for your order. But thanks to you, he declined the invitation and abided by your words."
"Isn''t it only because of Your Majesty''s influence? If Your Majesty didn''t favor me, Imperial Physician Gu wouldn''t have listened to what I said." Shen Yu knew better than anyone that if he wasn''t "Noble Monarch Shen" and hadn''t given a suitable reason, Imperial Physician Gu wouldn''t have obeyed him.
"You can make anything sound good." Shang JunLin shook his head. "It''s better this way. Thanks to your kindness, Imperial Physician Gu will only be more attentive to your condition."
"Everything in my life has gotten better after meeting Your Majesty. Your Majesty really is my lucky star."
"In that case, the noble monarch is this emperor''s lucky star too. Without you, it wouldn''t have been possible to clean up Imperial Censor Zhang''s affairs so smoothly."
When the charges were announced against Imperial Censor Zhang, the factions that opposed Shang JunLin in the court suddenly died down. By the end of the fifteen-day deadline, Minister Fang finished investigating the case.
During those fifteen days, the officials involved were jailed one by one and sentenced ording to the seriousness of the charges. As the masterminds, the Zhang family was sentenced to the punishment of nine familial exterminations. Imperial Censor Zhang himself was drawn and quartered.
Many other officials, great and small, were convicted alongside them. Shang JunLin acted quickly and used the incident to uproot the forces of the Zhang family in the court.
The chess piece left by the Zhang family in the pce was a concubine of the previous emperor. She wasn''t old, had no children, and her background was unrted to the Zhang family. She''d always kept a low profile, which was why she escaped the initial purge when Shang JunLin ascended the throne.
After Shang JunLin became emperor, he allowed the members of the previous emperor''s harem to depart. Those who didn''t want to leave were allowed to live in an isted pce. Most of these people didn''te from distinguished backgrounds and had nowhere else to go. At least in the pce they didn''t have to worry about food and drink.
Shen Yu didn''t think things were that simple. "Is that concubine really rted to the Zhang family?"
Shang JunLin frowned. "She''s too cautious. We were only able to discover she has some connections with them. We couldn''t find out who she''s working for."
Shen Yu was puzzled. "Your Majesty didn''t have anyone interrogate her?"
"She eats and lives with several otherdies. If she goes missing for no reason, it will arouse the vignce of those behind the scenes," Shang JunLin exined.
Shen Yu: "Does Your Majesty encounter thosedies on a regr basis?"
Shang JunLin: "asionally. This emperor didn''t order them to be confined."
Shen Yu: "Aside from the pce where they live, where do they usually show up?"
Shang JunLin: "Why are you asking all this?"
Shen Yu propped up his chin and said, "Your Majesty, if I say I have a way to let you take this person away for interrogation without arousing suspicion, and all it will take is Your Majesty''s cooperation, would Your Majesty be interested?"
Noticing Shang JunLin''s puzzled eyes, Shen Yu leaned closer to the man''s ear and whispered a few words.
Qin Garden was a ce where the previous emperor liked to bring his concubines to enjoy themselves. After Shang JunLin ascended the throne, the harem was empty. Few people went there except for some of the previous emperor''s concubines.
Of those who stayed on in the pce, not all epted their fate. Several former concubines had entered the pce near the end of the previous emperor''s reign and were eager to use their charms to fight for a ce.
However, the new emperor was quite different from the previous emperor. He was indifferent to beauties. After the execution of a few people who crossed the line, the rest settled downuntil Shen Yu entered the pce. After that, the more ambitious or foolish among them were ready to act.
A fewdies dressed up and went to Qin Garden. This was the only ce they could meet the emperor without seeming conspicuous.
The weather was sunny and fine. Shen Yu had been in the pce a long time and wanted to go for a walk. Shang JunLin finished handling his official business and joined him.
"It''s warm today, Your Majesty. Let''s go to a few ces I haven''t been to before."
When Shang JunLin nodded, Shen Yu turned his head and asked, "Meng Gonggong, are there any ces in the pce with good scenery?"
Meng Gonggong had served in the pce a long time and couldn''t be more familiar with it. He described them to Shen Yu one by one. "If you want beautiful scenery, Fang Garden is very good, but the flowers there bloom mostly in summer. In winter, Qin Garden is the most beautiful"
After listening to Meng Gonggong''s advice, Shen Yu chose to go to Qin Garden.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin spoke in low voices, and Meng Gonggong told the others to follow at a distance to avoid disturbing the two masters'' enjoyment.
"Your Majesty"
Before Shen Yu finished speaking, someone suddenly emerged from behind a corner. There was no time to think. Shang JunLin grabbed Shen Yu and took him into his arms. The person ended up bumping into Shang JunLin.
The woman''s eyes were covered with a white cloth. With one hand she grabbed Shang JunLin''s clothes, and with the other she pulled down the white cloth on her face. In a clear voice she said, "I caught you."
When she saw the scene in front of her, the woman swallowed her words. She quickly let go and knelt down. "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This servant didn''t know it was Your Majesty. I didn''t mean to offend"
She had taken the opportunity of ying hide-and-seek to bump into him. There were so few chances to encounter the emperor. She didn''t want to miss a single one. Whether it was for herself or because of that person''s request, she had to catch hold of Shang JunLin!
For a long time, the woman didn''t hear a sound. She looked up cautiously only to find the emperor wasn''t even looking at her. He was gently tidying Shen Yu''s hair, gazing at him with a smile. He didn''t seem angry.
The woman immediately felt relieved.
But before she could finish her sigh of relief, Noble Monarch Shen walked over with a smile.
"Well" Shen Yu seemed a little embarrassed. "This is the hand that touched His Majesty, right? I''m the type of person who just hates when other people touch my things. Why don''t we do this? Since that''s the hand that touched him, why don''t I keep your hand?"
The woman''s face turned pale.
TL Notes:
I''ll be traveling for a few days. I should be able to update as usual, but it might not be at a consistent time
In Shen Yu''s previous life, Imperial Physician Gu experienced tragic consequences etc. I rephrased a bit to rify
You can make anything sound good from Anything you say sounds like flowers
nine familial exterminations An ancient punishment for major offenses such as treason. The criminal and his extended family, four generations up and four generations down including spouses, would be sentenced to death. Per Wikipedia, in ancient times people were considered to have nine different degrees of rtion with other people, referred to collectively as their family or tribe (). Under Confucianism, these people were bound together by filial piety. Because members of a family remained strictly loyal to one another, they were considered responsible for crimesmitted by each other (Wikipedia)
Since that''s the hand that touched him, why don''t I keep your hand? from If you touched it, why don''t you leave it behind, OK? rephrased due to vagueness
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Qin Garden
Fang Garden
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Chapter 17
Chapter 17
The woman stared incredulously at the young man who stood before her. His face was like a crown of jade, his smile like the spring breeze, but the smile didn''t touch his eyes.
The young man''s eyes were pitch-ck. Where he stood he blocked out the light, and his eyes were as deep as an imprable abyss.
Fear crawled up her spine as she realized this young man meant what he said and he really would carry out his threat.
How could he be so bold?! In front of the emperor himself, he didn''t conceal his desire to monopolize his man? Since ancient times, how many emperors tolerated this temperament in the person who shared their pillow? Wasn''t he afraid the emperor woulde to hate him?
With herst bit of hope, the woman looked at the emperor standing behind the young man. Then her heart sank little by little.
No wonder, no wonder Shen Yu was so unscrupulous. It turned out his behavior was condoned.
"Why don''t you speak? Are you unhappy with my proposal?"
When Shen Yu said these words, the woman''s face went even paler. She forced back her fear and said in a trembling voice, "This concubine dares not."
"I think you dare very much." Shen Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, scrutinizing the woman who knelt on the ground.
A pair of delicate and moving eyes, a face like hibiscus in clear water. She had not only the purity of a girl but the charm of a mature woman. There was no wonder she had such thoughts when she was only in her twenties.
"What happened to Ling Meimei? Why don''t I see her?"
"She seems to have gone that way just now. Why don''t we go and have a look?" a woman called out as she walked, and her voice gradually approached.
Shen Yu turned his head to look at Shang JunLin. Seeing his nod, he knew their target was among this group of people.
Shen Yu moved slightly to the side. When the women arrived, they immediately saw the tall, straight figure of Shang JunLin.
They were stunned, but there was no time to think about how the emperor suddenly appeared here. They quickly knelt in salute.
The ones who had little thoughts in their minds did their best to show their advantages as they knelt.
Shen Yu silently surveyed these people and took in their movements one by one. Finally his gaze fell on one not especially remarkable woman.
Compared with the others, she didn''t especially stand out, though she was attractive. Her light blue aoqun was inconspicuous among the crowd of other charming beauties.
Lin ZhiLan, the woman who was involved in the case of Imperial Censor Zhang.
Today Shang JunLin''s attitude wasn''t the same as normal. He was still cold, but he didn''t give off the overwhelming feeling that strangers weren''t allowed to approach. Thedies who were more daring couldn''t help but want to fight for their chance.
Looking at the young emperor who was almost surrounded by a cluster of beauties, the ink-ck color in Shen Yu''s eyes slowly darkened.
The woman kneeling on the ground looked at the scene in front of her with fear. Just now she "identally" ran into the emperor and was almost killed by Shen Yu. And right now so many women were paying court to the emperor.
The woman couldn''t help regretting everything. If she''d known Shen Yu was so crazy, she never would have acted so recklessly.
"Your Majesty is so popr." A slightly teasing voice rang out.
The women looked in the direction of the voice and saw Shen Yu standing not far away, looking at them coolly.
Their hearts trembled although they didn''t know why. A strong sense of foreboding began to fill them.
"Noble monarch,e to this emperor." Shang JunLin''s gaze was deep. It wasn''t clear what he was thinking.
Shen Yu walked over to stand by his side and slightly tilted his head. "Your Majesty, who are these people?"
"They''re the concubines of the previous emperor."
"Ah, so they''re the concubines of the previous emperor. Why are they staring at Your Majesty? If I didn''t know better, I''d think they were Your Majesty''s concubines."
Shen Yu had been standing slightly behind Shang JunLin. These women were so focused on the emperor they didn''t even notice Shen Yu was here too.
None of them thought Shen Yu would see through them so easily. Their faces turned red, then white.
"Noble monarch, this concubine came here to look for Ling Meimei," one woman said, and the rest agreed as if they''d suddenly found strength.
"Yes, yes, when Ling Meimei didn''t show up we were worried about her, so"
Shen Yu listened to them quietly for a while, then lifted his chin and said with a smile, "Is this the person you''re looking for?"
They followed Shen Yu''s gaze and saw a pale woman kneeling on the ground.
"That''s I don''t know what Ling Meimei did wrong"
"It''s nothing," Shen Yu said lightly. "It''s just that when I saw her crash into His Majesty''s arms, it put me in a bad mood."
The ones who originally wanted to speak up for the woman to show their kindness closed their mouths. If there was any other reason, they could have begged for mercy, but if what Shen Yu said was true, it would be foolish to plead for her again.
"Why are you just standing there? Didn''t you hear what I said?" Shen Yu was half-leaning against Shang JunLin. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and his voice was unhappy.
A few young eunuchs heard his words and walked up to the woman kneeling on the ground. Ignoring her struggles, they grabbed her arms.
"Your Majesty! Noble monarch, noble monarch, please spare my life. This concubine wasn''t sensible! I didn''t mean it. Please spare me, noble monarch, ah!"
The heavy scent of blood filled the air. A spray of blood drenched the ground. The woman clutched her arm and fell down, in so much pain that she couldn''t speak.
"This is what happens when you covet a person you shouldn''t covet."
As the slightly chilling words fell, several women shrank back involuntarily. They didn''t dare have any more thoughts after witnessing such a thing with their very eyes.
Shen Yu''s gaze swept meaningfully over the suddenly quail-like and honest women. "ording to the pce rules, what should be done with them?"
"ording to the seriousness of the case, the punishment is confinement or the choice of white silk or poisoned wine," Meng Gonggong replied.
"Your Majesty, spare my life! Noble monarch, spare me" Of course, they knew how serious the consequences of failure could be, but they would rather gamble than waste the rest of their lives without hope in the harem.
And That man told them if they seeded, they could have whatever they wanted in the future: glory, splendor, wealth, and rank, not to mention power. The only thing they hadn''t expected was that Shen Yu would do exactly what he said.
In the face of life and death, how could they care about anything else? Right now, they only wanted to live.
As for Shen Yu, he didn''t really want to kill them either. He deliberately pretended to waver, and the beggars saw a glimpse of hope.
"Noble monarch, please spare our lives! We promise to never, ever make trouble again or trouble the noble monarch''s eyes"
Shen Yu thought for a moment. "Then take them to Yuzhang Pce. After I vent my anger, I might let you go."
They quickly thanked him for his mercy.
After the people were brought back to Yuzhang Pce, Shen Yu locked them up in different rooms. They were so frightened they didn''t dare to object. All of them did whatever Shen Yu wanted.
Lin ZhiLan was secretly taken away by Shang JunLin''s people, and no one in Yuzhang Pce knew about this except Shen Yu himself.
As Shen Yu anticipated, the people behind the scenes didn''t notice anything. Thanks to the rumor that Shen Yu refused to allow the emperor to take any other concubines, when the news of the incident spread, everyone just assumed that Shen Yu brought these people back to Yuzhang Pce to torture them more conveniently.
Shen Yu was toozy to care what anyone thought. After handing the person over to Shang JunLin, he didn''t ask anything else about it.
As for the other women who were brought back, Lin ZhiLan wasn''t the only one with problems. If they weren''t acting under someone''s orders, why did they keep trying so diligently to get close to Shang JunLin?
Mu Xi brought in the medicine. "Young master, it''s time for your medicine."
Shen Yu took it and drank it down.
Mu Xi handed over a handkerchief. "Young master, the Zhenbei Marquis has asked to see you."
"Why does he suddenly want to see me?" Shen Yu remembered ordering Mu Xi to send someone to the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence before. "What''s the situation there now?"
"After this ve sent the person over, Aunt Ru, whose rtionship with the lord marquis eased for a while, somehow angered the lord marquis and was confined too. Shen QingRan''s treatment also changed back to what a normal shu son would have. The mansion is now run by an aunt who''s at odds with Aunt Ru and her son."
Mu Xi described the recent events in the marquis'' residence. After listening, Shen Yu said, "Send a reply to the Zhenbei Marquis and say I''ll find time to see him."
"Very well."
In the evening, Shang JunLin arrived and Shen Yu told him about the Zhenbei Marquis.
"You want to leave the pce?" Shang JunLin frowned.
"After all, it''s my father. It''s not good if I don''t visit him." Shen Yu lowered his eyes.
"Since when has the noble monarch been so devoted to the Zhenbei Marquis?" Shang JunLin raised his eyebrows. "This is a lie for others. You''re trying to fool this emperor too, hmm?"
"Your Majesty, I haven''t been back to the mansion in a long time. I miss it a little."
"The noble monarch doesn''t have to pretend in front of this emperor." Shang JunLin lifted Shen Yu''s chin. "This emperor knows very well how the noble monarch lived in the marquis'' residence before. I don''t think the noble monarch truly wants to go back to the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence, do you?"
"Actually" Shen Yu blinked and said slowly, "I heard that Shen QingRan has been unlucky recently. He was always so arrogant in the marquis'' residence. I want to see the excitement."
It would be such a pity if he didn''t see their bad luck with his own eyes.
"Wouldn''t it have been better if the noble monarch was this honest from the start?" Shang JunLin shook Shen Yu''s chin.
Shen Yu reached out to free his chin. "Does Your Majesty agree?"
"Mm." Without waiting for Shen Yu to speak, Shang JunLin added, "This emperor will go with you."
Shen Yu didn''t want to leave the pce merely to go to the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. That was a side trip. If Shang JunLin went along with him, he wouldn''t be able to do the other things he needed to do.
Politely refusing, he said, "Your Majesty has been so busytely. I don''t want to dy Your Majesty''s affairs."
"The noble monarch doesn''t want this emperor toe along." Shang JunLin narrowed his eyes and approached Shen Yu with a sense of oppression. "Why?"
"If Your Majesty is able to apany me, I''d be only too happy. Why wouldn''t I want you to join me?" Shen Yu rested his hand on the man''s shoulder.
A light scent of medicine filled his nose, mixed with a faint fragrance that seemed to be absent before. Shang JunLin''s eyes darkened, and he retreated along Shen Yu''s path. "This emperor will tell Meng Chang to prepare for a visit to the Zhenbei Marquis. The noble monarch should rest."
When Shang JunLin went to wash up, Shen Yu stared at the bed hangings and worried. He originally wanted to meet his subordinates, look for a birthday gift for Shang JunLin, and then go to the marquis'' residence to see the fun.
If he left the pce with Shang JunLin, the only ce he could go was the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence.
"What is the noble monarch thinking about?" Shang JunLin came back with a breath of water vapor on his body.
"I was thinking about something," Shen Yu said in a low voice. "Is there anything Your Majesty wants?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, just asking."
Shen Yu didn''t expect to get an answer, so he yawned and leaned towards the heat source in his bed.
What would be the best gift?
TL Notes:
aoqun o qn jacket skirt This is a type of ruqun (), a two-piece traditional Chinese outfit worn primarily by women. The top consists of a jacket which closes on the right, known as an ao (). The ao might be padded or have multipleyers for added warmth. This is worn over a long skirt, the qun () (Wikipedia)
found strength from found their backbones
quail-like Amon way to describe someone who is timid
white silk or poisoned wine The traditional choice given a concubine ordered tomit suicide
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Ling Meimei Sister Ling
Lin ZhiLan
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Chapter 18
Chapter 18
"Mu Xi, when it''s someone''s birthday, what do you usually give them?" Shen Yu held a teacup and asked the maid who was tying up his hair.
Mu Xi thought a little. She couldn''t think of anyone but His Majesty who could make Shen Yu ask this sentence. "Is the young master going to give His Majesty a gift?"
"That''s right." Shen Yu didn''t deny it.
"But Didn''t the young master already decide on a gift list?"
When Mu Xi mentioned this, Shen Yu remembered asking her to handle some things rted to the birthday ceremony. "Bring me the gift list. I want to take a look."
"Very well."
Mu Xi finished her work and personally went to get it. "Young master, this is the preliminary list."
Shen Yu took the list and read it from beginning to end. He didn''t see anything wrong with it, but he still wanted to give something in addition to what was there.
His knuckles tapped on the table. Shen Yu sorted through his memory and tentatively decided on a few things.
One specific thing would require more thought.
Early the next morning, Shen Yu felt the warmth at his side and opened his eyes in confusion.
"Your Majesty?"
Shang JunLin was holding an official report, half-reclining against the head of the bed as he looked through it.
"Awake?"
The low voice came from above Shen Yu, who rubbed his ears. "Your Majesty isn''t going to morning court today?"
Usually by the time Shen Yu woke up, Shang JunLin had already gone to court. If it wasn''t for the sunlight outside, Shen Yu might have thought it was still early.
"This emperor took a rest day," Shang JunLin said. He put down the report in his hand. "Didn''t you say you wanted to visit the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence today?"
Shen Yu''s puzzlement gradually cleared. He sat up, holding the quilt. "If Your Majesty hadn''t reminded me, I almost would have forgotten."
It was obvious he didn''t care much at all about going to the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence.
"" Shang JunLin was speechless. "This emperor told youst night."
Shen Yu thought back to the previous night. It seemed that Shang JunLin really did mention it, but Shen Yu had been preupied with something elsetely and hadn''t paid attention.
Seeing that Shen Yu was awake, Shang JunLin called someone in to serve him. After washing up, they changed into their traveling clothes.
Shang JunLin didn''t wear the formal robes that represented the emperor''s dignity, but chose a ck robe that didn''t reveal his status. Shen Yu wore a light-colored robe with a snow-white fox fur.
"Is Your Majesty going to hide your identity when you leave the pce?" When Shen Yu looked at the man dressed as an ordinary person, his eyes lit up.
Shang JunLin had an impable facesword brows, starry eyes, sharp features. Nothing about his appearance was less than perfect. When he took off the sumptuous formal robes of the emperor, he looked even younger and more handsome.
Arge part of the reason Shen Yu decided to ept staying in the harem and cooperated with Shang JunLin was because of his face. The more he looked at Shang JunLin, the more he thought this face fit his aesthetic ideal.
"Mm," Shang JunLin agreed, exining, "It''s not convenient for this emperor to leave the pce with my true identity."
Shen Yu understood that although the case of Imperial Censor Zhang was closed, there were still a lot of unspoken doubts about it. In fact, there was no need for Shang JunLin to apany Shen Yu to the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence at such a time.
The carriage drove out from the side door of the pce in a low-key manner. Shen Yu was sitting across from Shang JunLin. "Your Majesty didn''t have to go to the marquis'' residence with me."
"This emperor made you a promise. How can I change my mind?" The carriage wasn''t spacious, but Shang JunLin still sat perfectly upright.
Despite the carriage''sck of size, the interior was quitefortable. Shen Yu sat on a thick nket with a hand warmer in his arms. He didn''t feel the cold at all.
The Zhenbei Marquis'' residence received the news of Shen Yu''s return early in the morning, and the entire household prepared for Shen Yu''s arrival.
The modest carriage slowly approached the marquis'' residence. The Zhenbei Marquis heard that Shen Yu''s return to the house was not considered a formal visit to his family, which meant he wouldn''t arrive in a ceremonial carriage. When the marquis saw the small carriage he didn''t dare to neglect it at all.
After entering the yard, the carriage stopped. The first to exit was a tall man.
The Zhenbei Marquis was about to open his mouth when he saw the man''s profile. With a "plop", the marquis instantly fell to his knees. "This minister"
"Keep quiet," Shang JunLin said coldly.
"Yes." The Zhenbei Marquis wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead and stood up again.
Fear of Shang JunLin was seared into his heart. The Zhenbei Marquis had seen Shang JunLin''s cruel and merciless bloodshed in the imperial court. Since then, his fear of Shang JunLin had never decreased.
The curtain of the carriage opened, and a pure white hand stretched from it. The Zhenbei Marquis stared as the emperor who frightened him so greatly reached out and gently helped the young man down from the carriage.
"Why doesn''t Father seem happy to greet me?"
As if in a trance, the Zhenbei Marquis looked at Shen Yu and Shang JunLin and wondered if his eyes were working correctly.
His Majesty not only apanied Shen Yu back to the mansion, but personally helped him out of the carriage?!!
Hearing Shen Yu''s words, the Zhenbei Marquis twitched the corners of his mouth. "This minister was overly surprised."
It wasn''t like he hadn''t heard how much his son was favored in the pce, but hearing it was nowhere near as powerful as seeing it with his own eyes. The Zhenbei Marquis did his best to steady his mind and led his guests into the hall.
With Shang JunLin present, the Zhenbei Marquis couldn''t ask about Shen Yu''s feelings towards the marquis'' residence. The three chatted in the hall for a while, and Shen Yu quickly grew bored. He pulled Shang JunLin''s sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty, do you want to see the ce where I grew up?"
The three weren''t far from each other, and the Zhenbei Marquis naturally heard these words. He was about to reprimand his son when he met Shang JunLin''s cold eyes and hastily swallowed back what he was going to say.
The Zhenbei Marquis abruptly realized the emperor was the exact same emperor he''d always been. This unique amodation was for a specific person only.
"What the noble monarch said is quite right. This minister will take the two of you there."
Shang JunLin got up. "No need."
Shen Yu stood up with him, and he and Shang JunLin walked out together. The Zhenbei Marquis automatically wanted to follow, but he was intercepted by Meng Gonggong who was behind them.
"Lord marquis, remain here."
Meng Gonggong''s face wore a smile, but his attitude was firm.
Meng Gonggong was the emperor''s closest servant. The Zhenbei Marquis knew these were the emperor''s wishes and didn''t dare to disobey.
As he watched the two people leave, the Zhenbei Marquis was full of deep regret. If he''d treated Shen Yu better from the beginning, would he be so worried right now about the future of the Zhenbei Marquis'' house?
Perhaps because they didn''t know Shen Yu wasing back, the courtyard where Shen Yu used to live was no different from when he left.
Shen Yu took the emperor in a slow walk around it and pointed to the small frozen pond. "In summer this pond is full of lotus flowers. They''re beautiful, and the lotus seeds are delicious."
"There''s also a lotus pond in the pce. If you like it, when summeres this emperor will take you to pick them."
"Your Majesty, why are you so kind?"
They talked a while longer, and Shen Yu yawnedzily.
"Go to bed if you''re sleepy." As he caught the young man who almost fell, Shang JunLin frowned.
"Will Your Majesty join me?" Shen Yu half-squinted his eyes and looked up.
" Mm."
After an hour''s rest, Shen Yu was refreshed and remembered there was still one thing left to do.
"I heard my shu brother broke his leg. Your Majesty, do you think I should go and see him?" Shen Yu rubbed his chin with a trace of worry on his face.
If someone who didn''t know the truth saw this, they might really think he was worried about his shu brother''s health.
Shang JunLin sat at the table, reading a book Shen Yu had read before. His wide sleeves were spread out on the table. When he heard Shen Yu''s words, he looked over.
Shen Yu''s eyes were as ck as a bottomless abyss. At the moment, those eyes were tinted with the warmth of the sunlight, giving the illusion of deep affection and doting.
"Didn''t the noble monarche just to visit'' your shu brother? I hope you won''t be disappointed when you see him."
"How can Your Majesty think of me like that?" Shen Yu paced over to the man and leaned slightly closer. He lowered his head to the emperor''s ear and said in a voice as soft as an orchid, "Your Majesty will make me feel sad."
Shang JunLin took Shen Yu by the wrist, pulled him into his arms, and bowed his head to look at him. "This emperor thinks you''d only feel sad if that shu brother of yours isn''t hurt as badly as you think."
"Your Majesty understands me so well." Shen Yu blinked. "Will Your Majestye with me?"
"Since the noble monarch invited me, this emperor will not decline."
The news of Shen Yu''s return to the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence couldn''t be concealed. In a little more than the time it took to drink a few cups of tea, everyone from the front courtyard to the back courtyard knew Shen Yu had returned to the mansion.
The Zhenbei Marquis didn''t have an official wife, and his concubines weren''t qualified to wee guests in the front hall. If it was Madam Ru, she might barely be able to do so, but after the incident with Shen Yu, her status in the marquis'' residence had plummeted. She wasn''t even doing as well as the other concubines.
When Aunt Ru heard about Shen Yu''s return, she was with Shen QingRan in a side courtyard.
After Shen QingRan broke his leg, he was ordered to rest by the Zhenbei Marquis. He called it rest, but in fact Shen QingRan was under house arrest in disguise. The courtyard he lived in was also changed.
Shen QingRan couldn''t figure out how things had developed this way. It was clear that Shen Yu was no longer in the marquis'' residence. Why did he still have such a great impact on what happened here?
Shen QingRan grabbed Aunt Ru''s hand. His face was gloomy. "Mother, did he really return to the mansion?"
"Yes, but I heard he came back in an ordinary carriage. I guess those rumors outside aren''t really true." Every time Aunt Ru heard how much Shen Yu was favored in the pce, her regret increased even more.
If she''d known what would happen, she never would have pushed the opportunity to enter the pce onto Shen Yu.
"I knew he couldn''t have it so good, mother. What should we do now?"
"Ran Er, you said before that you befriended a nobleman." Aunt Ru forcefully grabbed her son''s hand. "We don''t have many opportunities now. You must seize this chance!
"Tell your mother, what''s the status of that nobleman and how far have you gotten?"
Shen QingRan''s face changed. For the time being, he could only guess the man was royal. The man had never told him his true identity. As for the rtionship between them
Thinking of the man he hadn''t been able to contacttely, Shen QingRan''s face grew even uglier.
Aunt Ru saw Shen QingRan''s unpleasant expression and had a bad feeling. Hesitating, she said, "Ran Er"
"Mother, don''t worry." Shen QingRan gritted his teeth. "I''ll make sure Shen Yu suffers!"
"Ah, I didn''t know that QingRan Didi would think of me even when he''s ill. How touching."
When they heard the amused voice, Shen QingRan and his mother looked up and saw Shen Yu and a man dressed in ck standing close together, with a servant cowering behind them. It wasn''t clear how long they''d been standing there.
"Didi is so tongue-tied, but be careful of your other leg." Shen Yu''s voice held a smile, but the malice in his tone was undisguised.
"Shen Yu!" Shen QingRan was so angry that his eyes darkened. He looked at the two men standing together so intimately, and he suddenly smiled. "So you left the pce to have a private meeting with your lover. Does His Majesty know about this?"
"A private meeting with my lover?" Shen Yu tilted his head. "Do you mean him?"
Shang JunLin, who was now being stared at strangely by everyone thanks to Shen Yu''s words: ""
TL Notes:
sword brows straight eyebrows nting upwards and outwards; dashing eyebrows
closest servant a favourite with sb. in power ; fair-haired boy
Shen Yu''s eyes were as ck as a bottomless abyss The raw just says "he", but based on context and grammar I assigned it to Shen Yu. His eyes were described in a simr way at the beginning of Ch 17
the time it took to drink a few cups of tea An old-timey way to describe a period of time. In modern terms, the time it takes for a cup of tea to cool down enough to drink might be 5-15 minutes (Baidu)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Mother Ning ma; mum; mother
Ran Er An affectionate nickname for Shen QingRan
Didi younger brother. Also a way to address a younger man of the same generation as you
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Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Shang JunLin''s visit to the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence was a secret, and the Zhenbei Marquis knew the emperor didn''t want his presence announced. The lord marquis didn''t dare tell the rest of the mansion about His Majesty''s arrival.
The only thing Shen QingRan and his mother knew was that Shen Yu had returned home with little pomp or ceremony. They never would have guessed the emperor himself had apanied Shen Yu back to his birthce.
Aside from the Zhenbei Marquis, not many people in the marquis'' residence knew what the emperor looked like. Aunt Ru wasn''t qualified to enter the pce. She''d neverid eyes on the emperor.
This was Shang JunLin''s first visit to the marquis'' residence, and the servants there didn''t know him either. When they heard Shen QingRan''s question, they couldn''t help staring at this unfamiliar man.
Shen QingRan had blurted his words out of anger. After speaking, he knew what he said was inappropriate. But what stunned him was that Shen Yu''s actions became even more brazen.
Under the amazed eyes of everyone present, Shen Yu draped himself against Shang JunLin, who automatically reached out to steady his body.
"Shen Yu, how can you be so shameless?" Aunt Ru put on the airs of an elder. "Now that you''re in the pce, you belong to His Majesty. How dare you use your return to the marquis'' residence as a smokescreen to meet with another man? Even if you''re not afraid for yourself, think about the marquis'' family! Do you want to take down the entire marquis'' residence with you when His Majesty finds out?"
It might sound like she was instructing the younger generation, but in fact every word dripped with malice.
The reason Aunt Ru dared to speak this way was because she, like Shen QingRan, knew Shen Yu had a "close friend" before entering the pce. And it was because of him that Shen Yu initially refused to enter the harem.
They were aware of Shen Yu''s determined resistance, and they had no doubt Shen Yu was capable of arranging a meeting with his paramour. Maybe that was his n from the start. Otherwise, what could exin Shen Yu''s sudden obedience and willingness to enter the pce?
Thinking she''d found a reasonable exnation, Aunt Ru''s attitude hardened.
"Shen Yu, it''s not that your aunt wants to say this, but"
"Ah, then you do know you''re just an aunt," said Shen Yu in a different tone. "That means you''re aware of your status. Otherwise, I was wondering exactly when you, Aunt Ru, became the Zhenbei Marquis'' official wife?"
Shen Yu emphasized the word "aunt" with a heavy dose of sarcasm. When Aunt Ru heard it, her eyes reddened and her chest heaved with anger.
Shen Yu keenly enjoyed her angry expression for a while, then his head nudged Shang JunLin''s shoulder. "I''m His Majesty''s noble monarch, but even if I wasn''t, I''m still the di son of the Zhenbei Marquis. How is it possible for an aunt to call me by my personal name? Ah Lin, don''t you think so?"
Ah Lin.
It was the first time Shang JunLin heard Shen Yu call him by such an intimate name, and his heart suddenly trembled. He lowered his eyes, and long, feather-like eyshes concealed his gaze. "Yes, she should treat you with respect." His voice was low and gentle.
Seeing the two people behave so intimately with each other, as if no one else was around, Shen QingRan felt extremely irritated. He grabbed his quilt and sat up. "Did youe here just tough at me?! Look at you running around with His Majesty''s favor, doing whatever you want! I can''t wait to see what happens when His Majesty finds out what you''re doing!"
"You don''t need to worry about me. If I really provoke His Majesty''s anger, I''m certain everyone in the marquis'' family will suffer along with me. Instead of worrying about me, you''d do well to worry about yourself."
"Shen Yu! You''re doing this on purpose!"
"That''s right. You see, either you help me hide everything and make sure His Majesty never finds out, or we''ll all be convicted together and not one person will be spared," Shen Yu spoke carelessly as he toyed with the man''s fingers.
Shen QingRan was shocked by Shen Yu''s attitude. He turned to the man standing so close to his half-brother. "Don''t you care what he''s doing? You know what His Majesty''s people are capable of. Why do you still associate with him when you know what will happen to you?!"
Shang JunLin gave a shortugh and stroked Shen Yu''s long, raven-ck hair. "Since he''s willing to be with me anyway, I''m quite satisfied."
"You''re not afraid your entire n will be punished because of him?" Shen QingRan''s eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn''t believe this man with such extraordinary bearing was actually a love-addled fool.
"If I can please him, I don''t care what happens." Shang JunLin gazed at Shen Yu with soft eyes, as if there was only this young man in his heart.
"" Shen QingRan was stunned into speechlessness. Despite his outrage, he couldn''t help feeling jealous. The man Shen QingRan liked hadn''t visited him once since his injury, and there hadn''t been many messages either. How could Shen Yu get the love of two excellent men so easily?!
Obviously, he was the one who''d transmigrated. He should be the protagonist of this world!
"Are you envious of me? Or should I say jealous?" Shen Yu approached Shen QingRan step by step, speaking in a soft but cool voice. "Do you think it''s so very unfair that I robbed you of your chance to enter the pce? Do you think that if you were the one who''d entered the pce, everything I have would be yours?"
"That''s not" Shen QingRan couldn''t help but shrink back. He rarely confronted Shen Yu face to face. The only two times they''d spoken, Shen Yu had scared him.
"No, I know that''s what you''re thinking." Shen Yu cupped his chin and forced Shen QingRan to look at him. "Your eyes tell me you''re jealous of my status as di son, jealous of the man I met, jealous of me"
"Shut up!" Shen QingRan turned his head in embarrassment and pushed Shen Yu away.
Those words were like an axe chopping through the hard outeryer of camouge on his soul, revealing his inner wretchedness. The dirty and unsightly thoughts deep inside him were exposed to the sunlight for everyone to see.
Shen Yu smoothly dropped his hand and stepped back.
When the Zhenbei Marquis heard what was happening, he rushed to the side courtyard in time to encounter this scene. He began to loudly scold his son. "Shen QingRan! How can you be so rude to the noble monarch? Apologize at once!"
"No need to apologize." Shen Yu returned to Shang JunLin, took the handkerchief from the emperor''s hand and wiped his fingers. "What can he do to me when he''s lying there?"
Despite his anger, Shen QingRan didn''t dare to retort. He didn''t understand what was happening. Shen Yu was clearly in the wrong. His father had always been fond of him, so why was he siding with Shen Yu?
Was it true what Shen Yu said? The entire Zhenbei Marquis'' residence would be implicated, so they had to cover for him?
The Zhenbei Marquis nced awkwardly at Shang JunLin. Without the emperor''s permission, the Zhenbei Marquis didn''t dare to reveal Shang JunLin''s identity. All he could do was ask, "What happened here?"
Shen Yu began to count on his fingers. "He said I had a private meeting with my lover. He said I ruined our family''s reputation"
As the Zhenbei Marquis listened, his vision began to fade to ck. His Majesty was still here. Wasn''t Shen QingRan asking for death by saying such things? If His Majesty med the marquis'' residence No, he couldn''t let that happen!
The Zhenbei Marquis didn''t know what else was said before he came in, but looking at the situation in the room, there didn''t seem to be an irreconcble conflict yet. There had to be a chance to salvage the situation.
He tried to hold back his anger. "Noble monarch, it''s clear that he''s young and has been spoiled by me. His mouth ran wild"
Shang JunLin stroked Shen Yu''s long hair and said in a deep voice, "It''s time to teach him properly."
Unexpectedly, the emperor had suddenly opened his mouth. The Zhenbei Marquis was stunned and looked at him cautiously, but Shang JunLin didn''t even nce at him.
Unsure of Shang JunLin''s attitude, the Zhenbei Marquis had no choice but to agree.
Shen Yu decided he''d had enough excitement and prepared to leave. Before he departed, he turned back and smiled. "Father, don''t forget what you promised before I left the mansion."
Startled, the Zhenbei Marquis realized Shen Yu was talking about Shen QingRan and his mother. Shen Yu was in favor now. By no means could the Zhenbei Marquis offend this son. No matter how much he might object inside, he could only suppress his thoughts.
"This minister will remember."
After Shen Yu left, the Zhenbei Marquis disregarded the sad eyes of Shen QingRan and his mother. He asked the servants what happened and left with a stiff face.
Aunt Ru rushed after him and grabbed the hem of his robe. "Lord marquis, Ran Er truly didn''t mean anything. He was confused and spoke out of anger. Shen Yu, I mean, the noble monarch, tantly had a private meeting with another man in the marquis'' residence. He doesn''t care if he harms everyone in the mansion."
The Zhenbei Marquis kicked her away. "How stupid are you? You believe whatever he says? Why don''t you think about it? The imperial pce is heavily guarded, and he returned to the marquis'' residence at the spur of the moment. How could he possibly have time to arrange a meeting with a lover?"
"Well That is" Aunt Ru looked up in confusion.
The Zhenbei Marquis had no patience to continue with her. "For daring to have such thoughts, you''re lucky that person had mercy on you."
"That, that is, this concubine really didn''t know," Aunt Ru said as though in a trance.
"You and your son will stay here and reflect on yourselves. You''re forbidden to take one step out of your courtyard without my orders."
Originally, for the sake of Shen QingRan''s intelligence and ability to please his father, the Zhenbei Marquis didn''t mind looking after him more, but now that Shen Yu had the emperor''s favor, he was forced to abandon Shen QingRan for the time being.
He also had to find a way to probe His Majesty''s attitude. Did Shang JunLin have a bad impression of the marquis'' residence because of this incident? If so, Shen QingRan and his mother couldn''t be allowed to stay.
The Zhenbei Marquis didn''t find an opportunity to test Shen Yu and Shang JunLin. He hadn''t been summoned and he didn''t dare to follow behind them to ask. All he could do was wait, wait until he heard they''d returned to the pce.
Maybe because Shen Yu had been outside for a long time, he began to show faint signs of a fever. When they arrived at the pce, Shang JunLin immediately called the imperial physician. He didn''t rx until Shen Yu drank a bowl of hot medicine.
"Pay more attention to your health." Shang JunLin frowned and looked at Shen Yu.
In the imperial pce, a lot of care was taken to ensure Shen Yu kept warm, and he didn''t have much chance to contract chills or a cold. Shang JunLin didn''t expect that after just half a day outside the pce, Shen Yu almost fell ill. For the first time he realized how fragile Shen Yu''s body was.
Shen Yu approached the man''s side with a smile and pressed the hand that was approving official memorials with an ink brush. "Isn''t Your Majesty here to look after me?"
"This emperor can''t keep an eye on you at all times."
"If Your Majesty doesn''t look at me, who else will you look at?" Shen Yu sat on the small desk where Shang JunLin put the folded documents and gazed down at him.
"What nonsense is the noble monarch saying? Who else would this emperor look at besides you?" Shang JunLin touched the long hair that fell in front of him. "Is the noble monarch happy today?"
Shen Yu tilted his head and smiled. "I''m with Your Majesty, so of course I''m happy."
Although he wasn''t able to aplish a few things, Shen Yu really enjoyed seeing Shen QingRan and his mother be unlucky.
"This emperor can tell you''re not happy just because I''m with you."
"If Your Majesty knows you don''t have to say it." Shen Yu frowned. "Then, is Your Majesty happy today?
"And How does Your Majesty feel about being regarded as my paramour, meeting me privately outside the pce?"
Shen Yu exhaled softly and lowered his voice, saying, "Your Majesty, are you my secret lover?"
The author has something to say:
Mini theater a long time in the future
The man stroked the young man''s long, sweaty hair. His movements were fierce: "Ah Yu, what will happen if His Majesty finds out about us?"
Shen Yu was upside down and knocked to pieces: "Don''t Don''t let him find out Mmm"
TL Notes:
You know what His Majesty''s people "are capable of" from rephrase due to vagueness
upside down top (of the head) / apex / to fall forwards / inverted / to jolt, upheaval
knocked to pieces be reduced to fragments; all broken up; fallen apart; incoherent, scattered and smashed
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Ah prefix used before monosybic names, kinship terms etc to indicate familiarity
Ah Lin A fond nickname for Shang JunLin
Ah Yu A fond nickname for Shen Yu
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Chapter 20
Chapter 20
"Is it possible for the noble monarch to have a lover other than me?" Shang JunLin took the young man''s arm and leaned closer.
"Of course not." Shen Yu averted his eyes. "Who in the world couldpare with Your Majesty?"
Suddenly remembering the secret report that was prepared by the Hidden Dragon Guard before Shen Yu entered the pce, Shang JunLin''s cold eyes darkened further. "The noble monarch should take care not to lie to this emperor."
"Your Majesty should have confidence in yourself. Or confidence in my vision. Why would I choose a fish eye instead of a dragon pearl like Your Majesty?" Shen Yu''s lips curved in a smile. "I have good eyesight."
"The noble monarch''s eyesight truly is good. You can even see when someone intends to break into the prison." Shang JunLin''s tone was level, as if he was speaking casually.
Shen Yu wasn''t foolish enough to think Shang JunLin was praising him. He knew he couldn''t give a flippant response.
All kinds of thoughts shed through his mind, but not a hint appeared on his face. As if he hadn''t heard Shang JunLin''s implied meaning, Shen Yu tilted his head. "Those people were suspicious. It was obvious at a nce they were nning something. If it was Your Majesty who discovered them, Your Majesty would have instantly known they were up to no good."
Shang JunLin gave Shen Yu a meaningful stare. A faint smile appeared in his eyes. "What the noble monarch says is reasonable."
"Your Majesty, did you find the mastermind who nned the prison break?" This was a topic Shen Yu was interested in.
The responsibility for the prison break-in was publicly med on a senior member of the Zhang family, and the entire Zhang n had been convicted and beheaded or exiled. With the downfall of the Zhangs, the matter of Imperial Censor Zhang also came to an end.
But Shen Yu knew the target of the prison break was Young Master He, not Imperial Censor Zhang. Naturally, the Zhang family wasn''t behind it. There was a high probability the King of Yue was the mastermind, but Shen Yu didn''t know if Shang JunLin had discovered that yet.
"The noble monarch is so clever. Why don''t you guess who tried to rob the prison?"
"If Your Majesty won''t even give me a hint, how can I guess?" Shen Yuined.
"Does the noble monarch know who they wanted to free?" Shang JunLin asked.
"I don''t." Shen Yu shook his head. Even if he knew, he couldn''t admit it.
"The target''s name was He JinYuan." As he spoke, Shang JunLin scrutinized Shen Yu''s face. Not a flicker of expression escaped him.
He kept thinking it was too much of a coincidence, which meant it was no coincidence at all. But he didn''t know what role Shen Yu had yed.
When he looked at the clear eyes of the young man, Shang JunLin hoped he genuinely had nothing to do with it.
Shen Yu let Shang JunLin examine him, and his face didn''t change. He knew about Young Master He because of his previous life, and he wasn''t afraid of Shang JunLin investigating. No matter how powerful the Hidden Dragon Guard was, it was impossible for them to find something that hadn''t happened.
Shen Yu frowned slightly. "He JinYuan? It had something to do with the He family?"
"Yes." Shang JunLin hadn''t detected anything unusual in Shen Yu. He looked away and nodded. "He''s the most capable young man in the He family. They have high hopes he''ll lead the family back to the peak of influence.
"The He family is currently in decline, but a few decades ago they were prosperous and distinguished. They had the wind at their backs in Da Huan. If not for the fact the previous emperor disliked the He family''s daughter, their family might still be in control of the court.
"A centipede can die, but it won''t fall down. Although the He family has been in decline for decades, they have a firm foundation. They have enough power to inspire people to take risks on their behalf."
In the candlelight, half of the man''s face was hidden in shadow and difficult to see.
Shen Yu picked up the brush on the brush-holder and spun it between his fingers. "The He family didn''t break into the prison?"
"The He family doesn''t have the ability." Shang JunLin smiled and took the brush from Shen Yu''s hand. "If the He family had another capable person, they wouldn''t pin all their hopes on He JinYuan."
Part of the reason Shang JunLin secretly detained Young Master He was to lure out the hidden forces of the He family. He didn''t expect them to remain so quiet.
"Your Majesty, go on. Don''t tease me," Shen Yu urged.
"Does the noble monarch think this emperor is a storyteller?" But Shang JunLin didn''t feel annoyed. "Thanks to the noble monarch''s previous reminder, this emperor told someone to investigate in the direction of the vassal kings. What they found was interesting."
"Is that why Your Majesty asked the vassal kings to return to the capital early?" Shen Yu suddenly understood why things were developing so differently than in his previous life. Back then, Shang JunLin might not have known Young Master He was rescued by the King of Yue.
Shang JunLin didn''t deny it.
Shen Yu was thoughtful. "If you bring someone before you and find a way to provoke them, you can make them reveal their ws."
The day of the birthday banquet was drawing nearer, and the pce got busier and busier.
Everything in the pce had to be arranged in advance. During the reign of the previous emperor, banquets were primarily in the charge of the Ministry of Rites. Shen Yu followed the same procedure when he began to arrange things for the banquet.
The people around Shen Yu were so busy their feet didn''t touch the ground. Shen Yu himself didn''t have as much to do, but several times when Imperial Physician Gu came to check Shen Yu''s pulse, he was busy working.
Imperial Physician Gu finished checking Shen Yu''s pulse. His expression grew solemn. "The noble monarch still has to take care of your health."
Mu Xi''s face turned white with fear. "Imperial Physician Gu, is the young master''s condition getting worse?"
"A deficient body can''t be rehabilitated overnight. Pay more attention to your health, or it will be difficult for the noble monarch to withstand the winter," Imperial Physician Gu said seriously.
"Thanks to the medicine prescribed by Imperial Physician Gu, I''ve had a much easier time this winter." Shen Yu was speaking the truth. His illness was caused by a congenital deficiency from his mother''s womb, particrly his fear of cold. He was fine when the weather was warm, but as soon as the weather cooled, Shen Yu''s days became difficult. It was like he was trapped in ice, with freezing cold throughout his body.
The cold was a shadow that drilled into his bones, and no matter how warm the room was, it didn''t help. Shen Yu had lived two lifetimes and suffered from cold for both of them. This was the first winter that wasn''t as hard.
"This minister has been researching ancient texts. I will definitely find a way to cure the noble monarch."
Not long after the visit, Shang JunLin heard about Shen Yu''s situation. With a wave of his hand he sent several experienced pce servants to help.
Meng Gonggong personally brought them over. "His Majesty gave specific instructions that the noble monarch must not work too hard. If the noble monarch needs anything, just order these people to do it. These are the servants His Majesty asked this ve to bring. The noble monarch can call them at will."
Shen Yu looked them over one by one. These servants had worked in the pce for years. They were mature and stable, and their rank wasn''t low. They were more than capable of carrying out orders independently and could manage an entire pce alone. Shang JunLin had probably estimated how many people Shen Yu would need and sent them all over.
Shen Yu had to admit these people were really good at handling things. With their help, he had a lot less to manage.
Shen Yu didn''t find out that Imperial Physician Gu had gone to Shang JunLin to discuss his condition until a few dayster.
Shen Yu rested his hand on his cheek and looked over at the man who was approving memorials. "Then it''s because of Imperial Physician Gu''s advice that Your Majesty sent so many people to help me?"
Shang JunLin''s subordinate twitched slightly.
"His Majesty sent them first. Imperial Physician Gu went to His Majestyter," Meng Gonggong said with a smile.
In normal times, he wouldn''t dare to open his mouth on his own, but he now understood how differently the emperor treated the noble monarch. Saying good things about His Majesty in front of Noble Monarch Shen probably wouldn''t cause any problems.
Sure enough, Shang JunLin did no more than nce at Meng Gonggong and say tersely, "You talk too much."
"This ve has said too much." Meng Gonggong bowed his head and admitted his mistake, but he wasn''t worried.
"What are you saying to Meng Gonggong? If Meng Gonggong hadn''t told me, I wouldn''t know how much Your Majesty cares about me."
Shang JunLin''s face wore a magnanimous expression. "Is it wrong for this emperor to care about the noble monarch?"
"It''s not wrong." Shen Yu wanted to tease him, but since the emperor hadn''t taken the bait, it wasn''t that easy. "I hope Your Majesty cares about me even more in the future."
"If the noble monarch is always as well-behaved as you are now, this emperor will always care about you."
The corners of Meng Gonggong''s mouth couldn''t help but twitch when he heard this. If Noble Monarch Shen was well-behaved, no one in the world behaved badly.
Shang JunLin''s birthday was just around the corner.
Early in the morning, Shen Yu was dug out of the quilt by Shang JunLin, who hadn''t left yet.
Shen Yu rubbed his eyes. "Your Majesty?"
"Didn''t I tell you yesterday you''d have to get up early today?" Ignoring Shen Yu''s struggles, Shang JunLin took a robe and wrapped it around Shen Yu.
Shen Yu muttered, "It''s because Your Majesty is as fierce as a dragon. You kept me up all night."
Shang JunLin interrupted before Shen Yu could continue. "Mu Xi,e and wait on your young master and help him wash up."
Last night, it was clearly Shen Yu who made him stay up all night discussing the national affairs of Da Huan, but to hear Shen Yu talk about it now, somethingpletely different happened instead.
When he looked around at the people waiting on them, their heads were bowed, blushing with embarrassment.
Meng Gonggong also wore amiserating expression, like "I know, the noble monarch worked hard". Shang JunLin opened his mouth and closed it again. This had happened more than once, and he couldn''t exin himself every time.
Shang JunLin cleaned himself up and stood aside waiting for Shen Yu.
After washing his face, Shen Yu''s brain finally woke up. He looked at the pce servants around them who kept ncing at him from time to time. There was obvious cheerfulness on their faces, especially Meng Gonggong and Mu Xi, who looked happy but also a little distressed. Shen Yu touched his nose, baffled.
He walked over to Shang JunLin, tugged his sleeve and asked in a low voice, "What''s the matter with them?"
Shang JunLin looked over his shoulder. Under his eyes, the pce attendants all bowed their heads and dared not have the slightest unnecessary change in expression.
Shang JunLin gazed down at Shen Yu. "The noble monarch doesn''t remember what you said?"
Shen Yu thought about it carefully, and suddenly recalled what he said in front of the pce staff before he was fully awake. His head drooped little by little.
"Does the noble monarch have anything to say to this emperor?"
"I''m the one who spoke nonsense. Your Majesty is so generous. Don''t get angry with me about something so trivial OK?" Shen Yu''s voice got smaller and smaller. "If Your Majesty cares, I''ll tell everyone right now. I''m the one who kept you up all night"
"No need." Shang JunLin rubbed his eyebrows. "Go get dressed."
Shang JunLin had a premonition that if Shen Yu exined, the brains of the pce servants would run in an even more outrageous direction.
Shen Yu looked at him again and saw that he really didn''t look angry. He went behind the screen and changed his clothes.
Meng Gonggong slowly walked over to Shang JunLin and advised in a low voice, "Your Majesty, the noble monarch is not in good health. Imperial Physician Gu also said that you have to exercise as much restraint as possible in that regard. Not to mention today will be a busy day. You should be considerate of the noble monarch''s health."
Shang JunLin: ""
The author has something to say:
I haven''t eaten the meat yet, but I''m already carrying the pot on my back
TL Notes:
choose a fish eye instead of a pearl Amon idiom which means someone was blind and chose something worthless instead of something priceless
A centipede can die, but it won''t fall down a centipede dies but never falls down / old institutions die hard
as fierce as a dragon lit. dragon essence and tiger fierce
kept me up all night to toss from side to side (e.g. sleeplessly) / to repeat sth over and over again / to torment sb / to y crazy / to squander (time, money)
haven''t eaten the meat yet "eating meat" is a euphemism for sex A reference to Buddhist monks who are vegetarians sworn to celibacy
carrying the pot on my back An idiom which means "taking the me"
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Chapter 21
Chapter 21
"Meng Chang, are you very free?" Shang JunLin''s eyes narrowed slightly.
"This ve has a lot to do. This ve will go now." Meng Gonggong could understand. His Majesty was young and strong, and Noble Monarch Shen was the only one in the harem. Noble Monarch Shen couldn''t bear the emperor''s energy.
Poor Noble Monarch Shen, he suffered a great deal. It was fortunate Imperial Physician Gu was so skilled at medicine, or they''d have to worry more about Noble Monarch Shen''s health.
Shen Yu changed his clothes and came out from behind the screen. Meng Gonggong was no longer present. Shen Yu looked around the room and didn''t see anyone else either.
"Are you looking for something?" Shang JunLin came over and helped Shen Yu insert a hairpin into his topknot.
Shen Yu hadn''t reached the age to be crowned. He didn''t tie up his hair very often because he didn''t like cumbersome styles of dress. Usually he tied his hair casually with a ribbon.
Today, in a rare change from the norm, Shen Yu bound up his hair with a jade hairpin iid with rubies. It made him look more noble than usual, like his entire person was radiant and glittering.
"Where is Meng Gonggong? Isn''t he always by your side to serve you?"
Shen Yu''s clothes now represented the status of a noble monarch. Everything about him was elegant and luxurious, so dazzling no one could tear their eyes away.
Shang JunLin looked at him quietly for a while before answering. "This emperor sent him to do something."
"Oh." Shen Yu didn''t ask more.
Aside from the day he entered the pce, this was the first time Shen Yu had worn such an ornate and unwieldy costume. After straightening his sleeves he decided that although it looked good, it restricted his movements a little too much.
"Your Majesty, do I look good today?" Shen Yu stood close to Shang JunLin. His voice was as soft as a handful of water.
When Shang JunLin met that stunning and unparalleled face, it was impossible to say otherwise.
Shen Yu waited a while, but Shang JunLin didn''t answer. Shen Yu deliberately made an unhappy face. "Is it really that bad? I''m so ugly His Majesty can''t bring himself to speak."
"No, the noble monarch is extremely beautiful today." It wasn''t only today. In Shang JunLin''s eyes, Shen Yu was so beautiful that he tantalized his heart every moment.
When he realized his beautiful noble monarch would soon be viewed by all the courtiers, Shang JunLin frowned to himself. He was seized by the idea of shutting Shen Yu in the harem where no one else could see him.
He shook off the strange thoughts that sprang into his mind and said, "When the noble monarch is ready, we''ll go."
Shen Yu had no idea what Shang JunLin was thinking. He smiled, drew nearer, and gave a sigh. "Your Majesty is also extremely beautiful today," he said in a low voice.
"You''re the only one who dares to describe this emperor like that." When he looked at the stunning face so close at hand, Shang JunLin''s fingers curled.
Shen Yu: "I''m just telling the truth. Your Majesty won''t punish me for that, right?"
Shang JunLin: "This emperor thinks you''re very brave. You''re not afraid of being punished?"
"Your Majesty is mistaken. I only have a little courage, just a little bit." Shen Yu raised his hand and indicated the short distance between his index finger and thumb. "But what I''m afraid of most is pain. Your Majesty can''t hurt me in the future."
Shang JunLin gave him a meaningful look. "That depends on the noble monarch''s behavior."
Shen Yu pretended not to understand the deeper meaning of Shang JunLin''s words. With some doubt he asked, "Is my behavior not good enough? Tell me, Your Majesty, do you want me to act spoiled? Or clingy? Or cold and aloof?"
Images of various styles of Shen Yu ran uncontrobly through Shang JunLin''s mind. His heart suddenly thumped, and he interrupted Shen Yu, "This emperor likes the noble monarch as you are now."
"What a coincidence. I like this me too." Seeing Shang JunLin''s face change slightly, Shen Yu added, "Of course, what I like most is Your Majesty."
Shang JunLin''s eyes softened at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Meng Gonggong, who''d just returned from his busy work, heard this exchange and couldn''t help shaking his head. His Majesty and the noble monarch were so deeply in love.
In the magnificent main hall, the nobles and vassal kings had already taken their seats. The well-trained pce servants deftly served tes of delicacies. In the highest position in the hall, there were two vacant seats. One belonged to the emperor, while the other, prepared for Shen Yu, was ced a little lower down.
His Majesty hadn''t arrived yet. The guests were rtively rxed and talked to each other in low voices.
Their conversation focused on imperial politics and the rtionships between the major ns. Today they also had one more topic to discuss: that is, Noble Monarch Shen.
"His Majesty really dotes on this Noble Monarch Shen."
"That''s just it. Today Yuzhang Pce is the only power in the harem. I heard that a little while ago, Noble Monarch Shen actually imprisoned some concubines of the previous emperor and tortured them in Yuzhang Pce out of jealousy."
"Is that actually true? And His Majesty allowed it?"
"His Majesty was there when it happened. One of the former concubines was pretending to y hide-and-seek and was bold enough to crash into His Majesty''s arms. Noble Monarch Shen was so furious he destroyed the woman''s hand on the spot."
"Careful, be careful what you say."
The first speaker seemed to inadvertently nce in a certain direction. He lowered his voice and said, "I''m telling you, they say the noble monarch lost his temper that night, and His Majesty coaxed him personally for a long time."
"That''s, that''s impossible, isn''t it?" His audience refused to believe it. "He''s just a man. If His Majesty chooses, he can have as many men as he wants, right?"
"But the only man His Majesty fell for is Noble Monarch Shen."
At that moment, a low-ranking, unobtrusive official came over and asked in a quiet voice, "What happened to thete emperor''s concubines who were taken away by Noble Monarch Shen?"
"They''re still locked up in Yuzhang Pce, of course. Noble Monarch Shen probably won''t let them go until his anger subsides."
"His Majesty is too" Some of the audience had trouble epting it. "Anyway, they were just former concubines."
Some of the listeners sided with Shen Yu. "Those women had thoughts they shouldn''t have and were caught in the act. Noble Monarch Shen wouldn''t have gotten angry with them otherwise."
The people continued talking vigorously, unaware that a man sitting not far from them had quietly crushed the cup in his hand.
"His Majesty and the noble monarch have arrived!"
The main hall suddenly fell silent.
As the ministers saluted, Shang JunLin took Shen Yu to their seats in the highest ce in the hall.
For most of these people, it was their first chance to catch a clear glimpse of Shen Yu''s face. And when they did, many of them suddenly understood Shang JunLin''s unusual behavior.
For such beauty, they too would have offered him pearls beyond price.
Shen Yu''s beauty was mboyant and gorgeous like a flower in full bloom, a precious gem within sight but utterly beyond reach.
"The officials may rise." Shang JunLin led Shen Yu past the seat where he was supposed to sit, to the very highest ce.
Shen Yu lifted his eyebrows in surprise. He poked the man''s arm and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty?"
The officials who rose from their knees saw this scene and frowned at each other.
"Are you afraid to sit with this emperor?" Shang JunLin looked at the face of the young man beside him. His eyes were unreadable.
Reason told him he should let Shen Yu sit in his properly-appointed ce, but when they reached it, Shang JunLin didn''t let go of his hand. He pulled the young man with him to his own seat.
"I''m not afraid." Shen Yu grasped the hem of the man''s robe with his fingers. "If Your Majesty doesn''t think I''ll take up too much space."
"En." Shang JunLin curved the corner of his lips, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes.
When they saw that Shen Yu was going to sit beside the emperor, some of the ministers couldn''t sit still.
"Your Majesty, this is inappropriate."
"Oh? Tell us, beloved official. What''s inappropriate?" In an instant the smile in Shang JunLin''s eyes disappeared. The young emperor looked down at the minister with an expression in which neither anger nor joy could be distinguished.
His words were extremely calm, but sweat broke out on the back of the minister who was kneeling on the ground. He knew he''d angered His Majesty, but some rules must not be broken!
Gritting his teeth, the minister steeled himself and said, "Your Majesty, it''s improper for the noble monarch to sit beside you."
Once the first sentence was out, the rest was easy.
"Since ancient times, only the empress, the head of the harem, can stand at His Majesty''s side. No matter how much Your Majesty dotes on the noble monarch, he''s not the empress, which means he can''t" Feeling the increasingly heavy pressure on his body, the minister clenched his teeth and finished the sentence. "He can''t receive the same treatment as the empress!"
Shang JunLin''s ck eyes darkened. Ignoring the minister''s words, he embraced Shen Yu and sat down.
"Your Majesty!"
"ording to Minister Kang''s words, this emperor should make the noble monarch my empress today," Shang JunLin said coldly. He rubbed Shen Yu''s wrist.
Minister Kang never imagined the emperor would say he''d rather make Shen Yu his empress than make him return to his rightful seat.
The ministers and vassal kings who were watching were shocked as well. For the first time, they truly understood the truth of the rumors about how much the emperor favored Noble Monarch Shen.
No one dared to oppose the emperor when he was angry. If it was anything else, they could have argued with logic, but this concerned Noble Monarch Shen. If they stood up, His Majesty might directly crown him empress.
When no one else spoke up to support him, Minister Kang aimed his spear at Shen Yu. "Noble monarch, now that you''ve entered the pce, you should abide by your duty. Be generous and virtuous and persuade His Majesty to spread branches and scatter leaves."
When he felt the cold air from Shang JunLin''s body getting heavier and heavier, Shen Yu knew Minister Kang had truly angered Shang JunLin.
Shen Yu pressed the back of Shang JunLin''s hand, motioning him not to speak for now. Shen Yu stood up from his arms and looked down at Minister Kang.
"Minister Kang is so meddlesome that he must live by the sea." Shen Yu''s tone was rather careless.
Minister Kang flushed. "You"
Toozy to listen to him continue, Shen Yu interrupted. "Is Minister Kang confused about something? This world is His Majesty''s world. Minister Kang, as an official, it''s indeed your duty to advise His Majesty, but that also depends on what you advise. I''d like to ask Minister Kangdoes where I sit have anything to do with state affairs?"
Minister Kang couldn''t answer. Of course he knew it didn''t matter. He was just using it as an excuse to raise the topic he actually cared about.
"As for the matter of spreading branches and scattering leaves, I want all of you to know my attitude. I''m the type of person who can''t stand a speck of sand in my eyes, and I''m extremely overbearing. Since His Majesty has me, there can be no one else."
"You''re simply unreasonable!" Seeing Shen Yu dig in his heels, the man turned to the Zhenbei Marquis and said, "Zhenbei Marquis, is this the son you raised?!"
The Zhenbei Marquis had already experienced Shen Yu''s power and had no interest in responding.
A panting middle-aged man interjected, "Your Majesty, Noble Monarch Shen has only been in the pce a short while, and he''s already sowless. You can''t just let him do whatever he wants. What if youter decide"
Shen Yu squinted. This man was Shang JunLin''s uncle. Because he''d helped Shang JunLin ascend the throne, he constantly boasted of his deeds. He was one of the most capable climbers in the imperial family.
If Shen Yu remembered correctly, the man had an unmarried niece who was a popr candidate to be empress. No wonder he couldn''t sit still when he heard Shang JunLin''s words.
"King of Li, speak carefully," Shang JunLin interrupted lightly.
He stood up and wrapped one arm around Shen Yu''s waist. His ck eyes looked down without any emotion. "The noble monarch is my person. How this emperor indulges him is my business alone. It has nothing to do with you or anyone else, understand?"
Shen Yu leaned against Shang JunLin''s arms. The corners of his mouth rose slightly, but his next words made everyone feel chills run down their spine.
"If I ever find more people in the imperial pce who shouldn''t be there, the ministers had better not go crying to His Majesty."
TL Notes:
the age to be crowned In ancient times, young men came of age when they turned 20. They were "crowned" in aing of age ceremony () which was one of the four key rites of Confucianism. After this they would wear their hair bound up in a topknot () covered with some type of hat or headdress. If you see mentions of "jade crowns" etc., they refer to a type of small cap or crown that gathers the hair inside it, fixed with a long hairpin. Both men and women would stop cutting their hair when they reached adulthood (Wikipedia, Baidu) Of course, novels and TV dramas frequently deviate from historical customs and do whatever they think looks sexier, letting characters wear their hair loose or unbound in various styles
En. interjection indicating approval, appreciation or agreement / (nonverbal grunt as interjection) / OK, yeah / what? /
steeled himself crossed his heart
spread branches and scatter leaves An idiom which means having children, expanding the family tree, etc.
meddlesome live by the sea Do you live by the sea? You''re so wide-ranging A saying that means you live on this side of the sea but want to take charge of people''s affairs who live on the other side of the sea (Baidu)
dug in his heels no oil and salt refers to a person who is very stubborn and won''t change their opinion
(most capable) climber from jumper, dancer
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
beloved official i qn my close/dear subject (of an emperor), my darling; my beloved wife
Minister Kang Kng drn
(Shang JunLin''s) uncle bf father''s elder brother / term of respect for an older man
King of Li L wng Alternatively: King Li
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Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Too arrogant.
That was everyone''s first thought.
None of them dreamed Shen Yu would actually say such words in public. If he said simr things to the emperor in private, one could barely call it affectionate or teasing. But right now, no one dared to take Shen Yu''s words as a joke.
"The noble monarch can''t be serious. His Majesty is the emperor of the entire country. How can there be just one man in the harem?"
The speaker deliberately emphasized the word "man" to remind Shen Yu that he was only a man and couldn''t expect to monopolize the emperor.
"Your Excellency, even if you say that, you can''t disregard His Majesty''s wishes, can you?" Shen Yu replied. "After all, these are His Majesty''s private affairs, and His Majesty can do as he pleases. If I told you to dismiss your wives and concubines and made you take new people you don''t even like, you wouldn''t be happy either, would you?"
"What you''re saying is unreasonable. His Majesty is the emperor. How can youpare his situation with ours?"
"The emperor is a person, just as you''re a person. If you don''t like having people pushed on you, why should His Majesty like it?"
Shen Yu was nestled in Shang JunLin''s arms, feeling the slight trembling in the man''s chest. Their hands were entwined.
"The noble monarch is right. This emperor will not bother my beloved officials with my private affairs."
They all heard the approval in Shang JunLin''s voice. A potential crisis had been averted. One might think the ministers would be happy about that, but the oue meant they couldn''t be happy at all.
The emperor favoring a single person was not a good thing for them.
A few of them began to regret it. If they''d known that once His Majesty''s heart was moved, it wouldn''t easily move again, they never would have argued for the entry of the Zhenbei Marquis'' son into the pce. Or perhaps they would have fought even harder to rmend their own sons and daughters.
Compared with limitless glory, splendor, wealth, and rank, what was a little danger?
For the rest of the banquet, no one dared to say anything about Shen Yu. The emperor''s attitude was clear. If they kept talking about it, they wouldn''t necessarily enjoy the oue.
The low atmosphere gradually cleared, and the pce banquet became lively again.
Lithe and graceful dancing girls entered the hall, performing delicate, mincing steps to stirring music. Their diaphanous skirts fluttered with their movements, creating a feast for the eyes.
"The dancers trained in the pce really are different," Shen Yumented as he poked at the meat in his bowl.
"You like them?" Shang JunLin asked in an unclear tone.
Shen Yu immediately sensed Shang JunLin''s displeasure. Although he didn''t know the reason for it, he replied cautiously. "Not really. Compared to them, I still prefer Your Majesty."
" Mm," Shang JunLin felt happier and returned thepliment. "This emperor also prefers the noble monarch."
Noting that the air pressure around him had returned to normal, Shen Yu continued to enjoy the singing and dancing. He had considerable patience for good-looking things. While watching, he asked Shang JunLin, "Your Majesty, do you know who arranged this dance?"
Shang JunLin didn''t care about such things, so he summoned Meng Gonggong. "Answer the noble monarch''s question."
"It was managed by the Music Division. If the noble monarch likes it, this ve will ask them to prepare another dance." Meng Gonggong helped Shang JunLin manage the pce and knew these little details well.
"Meng Chang."
Hearing Shang JunLin''s expressionless voice, Meng Gonggong told himself this wasn''t good. He was so focused on pleasing the noble monarch that he forgot His Majesty would be jealous.
"This this ve"
Shen Yu seemed not to have noticed anything was amiss. He hooked Shang JunLin''s sleeve. "Your Majesty, will you watch another dance with me?" he asked softly.
The displeasure in Shang JunLin''s chest instantly vanished. He nced at Meng Gonggong. "Didn''t you hear the noble monarch?"
"Yes, this ve will arrange it at once." Meng Gonggong sighed to himself. The noble monarch still had his ways of handling His Majesty.
"Your Majesty is always so busy with official business. You deserve to rx a little more." After Shen Yu said this, he was about to eat a piece of meat in his bowl, but the emperor stopped him.
"Your Majesty?"
"Cold food is bad for your health." Shang JunLin turned to order the pce attendants. "Go and exchange this with hot food for the noble monarch."
A pce maid saluted and left.
Shen Yu was startled. Then he smiled and his eyes seemed to be full of stars. "Your Majesty is very kind."
When Shang JunLin saw the starlit eyes of the young man gazing at him, he couldn''t help but lower his head and draw closer. He gave a soft sigh. "The noble monarch''s eyes are so beautiful."
The most precious jewels couldn''t match the brilliance of those eyes. Anyone who looked at them couldn''t help but be absorbed, indulgent, and abandon all hope of escaping.
Shang JunLin''s aggressive aura was too strong. Shen Yu blinked and moved aside uneasily. He kept thinking that the way Shang JunLin looked at him now was different than in the past.
Fortunately, a momentter a pce maid brought over some dishes. Shang JunLin looked away, and the atmosphere that made Shen Yu nervous also disappeared.
The servant reced the dishes on the table one by one. Shang JunLin was silent for a while. Then he said, "Eat while it''s still hot."
Under the tantalizing aroma, Shen Yu stopped thinking about Shang JunLin''s behavior just now. He sampled a few dishes, then put some of the better-tasting things into Shang JunLin''s bowl. "Your Majesty should eat with me."
The ministers sitting below them could clearly see their interactions, but they''d already suffered a thorough defeat at Shen Yu''s hands. They didn''t want any more trouble. They could only pretend not to see anything.
The King of Yue sat at the head of the vassal kings'' table, which wasn''t far from where Shang JunLin and Shen Yu were sitting. He could faintly hear their voices.
As he listened to Shen Yu''s soft voice speaking gently to Shang JunLin, the King of Yue silently clenched his cup.
When the King of Yue first approached Shen Yu, Shen Yu''s attitude was always cold. He never treated the King of Yue differently from anyone else. But now he was smiling sweetly to Shang JunLin, and his every gesture was so dazzling no one could move their eyes away.
So Was he really just a substitute, a way for Shen Yu to pass the time when he was bored?
He really wished he could go over and ask Shen Yu one more time. How exactly was he inferior to Shang JunLin? What made him the useless substitute?
Unfortunately, after theirst conversation, he never found another chance to see Shen Yu. He sent letters to Shen Yu as he had before and got people to send gifts. But the gifts were returned intact and the letters sank like a stone in the sea, with no reply at all.
Later, he ran into a series of difficulties and could hardly take care of himself, let alone find a chance to meet Shen Yu, who was already in the pce.
He wanted to ask his covert agents inside the pce to send another letter, but Shang JunLin kept a close watch on Shen Yu. Yuzhang Pce was heavily guarded, and the King of Yue''s people would have been caught as soon as they moved.
His great undertaking was iplete, and he absolutely couldn''t reveal himself yet.
"King of Yue, you seem to be in a bad mood." After a cup of wine, the King of Li noticed the ugly expression on the King of Yue''s face. He followed the man''s line of sight, and his eyes shifted.
"Aren''t you the same, Your Highness?" the King of Yue replied. He didn''t have a high opinion of the King of Li, a prince who''d long ago sided with Shang JunLin.
"This king is in a bad mood because his calctions went awry. What about the King of Yue?" The King of Li didn''t mind exposing his wounds. "This king didn''t realize Your Highness had difficulties with the two above."
"Your Highness shouldn''t worry about this king''s affairs," said the King of Yue, sipping his wine. Under the influence of the alcohol, his mood grew worse and worse. "The King of Li should care more about himself. Your little calctions have angered Noble Monarch Shen, who''s now in favor. Don''t lose the emperor''s good opinion because of it."
"Noble Monarch Shen," the King of Li said in a deep voice. "If this king knew that person would be such a powerful figure, I never would have allowed him into the pce in the first ce!"
"Did Your Highness personally choose him to enter the pce?" The King of Yue sensed something under these words and asked deliberately.
"Did you think he was chosen by heaven? If no one worked in secret, it could have been the Zhang family, the Wang family It didn''t have to be the Shen family," the King of Li said in a significant tone.
The King of Yue''s eyes darkened. So that''s what happened.
"Originally, I just wanted to find a wedge to open the door to the pce. Who knew it would be a roadblock?" The King of Li poured himself a ss of wine. "The world is an unpredictable ce."
"Didn''t you check what kind of person you were sending before you decided on the candidate?" the King of Yue couldn''t help but ask.
"What''s the use of talking about it now?" The King of Li lifted his ss and clinked the King of Yue''s cup. "What we need to think about now is how to remove the roadblock."
"As long as you don''t lift a stone and smash yourself in the foot." When he thought of Shen Yu and how he only viewed him as a substitute, the King of Yue''s tone got worse and worse.
"Why stab at this king? I''m not the one who annoyed Your Highness. You should direct your anger at the rightful ce." The King of Li gulped down the wine in his ss and slowly revealed his true purpose. "Why doesn''t Your Highnesse to the Huatang Residence'' after the banquet."
The King of Yue tightened his grip on his cup. After a moment of silence, he said, "Very well."
Satisfied, the King of Li returned to his seat. The two were sitting near each together, and the brief conversation didn''t attract much attention.
Shen Yu, however, had been keeping one eye on the King of Yue. He observed the interaction between the King of Yue and the King of Li, but he casually looked away and poured himself a ss of wine.
Before he could raise the cup to his lips, Shang JunLin intercepted his hand.
Shen Yu was bewildered. "Your Majesty?"
"Imperial Physician Gu said it''s better if you don''t touch wine." Hisrge palm wrapped around Shen Yu''s fingers. Shang JunLin leaned forward slightly and drank down the wine in the cup without releasing Shen Yu''s hand.
" That''s my cup," Shen Yu said under his breath.
Shang JunLin paused. His lips inadvertently brushed Shen Yu''s fingers, and his voice was low and hoarse. "Why, does the noble monarch dislike this emperor?"
The author has something to say:
Shang JunLin: We''ll have negative distance contact in the future. What''s there to dislike?
TL Notes:
affectionate or teasing . inclinations and interests / delight / fun / interest / appeal
You should direct your anger at the rightful person for every grievance someone is responsible, for every debt there is a debtor (idiom) / when settling disputes one should not involve third parties
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Your Excellency Zh wi drn Alternatively: My lord, this lord
Music Division Alternatively: Department of Music
Huatang Residence
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Chapter 23
Chapter 23
"Your Majesty is my husband. How could I dislike Your Majesty? I''m happy Your Majesty doesn''t dislike me." Shen Yu''s voice was extremely soft as he looked away.
Amid the strains of the instruments, Shen Yu''s words reached Shang JunLin''s ears clearly.
Shang JunLin slightly curved his lips. "The noble monarch must be joking. Husband and husband are oneand this emperor would never dislike you."
His hand wasrge and hot andpletely enveloped Shen Yu''s. Where their skin was in contact there was constant heat.
The wall of the cup was cold against Shen Yu''s palm, but the back of his hand was hot with the man''s body temperature. The strange sensation spread from his hand into his heart.
Shen Yu moved his fingers, wanting Shang JunLin to free him. But the emperor not only didn''t let go, he increased the strength of his grip.
After maintaining this pose for a while, Shen Yu saw that Shang JunLin had no intention of letting him go and spoke up to remind him. "Your Majesty, it''s time to release my hand."
As if waking from a dream, Shang JunLin loosened his grip, and Shen Yu immediately lowered his hand. But now that his fingers were empty, his heart seemed to feel empty too.
The man''s heat lingered on the back of his hand. Shen Yu drew his hands into his wide sleeves and unknowingly curled his fingers.
Shen Yu wasn''t much of an eater. After a little food, he was already full, but he stared at the jade wine pot on the small table and licked his lips.
The pce wine had been brewed for a long time and had a longsting, mellow aroma. The fragrance was almost like a hook which stole his attention.
People are always like thisthe more they can''t have something, the more they itch to touch it.
In his previous life Shen Yu was obsessed with wine, not because he was greedy for alcohol, but because the constant chill in his body could only be relieved by drinking. It was the only time he didn''t feel like he was living in an ice cer.
In this life, his physical condition wasn''t as grave, and Shang JunLin gave orders that wine shouldn''t appear in Shen Yu''s sight, but he couldn''t help missing it. Today the aroma of the wine aroused a sudden craving. He couldn''t help wanting to taste it more and more.
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu tugged at the emperor''s sleeve. "Let me have a sip. I promise, just a taste."
"Why didn''t this emperor know the noble monarch was so greedy for wine?" Shang JunLin lifted his eyebrows at the young man. He remembered that in the Hidden Dragon Guard''s report, Shen Yu almost never touched alcohol.
Shen Yu gave a perfect impression of someone who was unreasonably willful. "I just want a taste. Who made the wine smell so good?"
"You''re obviously just greedy, but you''re ming it on the wine." Shang JunLin smiled and shook his head. "It''s not that this emperor won''t let you. Imperial Physician Gu said drinking isn''t good for your health."
"I drank when I first entered the pce." Under Shang JunLin''s deep gaze, Shen Yu''s voice got smaller and smaller.
"Why don''t you go on? Or does the noble monarch remember what happened that night."
Shen Yu remembered. It was the first time he had an attack of sickness since his rebirth. He thought it was just a coincidence. Was there another reason?
Shen Yu hesitated. "Did I get sick that day because I drank wine?"
"Yes and no. The wine was just a trigger."
Shang JunLin didn''t want to go into detail, and Shen Yu couldn''t force him. He could only reluctantly look away and return his attention to the dancing and singing.
Except for a bit of unpleasantness at the beginning, the overall atmosphere of the banquet was festive, but inevitably some parts were boring. By the end of the day, Shen Yu''s energy level was low.
"Your Majesty, I want to go out for a walk."
Shang JunLin knew he was bored and didn''t stop him. "Go, but don''t stay outside too long."
To attract less attention, Shen Yu only took Mu Xi with him when he left.
By now, the pce banquet was in full swing. Aside from a few people who were paying attention to Shen Yu, not many noticed when Shen Yu quietly left the table.
The King of Yue was one of them. He found an excuse and followed.
Seeing this, the King of Li stroked his beard. A smile appeared in his eyes.
He knew something must have happened between the King of Yue and Noble Monarch Shen. Otherwise, why did the King of Yue look at Shen Yu with such a betrayed expression?
He beckoned his attendant and whispered, "Follow the King of Yue and report what he does to this king. Be careful not to be seen."
"Yes." The attendant acknowledged the order and left.
The young emperor was sitting in a high position and observed this scene. His eyes darkened, and his knuckles knocked on the table, neither heavy nor light. "Meng Chang, order the Hidden Dragon Guard to follow the noble monarch."
Meng Gonggong was surprised, but when he saw how cold His Majesty''s face was, he swallowed his questions. "At once."
Shen Yu didn''t know the King of Yue was following him, or that the King of Li''s attendant was a step behind them both. He didn''t go far but found a sheltered ce to stop.
"Mu Xi, what else happened the day I fainted?"
"That" Mu Xi''s face changed slightly. "Young master, this ve doesn''t really know. Meng Gonggong handled everything that day. This ve only knows that the young master"
Mu Xi couldn''t bring herself to continue.
"That what?" Shang JunLin had never mentioned anything about that day. Shen Yu assumed he''d merely fainted, but now it seemed it wasn''t that simple.
Shen Yu was lost in thought and didn''t notice the strange expression that flickered across Mu Xi''s face.
" That the young master couldn''t bear His Majesty and fainted." After blurting this out, Mu Xi''s face turned red.
Shen Yu began coughing. After hearing the sudden exnation, he drew a breath and choked on his own saliva.
"Young master, are you well?" Mu Xi put aside her embarrassment and hurried forward. "His Majesty also, he knows the young master''s health isn''t good, but he''s still so excessive."
"Stop." Shen Yu thought that if he didn''t interrupt her, Mu Xi might say even more "surprising" things. "Was there anything else? Think carefully. Did anything else unusual happen?"
"If it''s something unusual, would that include His Majesty recing most of the attendants in Yuzhang Pce the next day?" After thinking about it, that was the only thing that urred to Mu Xi.
Shang JunLin reced most of the servants? It seemed like something happened that night that Shen Yu didn''t know about, but he still didn''t know if it was rted to his sudden illness.
"It''s not unusual that the young master doesn''t know about it. There were a lot of people, and the young master never met most of them. This ve only heard about itter," Mu Xi exined.
"No wonder I didn''t notice anything," Shen Yu murmured.
"Actually, this ve thinks that even though His Majesty doesn''t know how to restrain himself, he''s very good to the young master in all other ways." Mu Xi saw how Shang JunLin treated Shen Yu. She was biased against him at the beginning, but she had to admit Shang JunLin treated her young master better than anyone else.
"His Majesty really" Shen Yu suddenly turned his head. "Who''s there?!"
The King of Yue came out from the shadows with a dark face. There was a dead tree branch in his hand.
What Shen Yu heard was the sound of this dead branch snapping.
Mu Xi stepped back and saluted. "Your Highness the King of Yue."
"Why did Your Highness the King of Yue decide toe here?"
When the King of Yue overheard their conversation, his inner turmoil began to churn, but Shen Yu was looking at him like he was a stranger, and that ignited the anger in his heart even more.
Obviously he''d met Shen Yu first. He was the one who''d discovered this pearl, Shen Yu, but he got nothing from it. Why? All to benefit the person he hated most.
From the first time he glimpsed that jade-like face in the corridor, it was deeply imprinted in his soul. Maybe he hadn''t given Shen Yu a reason to have a high opinion of him at first, but he was a prince. Why should he lower himself to personally befriend someone?
When he quietly followed Shen Yu out of the banquet hall, the King of Yue didn''t know what was running through his mind. He made friends with Shen Yu in disguise and under a different name, and he was now the King of Yue. Shen Yu didn''t know him. The King of Yue couldn''t do anything even if he followed him out.
Of course, the King of Yue wasn''t willing to admit the glimmer of expectations he felt. He wanted Shen Yu to recognize him, but he was also afraid Shen Yu would recognize him.
Filled with thoughts he didn''t understand, he followed Shen Yu and Mu Xi and eavesdropped on their conversation, and then he couldn''t keep still anymore.
He hadn''t touched Shen Yu even once, but not only did that man catch hold of Shen Yu first, he injured him with his recklessness. The King of Yue regarded Shen Yu as his property, and for a while he was confused whether he was angry that someone else touched Shen Yu, or that someone hurt him.
He broke the dead branch in his hand out of anger.
After being discovered, he didn''t intend to continue hiding and immediately revealed himself.
When the King of Yue saw the coldness on Shen Yu''s face, his vexation burned hotter and hotter. "Noble Monarch Shen is in such good spirits."
How?!
How could Shen Yu live so calmly beside Shang JunLin, as if nothing had happened? Why was he the only one who remembered their rtionship?
Shen Yu noticed the King of Yue was angry, but so what? He threw away this trash in hisst life. Was he just going to pick it up again in this life?
He didn''t have that kind of pastime.
He would repay the man who made him suffer a thousand times over.
"Shen Yu, you''re really amazing!"
The King of Yue walked forward a few steps. Mu Xi interceded in front of Shen Yu and said harshly, "This is the imperial pce. Your Highness, please restrain yourself!"
Shen Yu put his hand on Mu Xi''s arm and pushed her aside. "I don''t think we know each other, do we? What makes the King of Yue say this?"
"We don''t know each other?" The King of Yue''s face glowered. "Shen Yu, Young Master Shen, are we really strangers?"
"The King of Yue must be joking." Shen Yu shook his head lightly. "I know many people, but the King of Yue isn''t one of them."
"What about Zhao Yue?" The King of Yue stared at Shen Yu''s face, hoping to see a trace of panic.
Unfortunately, the King of Yue was destined to be disappointed. Shen Yu''s face didn''t change when he heard the name. "I was acquainted with that person before I entered the pce. Why?"
"Acquainted? That''s all?" The King of Yue''s eyes were sinister. "Noble monarch, if I told His Majesty that before you entered the pce you privately agreed to marry someone, do you think he''d like you as much as he does now?"
Mu Xi wanted to say something, but Shen Yu stopped her. "The King of Yue seems to care about my private affairs a great deal. Is it because you like me too?" he asked carelessly,
The King of Yue was so angry his breath caught in his chest. As much as he didn''t want to admit it, to some extent Shen Yu was right.
"But it''s a pity." Shen Yu lifted his eyes and surveyed the King of Yue''s body up and down, especially lingering on certain ces. He added meaningfully, "I don''t think Your Highness is as powerful as His Majesty, in any sense."
TL Notes:
the scent of the wine etc. In ancient times, it wasmon for wine, especially at pce banquets, to be served hot and mixed with various spices and herbs
catch hold of first the quick-footed climb up first (idiom) / the early bird catches the worm / firste, first served
privately agreed to marry to make a pledge to be married, without parents'' approval
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Zhao Yue
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Chapter 24
Chapter 24
The King of Yue was already agitated, and when he heard Shen Yu''sment, the blue veins on his temples bulged. It took most of his endurance not to curse.
"You weren''t like this before." He was so angry that he lost all discretion and began blurting out his true thoughts. "Do you still me this king for not finding a way to keep you from entering the pce?"
"Stop," Shen Yu interrupted. The King of Yue really didn''t have much mental fortitude, did he? A few words was all it took to make him reveal so many of his secrets.
In Shen Yu''s previous life, the King of Yue was never this honest in front of him. He''d pieced together the King of Yue''s identity through clues. Why was he in such a hurry to tell him everything now?
Did Shen Yu''s entering the pce really have such a big impact on him?
All kinds of thoughts shed through Shen Yu''s mind, but his face didn''t reveal a hint. Pretending to be puzzled, heunched a series of questions at the King of Yue. "What does the King of Yue mean? I don''t remember having any contact with His Highness before I entered the pce. How does my entering the pce have anything to do with Your Highness?"
The King of Yue''s brain was broiling over with anger, but under the barrage his thoughts finally cleared up a bit. When he realized what he''d just said to Shen Yu, hisplexion was so ugly it was difficult to look at.
"This king"
"Or does the King of Yue mean that he concealed his identity and contacted me? Let me guess, the King of Yue mentioned Zhao Yue a moment ago. Is it possible His Highness is Zhao Yue?" Shen Yu stood on the steps with his arms folded, looking down at the man in the garb of a prince.
The King of Yue didn''t think Shen Yu would guess the truth so quickly. He made a t denial. "This king is not."
"Then you''re Young Master Wang? Or Young Master Lin? Or Young Master Xu?"
As each name was listed, the King of Yue''s face darkened another shade. He was already at the limit of endurance when he thought he was a substitute. But it turned out he was just one of many substitutes???
Shen Yu pretended to be distressed. "There are too many possibilities. Your Highness the King of Yue, why don''t you just tell me directly? Which one are you?"
"Shen Yu, you''re going too far!"
"I''m going too far? Who eavesdropped on me talking to my maid just now? Who followed me here? Who deliberately concealed his identity and approached me under false pretenses? Your Highness, I''d really like to know exactly what you''re trying to do." Shen Yu''s face was cold.
The King of Yue took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. "This king only came here to give you a reminder. Don''t think that just because you have the emperor''s favor you can do whatever you like inside the pce. A lot of people are watching the throne. Your swaggering will only make you a thorn in their side and drive them to get rid of you."
"The King of Yue doesn''t have to worry about this. I have faith His Majesty will protect me. After all, His Majesty isn''t like some people who say with their mouths that they can''t live without me, turn a blind eye to my plight a momentter, and then desperately beg to be recognized afterwards."
Shen Yu walked down the stairs, approaching the King of Yue step by step. "King of Yue, are you angry with me because I didn''t find a way to avoid entering the pce?"
" This king is not." The King of Yue instinctively lowered his voice, but that really was how he felt when he first heard the news. Shen Yu''s words were like a gust of wind, driving back his self-deceiving camouge to reveal the selfishness underneath.
Shen Yu retreated a few steps, passing by the King of Yue without any sign of reluctance. "I now think that entering the pce is the best decision I ever made. No matter what identity you used to approach me, there was no rtionship between us before, and there won''t be one in the future."
Yes, all that remained were two lifetimes of hatred.
The servant who''d secretly followed the King of Yue returned to the King of Li and told him everything that happened.
The King of Li touched his beard. "How unexpected. Our Noble Monarch Shen actually had a rtionship with the King of Yue."
"Your Highness, should we?"
"Such a big handle must be well-grasped. Shen Yu, Noble Monarch Shen he''s quite arrogant, isn''t he? Do you think His Majesty will treat the noble monarch so well when he learns of this? This king can''t wait to find out." The King of Li smiled with good humor. He never thought he''d find such a big surprise just by sending someone to follow the King of Yue.
He''d been worrying about how to deal with Shen Yu, and the solution came right to his door. It seemed that heaven itself was on his side.
"Send someone to check, and check carefully. This king needs to know the details of everything that happened before Shen Yu entered the pce."
On the second day of the pce banquet, several people who''d been disrespectful to Shen Yu were dismissed from their posts. The ministers who suspected this might happen weren''t surprised. His Majesty dismissed the people when he might have beheaded them. It could be regarded as mercy.
In addition, none of those people were in high-ranking positions, and their character wasn''t wless. The dismissals didn''t cause much of a ssh.
As the New Year began to draw nearer, Shang JunLin was no longer as busy as before. The time he spent in Yuzhang Pce increased day by day.
Because the New Year festivities were approaching, Shang JunLin gave orders for the vassal kings to spend the New Year in the capital before they were allowed to depart.
In an elegant room, the King of Li took a shallow sip from a wine ss. "Does Your Highness have any idea why His Majesty won''t let us return yet?"
The King of Yue really had no idea. He was so distracted by Shen QingRan''s matterstely that he didn''t have time to pay attention. "Is it possible that Imperial Uncle knows?"
"This king can make a few guesses. I''m afraid some people have big ideas, and His Majesty will take this opportunity to knock a few heads." As he spoke, the King of Li looked at the King of Yue with profound meaning.
The King of Yue''s heart skipped a beat, but he didn''t show it on his face. "Well This nephew really doesn''t know anything. This nephew has been busy with personal matterstely and lost track of other things."
The King of Li smiled and didn''t prod further, but what he said next almost made the King of Yue jump from his seat.
"Has my nephew considered what to do about your rtionship with Noble Monarch Shen? His Majesty is so fond of the noble monarch these days. If he knew you had an ambiguous rtionship with the noble monarch before he entered the pce, wouldn''t that be"
The King of Li didn''t finish his words, but the King of Yue understood. The matter between him and Shen Yu could be big or it could be small. If someone wanted to take advantage of it, all his wellid ns over the years would be over.
"Imperial Uncle must be joking. This king doesn''t know the noble monarch. How could such a rtionship exist?"
"Your Highness shouldn''t rush to deny it. Since this king dares to speak, naturally there''s evidence. Now, both of us have the same goal. Is the King of Yue willing to watch his former lover spend the rest of his life in the arms of someone else?"
The King of Li had no idea his subordinates would discover such interesting things. The King of Yue had actually concealed his identity and sneaked into the capital. He befriended the Zhenbei Marquis'' eldest son and spent a lot of time with him in an intimate way.
"Your Highness, you and I may as well work together. What I want is to appoint the next empress. If you still want Shen Yu after this is over, you can take him back to your fiefdom."
The King of Yue knew that since the King of Li dared to say this, he must know something, but he also knew there was a big difference between possessing information and having a direct confession from the source.
After a moment of silence, the King of Yue said, "This king will cooperate. But Imperial Uncle should be clear on one thingit''s Zhao Yue who has an old rtionship with the noble monarch. This king has nothing to do with it."
The King of Li smiled. "This king understands. His Highness the King of Yue stayed in his fief and never left it until the imperial edict arrived."
"A toast to Imperial Uncle." The King of Yue took up his wine ss and drank it in one go.
"If Imperial Nephew needs anything, pleasee to this king. As long as this king can help, I will never refuse."
The King of Yue''s hand tightened on his wine ss.
Shen Yu.
He couldn''t bear the way Shen Yu looked at Shang JunLin. Whenever he remembered it, a fire burned in his heart.
"Ah-choo."
Mu Xi brought in some hot water. "Young master, why don''t you get some rest? It''s gettingte."
"It''s nothing." Shen Yu put down his pen. He lowered his hands into the hot water and soaked his fingers, waiting for them to warm up before taking them out.
"Young master, are you sure the King of Yue won''t do anything?" Mu Xi had been worried ever since she found out Zhao Yue was actually the King of Yue. If he made up some nonsense about the past, who would His Majesty believe?
Ever since ancient times, there were a few things men couldn''t endure, and that was one of them. Besides, His Majesty was the highest-ranking man in the world, which would make him even less tolerant.
"Do you think he''d be stupid enough to die with me?"
Mu Xi shook her head. She was just afraid the King of Yue was so angry with her master that he''d lose his head and stab in all directions.
"Besides, nothing happened between the two of us. Even if he wanted to make something out of it, he might not be able to."
Shen Yu didn''t think the King of Yue would just give up, but he certainly didn''t expect things to unfold the way they did.
Looking at the men who stood before him, Shen Yu halted. "What are the two princes doing here?"
When Shen Yu saw the fine weather, he left Yuzhang Pce to take a walk. He was nning to deliver his bted birthday gift to Shang JunLin. Unexpectedly, he ran into the King of Yue and the King of Li on the way.
"We came here to see the noble monarch. We have something to say. Shall we walk together?" The King of Li spoke in a seemingly amiable manner, but the King of Yue was silent.
Shen Yu didn''t think they were here for a good purpose, and he didn''t want to waste his time. "Just say what you have to say."
"Then this king will get straight to the point." The King of Li narrowed his eyes. With a hint of threat he said, "This king knows what happened before the noble monarch entered the pce. If the noble monarch doesn''t want everyone else to know these things too, you''d better find a way to persuade His Majesty to ept another concubine."
"So that''s what this is about? Your Highness the King of Li, you really surprise me. Why do you think you can threaten me?" Shen Yu raised his eyebrows. "If the King of Li has nothing else to say, let''s not waste more of each other''s time."
"Do you think His Majesty won''t care?" The King of Li was rapidly growing disgusted with Shen Yu''s fearless attitude. His tone was sinister. "Maybe the noble monarch thinks these are all things that happened before you entered the pce, and His Majesty won''t investigate too closely. But what if this king told you that he also knows you left the pce to have a secret meeting with your old lover?"
Shen Yu''s expression became a bit subtle.
The King of Li thought he''d nailed Shen Yu''s sore spot. The corners of his mouth lifted.
"This king has no desire to publicize such a scandal to the world. As long as the noble monarch does what this king says, I guarantee no one will talk about your private meetings with another man. Noble monarch, consider carefully before you answer."
"Consider what?" Shang JunLin''s low voice came from the other side. "This emperor is the one who met the noble monarch that day. Why, does the King of Li have an opinion?"
The smile on the King of Li''s face froze over. "This servant doesn''t dare."
"This emperor likes to y games with the noble monarch once in a while. Do we have to tell you about it?"
TL Notes:
Hello lovely readers! The next chapter is the first VIP chapter, so please remember to support the original author if you can
To celebrate entering V, the author made the next chapter 3x the normal length o(o) That''s more than I can handle in one day, so I''m nning to split it into three normal-sized parts. I''ll post them ording to my usual schedule. Speaking of the schedule, tomorrow is another "off" day.
I hope you''re enjoying the story so far There are a lot of things I like about this novel! I find myself appreciating the banter, flirting, and smackdowns even more as I work on the tl version. TY for reading + TY to thementers and people giving other forms of feedback!! You guys give me the fuel to continue
The King of Li smiled with good humor the raw said "" "The King of Yue ( Yuwng) smiled with good humor". Corrected after a reader pointed it out since it''s pretty clearly a mistake
New Year The Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival. Based on the traditional lunisr Chinese calendar, observance traditionally begins the evening preceding the first day of the year, through the Lantern Festival on the 15th. The first day begins on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February (Wikipedia)
knock some heads strike, beat
spent a lot of time together "went in and out at the same time", frequently seen together
the highest-ranking man refers to the imperial throne the royal prerogative; the imperial throne; the position of an emperor
y games . inclinations and interests / delight / fun / interest / appeal
VIP After a novel "enters V" on jjwxc, the new chapters have to be unlocked by spending points
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Young Master Wang
Young Master Lin
Young Master Xu
imperial uncle hung sh
nephew zh r nephew; brother''s son; son of a male rtive of the same age
imperial nephew hung zh
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Chapter 25.1
Chapter 25.1
By the end of Shang JunLin''s sentence, there was a deep chill in his voice.
Cold sweat broke out on the King of Li''s forehead. He knelt down with a plop''. "This servant doesn''t dare!"
"This emperor thinks you dare too much! If this emperor hadn''te across you today, how else were you nning to coerce the noble monarch?"
Shang JunLin stepped behind Shen Yu and reached out to take him into his arms. "This emperor didn''t know the King of Li and the King of Yue were so concerned about the private affairs of myself and the noble monarch."
The King of Yue was already kneeling. Under the pressure of the emperor''s authority, he hardly dared to nce up at Shen Yu.
Shen Yu was leaning in the arms of the taller man, his posture rxed. There was no trace of fear on his face.
He wasn''t afraid at all that Shang JunLin would find out what happened between them before!
The King of Yue finally understood this.
How much did Shang JunLin spoil Shen Yu? His eyes darkened.
"Who gave you the courage to persecute this emperor''s noble monarch? Hmm?"
Shang JunLin''s slightly chilly voice rang out on the empty path. The pce servants around them were all kneeling, and the King of Li buried his head. The clothes on his back gradually became soaked with sweat.
He couldn''t figure out why Shang JunLin had suddenly appeared here.
Clearly, his informant in the pce had said the emperor was having a discussion in the imperial study and wouldn''t leave for a while. When the King of Li happened to see Shen Yu leave Yuzhang Pce alone, he intercepted him.
The King of Li knew Shang JunLin was too difficult to deal with, so he wanted to start with Shen Yu. He never thought Shang JunLin would catch him in the act.
"Your Majesty, this servant is guilty."
Under the full force of Shang JunLin''s anger, the King of Li didn''t dare to make any excuses for himself, let alone try to figure out how long Shang JunLin had been listening to him threaten Shen Yu.
"This servant is aware of my offense," the King of Yue, who''d been silent until now, said in a hoarse voice. "This servant just wanted to ask the noble monarch about something for a friend."
The King of Yue said this to remind Shen Yu not to suddenly talk nonsense in front of the emperor.
When Mu Xi heard this, she red at the King of Yue. He actually presumed to say such a thingwhat a scumbag.
"His Highness the King of Yue is such a devoted friend. I wonder what kind of rtionship the King of Yue has with this person. Is this friend worth the King of Yue taking such a big risk to enter the pce on his behalf?" Shen Yu nced obliquely at the King of Yue kneeling on the ground, as if his eyes saw something distasteful.
"This servant"
Shen Yu interrupted. "The person the King of Yue is talking about isn''t himself, is it? If the King of Yue wants to ask me anything, just say it directly. No need to talk in circles."
The King of Yue was silent. Shen Yu was right. The King of Yue didn''t dare to reveal any details in front of Shang JunLin. It was a major crime for a vassal king to flout the orders of the emperor and return to the capital without permission.
Shang JunLin squeezed Shen Yu''s hand. In a low voice, deliberately pitched so both the King of Li and the King of Yue could hear him, he asked, "Does the noble monarch know what the King of Yue wanted to ask you?"
The King of Yue''s fingers curled involuntarily. He stared at the ground with the fear of death in his eyes, and his heart rose into his throat.
He was afraid Shen Yu would say it, but he also felt some anticipation, thinking that Shen Yu might admit the unspoken rtionship between them.
"Maybe he wants to ask why I agreed to enter the pce? Who knows," Shen Yu replied carelessly.
Shang JunLin gave Shen Yu a deep look and decided to change the subject. "What about the King of Li? Why did youe looking for the noble monarch?"
"This servant"
"Of course it''s because of the position of empress."
The two voices spoke almost at the same time. And now that Shen Yu''s words had been said, the King of Li knew it was useless to try to contradict him, so he simply shut up.
"Your Majesty, I should tell you that the King of Li ordered me to persuade you to ept a concubine. To make me agree, he threatened me with the fact that you apanied me to the Zhenbei Marquis'' mansion."
"This is all a misunderstanding on this servant''s part. This servant will make amends to the noble monarch." The King of Li had no choice but to admit guilt. His Majesty himself had stated that he was the one who visited the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. If the King of Li insisted otherwise, he was only asking for trouble.
No matter who else was with Shen Yu at the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence that day, Shang JunLin had spoken. No one could say anything.
The King of Li couldn''t figure out what was so good about Shen Yu. Why did the emperor favor him so much?
Shang JunLin gazed down at the two people for a while. In a quiet voice he said, "Someonee. The King of Li and the King of Yue have disrespected the noble concubine. Give them one hundred blows with a stick."
"Your Majesty!" The King of Li looked up incredulously, "You''re going to cane your own uncle for this devilish concubine?!"
Shang JunLin lowered his eyes. "You can also choose to go to the dark prison." His words were unhurried.
"Shen Yu, you devilish concubine! Your Majesty, Your Majesty! You can''t do this. I''m your uncle!" The King of Li began to struggle.
"It''s obviously His Majesty who gave the order. Why me me? Since Your Highness the King of Li is being punished, it''s best to reflect on your actions." Sensing the King of Li''s resentful eyes, the corners of Shen Yu''s mouth curved up. "King of Li, don''t pretend to be confused. No one here is stupid. Do you really think I don''t know why you came to see me? You wanted me to make way for you and your good niece, but I don''t think you''re worthy." Shen Yuughed mockingly.
"You You" When the King of Li heard his ns revealed so clearly, he was so angry his face turned red. Seeing that the King of Yue hadn''t spoken up, the King of Li couldn''t help but add, "King of Yue, don''t you have anything to say? You''re just going to watch Shen Yu go on like this?"
"Imperial Uncle, what we did is wrong. We deserve to be punished." The King of Yue didn''t know why Shen Yu hadn''t immediately exposed him in front of Shang JunLin, but Shen Yu was crazy. It was impossible to guess what he''d do next.
He was no longer grasping Shen Yu''s handle. Shen Yu was grasping his. He couldn''t afford to gamble.
Shang JunLin took Shen Yu with him and walked up to the King of Li. He said in a cold voice, "This emperor warned you long ago that you shouldn''t have certain ideas. Don''t think this emperor will tolerate you for a lifetime."
The King of Li had been making small moves in private and tried to control him by meddling with his harem. Shang JunLin had put up with him for a long time.
The guards dragged the two men away despite the King of Li''s struggles. His Majesty himself had given the order. Even if the person was a king, the executioner would carry out the sentence.
Shang JunLin led Shen Yu to the imperial study.
"Did they mistreat you?" Shang JunLin ordered someone to pour hot tea and urged Shen Yu to drink it.
Shen Yu froze. He didn''t think this was the first thing Shang JunLin would say. He assumed Shang JunLin would ask him about the King of Yue.
Shen Yu smiled. "Your Majesty came just in time. They didn''t mistreat me."
If you were going to talk about mistreatment, Shen Yu thought the King of Li and the King of Yue had the worst of it.
"Why did Your Majesty suddenly happen to pass by?" Shen Yu knew that in the past few days, Shang JunLin had been dealing with a few things rted to the pce and was a little busier than usual.
"This emperor heard a report that the King of Li and the King of Yue were roaming the pce. This emperor went to see what they were up to."
In fact, he was in the middle of dealing with political matters, but after hearing the report from the Hidden Dragon Guard, he learned the King of Li and the King of Yue were nning to make trouble for Shen Yu, and he rushed over on purpose.
"No matter why Your Majesty happened toe, I thank you for helping me." Shen Yu nestled into the soft cushions of the couch like a cat.
The soft couch had been ced in the imperial study at Shang JunLin''smand. It was convenient for Shen Yu to rest there when he visited, although it didn''t match the overall cold and hard style of the imperial study.
Previously, Shang JunLin had been using the couch where Shen Yu read his books. One day Shen Yu casually said, "Your Majesty is upying my territory, so Your Majesty should make it up to me." The next day, a soft couch appeared in the imperial study.
Later, Shen Yu noticed that it wasn''t only the imperial study. Wherever he might happen to go, there was afortable ce specially arranged for him to rest.
"How can this emperor allow others to bully my noble monarch?" Shang JunLin sat in the imperial seat and continued to read memorials.
When he heard Shang JunLin say this, Shen Yu felt a slight ripple in his heart. In both of his lives, Shang JunLin was the only one who ever stood in front of him unconditionally, sheltering him from the wind and rain.
"Your Majesty is so kind to me." It wasn''t the first time Shen Yu had said this, but every time he said it, he felt it more deeply than thest time.
Maybe in the beginning he''d said it in part to please the most powerful man in the empire, but every time after that, the impurities were washed away little by little, leaving only the purest feelings.
Meng Gonggong had already received instructions to have the imperial kitchen send in hot food. Before long, a pce servant came in with a steaming meal.
"It just so happens that it''s time to eat. The noble monarch should stay and dine with this emperor."
After receiving His Majesty''s orders, the imperial kitchen prepared Shen Yu''s favorite dishes. There were also a few snacks that met his preferences, things Shen Yu hadn''t seen in Yuzhang Pce before.
"Your Majesty, does the imperial kitchen have a new chef?" Shen Yu popped one of the sweet white morsels into his mouth. He squinted with contentment as he enjoyed the vor.
"It''s a new style they''ve been working on. If you like it, this emperor will tell them to serve it in Yuzhang Pce." Shang JunLin wasn''t interested in sweets. He ate the food in his bowl in his usual way.
After having dined with Shang JunLin so many times, Shen Yu knew that Shang JunLin didn''t have any opinions about food. He ate whatever he was given.
Shen Yu still remembered having dinner one time with Shang JunLin, when a certain dish presented by the imperial kitchen had an unspeakably awful vor. Shen Yu took one mouthful and couldn''t force himself to eat another bite, but Shang JunLin finished most of the dish without changing expression.
After that, Shen Yuined about Shang JunLin''s taste in food for a long time, and now whenever the two dined together, all of the dishes matched Shen Yu''s preferences.
"Your Majesty, why have you sent so many beautiful things to Yuzhang Pce?" Shen Yu bit his chopsticks. "If this goes on long enough, won''t Yuzhang Pce be the richest courtyard in the imperial pce?"
Shang JunLin: "The imperial pce belongs to this emperor, and the noble monarch belongs to me too. If putting these things in a different ce can please the noble monarch, they''re fulfilling their purpose."
Shen Yu: "Your Majesty is really getting better and better at romantic talk."
Shang JunLin frowned. "This emperor just said the truth."
Shen Yu smiled without saying more. Sometimes it was the most unintentional romantic talk that was the most touching.
TL Notes:
I''ve been sleepytely so releases will be a littleter in the day () zZZ
this servant The King of Yue is calling himself "servant brother" ( chn d ). The King of Li uses "servant"
(he) actually presumed really don''t deserve this; am not worthy of suchpliments; not equal to the honor; You tter me
talk in circles lit. going round the curves and skirting the corners (idiom) / fig. to speak in a roundabout way / to equivocate / to beat about the bush
Someonee The emperor said this to summon a servant/indicate he was issuing an order
noble concubine gu fi SJL says "concubine" here instead of "monarch" for whatever reason
devilish concubine yo fi Alternatively: demonic, bewitching, enchanting, etc. Previously encountered in Ch 5 as "bewitching devilish concubine"
the most powerful man the most revered and respected, the most honorable / the most respected / supreme / (archaic) the emperor
romantic talk terms of endearment, words of love, lover''s prattle, sweet nothings
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Chapter 25.2
Chapter 25.2
After eating, Shen Yu and Shang JunLin rested on the soft couch. Shang JunLin sat upright, carefully approving memorials, while Shen Yu leaned against his shoulder and read a book.
The book came from the imperial library, but it wouldn''t be urate to call it a storybook. In fact, it told of the romantic entanglements of the previous emperors of the dynasty. Shen Yu read it with interest.
The former emperors of the Shang Dynasty had a tawdry romantic history replete with all kinds of tricks: stand-ins and substitutes, seizing lovers by force, love rivals turning into lovers Everything you could imagine.
In contrast, Shang JunLin''s rtionship history was as clean as white paper. Compared with the previous emperors of the dynasty, Shang JunLin really stood out.
If Shen Yu remembered correctly, in his past life there was no one else in Shang JunLin''s harem except for Shen QingRan, whom he forced into the pce.
In that life, Shen QingRan only saw Shang JunLin a few times after he entered the pce, and certainly never had any physical contact with him.
People said the tyrant disliked being touched by anyone. After Shen QingRan escaped the pce, heined about this to everyone. He once identally touched Shang JunLin''s arm and was banished for several days.
"What is the noble monarch thinking about?" Shang JunLin nced up from the folded report and saw Shen Yu looking at him in a daze.
"I''m thinking about Your Majesty." Shen Yu paused. He nced at the memorial in Shang JunLin''s hand. "Is Your Majesty worried about water control?"
"Yes." Shang JunLin didn''t hide it. He handed the memorial to Shen Yu to let him see it more clearly. "Is the noble monarch interested?"
The memorial was submitted by Lin County, which was located in the south of Da Huan. Because of the terrain, it had suffered from floods every year since the founding of Da Huan.
Over the years, Da Huan invested countless human and material resources into Lin County with little effect. Sessive generations of emperors had worried about the situation there.
In his previous life, Shen Yu had witnessed the natural disasters in Lin County and knew the tragedies that would unfold there. Inter years, with the help of Shen QingRan, the King of Yue made great achievements in controlling the floodwaters. That was the beginning of the King of Yue''s rise to the pinnacle of power.
Shen Yu carefully studied the flood control scheme devised by Shen QingRan in his previous life, and it was better than any existing system in Da Huan. Some time ago, when Shen Yu was thinking of what birthday gift to give Shang JunLin, he suddenly thought of it.
He deliberately chose a day when Shang JunLin wasn''t in Yuzhang Pce and quietly wrote down what he remembered of the n point by point, intending to give it to Shang JunLin. If they made advance preparations, perhaps the tragedies of his previous life might not be as serious.
Today he left Yuzhang Pce on a whim, but he also intended to give the manuscript to Shang JunLin.
"Your Majesty knows I''ve been in poor health since I was a child, and I like reading misceneous books. A few days ago, I sorted out some useful things I read. I thought Your Majesty might be able to use them."
Shen Yu took out a thin book from his sleeve. The title on the cover was nk. Shen Yu handed the book to Shang JunLin. "Will Your Majesty have a look?"
Shang JunLin took the book, opened it, nced through it, and paused.
He roughly read through the content without changing expression. The book wasn''t long. It didn''t take much time for Shang JunLin to finish it. He closed the book and took Shen Yu''s arm with a slightly heavy movement.
"Where did the noble monarch read about these things?"
It must be stated that the contents of the book could be of great use. When he mentioned Lin County to Shen Yu, he wasn''t expecting to get any suggestions. Yet Shen Yu gave him such a big surprise.
"Will it help Your Majesty?" Shen Yu didn''t answer Shang JunLin''s question. He couldn''t possibly tell Shang JunLin that he got it from Shen QingRan in his previous life, at least not yet.
Looking at Shen Yu''s expression, Shang JunLin knew he wouldn''t tell him even if he asked further. Shen Yu didn''t have just one or two secrets. One more didn''t matter.
Shang JunLin wasn''t in a hurry. He suppressed his rare loss ofposure and released Shen Yu''s arm. "The noble monarch really is a great help to this emperor."
"This is a gift for Your Majesty. Does Your Majesty like it?" Shen Yu felt relieved that Shang JunLin hadn''t pressed him for the source of the information. Even if he had thousands of ways to hide the past, he didn''t want to deceive Shang JunLin about this.
"This emperor likes it very much." Shang JunLin''s fingers kept tightening on the book. The ink-ck darkness in his eyes roiled, but soon returned to calm.
Shen Yu thought for a moment and made a request. "Your Majesty, I have another selfish thing to ask. When Your Majesty discusses this with the ministers, will you please not mention my name?"
"You should be rewarded for presenting something so useful. You really don''t want credit?" Shang JunLin raised his eyebrows. Was this the same Noble Monarch Shen who demanded a reward just because his maid was frightened?
"I already said it''s a birthday gift for Your Majesty. How can I be rewarded?" Besides, the content in the book didn''t originallye from him. Shen Yu wasn''t interested in falsely iming credit from others.
In the book Shen Yu read after his death, it stated that many of the things Shen QingRan used came from the wisdom of future generations. Maybe Shen QingRan was willing to brazenly im the merit for himself, but that didn''t mean Shen Yu would.
If it didn''t belong to him, Shen Yu would never lower himself to ask for it.
"When the noble monarch''s birthdayes, this emperor will give you a grand present."
That day, Shang JunLin deliberated in the imperial study until midnight. When he returned to Yuzhang Pce, Shen Yu was already asleep. He took off his outer robe and got into bed. Before long, Shen Yu noticed the heat source and snuggled next to him. Shang JunLin hugged the man in his arms and slowly closed his eyes.
The King of Li and the King of Yue dragged themselves out of the pce covered in wounds, and the news spread quickly among the upper ss circles in the capital. This was the center of power, and two princes were involved. The ministers privately spected about what happened.
They didn''t have to make guesses for long. The imperial pce issued an edict the next day. Because of their confrontation with the emperor and the noble monarch, the King of Li and the King of Yue were ordered to remain within doors and reflect on their failings.
When people heard the news, they looked at each other in surprise.
"The King of Li disrespected His Majesty and the noble monarch at the pce banquet. I thought he might suffer for it. His Majesty didn''t make an issue of it at the time, but I thought it was because he was thinking of the King of Li''s face. I didn''t expect"
"The King of Li isn''t surprising, but what about the King of Yue? The King of Yue has always been so dutiful and honest. Why would he make trouble with the noble monarch, who''s highly favored?"
"He was punished with a cane and sentenced to reflect on his actions behind closed doors. He lost face as well as reputation. His Majesty really didn''t show him any mercy."
"If you ask me, the King of Li deserved it. He''s been throwing his weight around for years, relying on his ties to the throne. Does he think he can control His Majesty as he pleases? His Majesty did this to knock him down a peg."
"The King of Yue was punished too, which really makes people wonder."
"What''s so hard to understand? I heard the King of Yue and the King of Li met in private several times. Maybe they were plotting something in secret and His Majesty noticed."
In the capital there was no shortage of discussions about these events. The talk eventually reached the ears of the King of Li and the King of Yue through the mouths of interested people.
Both men were in a dangerous mood. Their servants trembled for days and didn''t dare to make the slightest mistake.
The incident concerning the King of Yue and the King of Li sounded an rm to other members of the imperial family. The vassal kings who''d returned to the capital put off their social engagements, stayed in their pces without making trouble, and prayed that the day they could return to their fiefdoms woulde soon.
Because of this incident, thest few people who wanted to persuade Shang JunLin to ept more concubines also abandoned their ns. Everyone knew the King of Li had a conflict with Noble Monarch Shen because he wanted to send his niece to the pce.
What happened outside the pce eventually made its way inside. After listening to Mu Xi''s report on the situation, Shen Yu casually looked away.
He handed the flowers he''d picked from the garden to the servant behind him. "How are things at the manor?"
"It''s business as usual," Mu Xi said in a low voice. She took a few steps closer to Shen Yu. "Young master, the people from the manor asked this ve to give you a message. The vermilion cotton you asked about is blooming."
"Is that so? Tell them I''ll find time to see it."
Vermillion cotton referred to the orders Shen Yu had given before entering the pce. If the flowers were blooming, it meant that what he ordered was done.
If he had to name the only disadvantage of entering the pce, this was it. It was too inconvenient to contact people outside. His power wasn''t developed yet, and there were too many inconveniences because he couldn''t direct things personally.
It seemed that he still had to find a way to leave the pce alone, or maybe take Shang JunLin on a trip to the manor.
"Noble monarch, this isn''t good!" A pce maid ran over in a panic. "Concubine Yu just tried to kill herself in the pce. She insists on seeing you."
"No one stopped her?" Shen Yu frowned. After bringing those former imperial concubines back to Yuzhang Pce, he hadn''t bothered with them further. They weren''t allowed to step foot from their rooms or contact outsiders, but aside from that, everything was the same as before. Why would they suddenly make trouble?
"Stop her, this ve couldn''t stop her," the pce maid said anxiously.
"Do you know what happened?"
"This ve doesn''t know. This ve went to deliver meals to several concubines as usual and found Concubine Yu hanging from white silk on a beam." The pce maid exined as she led Shen Yu to the ce.
Before they arrived, he heard noise in the courtyard. Shen Yu quickened his pace and frowned at the chaos in the small yard.
"Stop! The noble monarch is here!" the young eunuch behind Shen Yu stepped forward and shouted sternly. "What are you doing? Why are you causing such a fuss?"
"Concubine Yu, didn''t you say you wanted to see the noble monarch? The noble monarch is here," the pce maid who was leading Shen Yu called out.
"Noble monarch, this concubine knows I''m wrong. This concubine is willing to tell you everything. Noble monarch, please let this concubine go!" Concubine Yu pushed away the pce servants who tried to stop her, ran over to Shen Yu and knelt down.
"Oh? Is there some other secret behind the way all of you tried to seduce His Majesty?" Shen Yu asked without raising his voice.
"Noble monarch, please understand. This concubine really didn''t do it voluntarily!" Concubine Yu kowtowed, knocking her head on the ground a few times. "This concubine is willing to say everything. I only beg the noble monarch to save my life."
Shen Yu narrowed his eyes. "Mu Xi, clear the irrelevant people from the courtyard and send someone to invite His Majesty here. Remember, don''t spread the news."
"This ve obeys."
In the twinkling of an eye, the courtyard was empty. When Shen Yu first brought the former concubines back, he arranged them in different ces. Originally he did this to prevent the former consorts frommunicating with each other. Now it made things even easier.
"Come inside and talk." Shen Yu walked into the pce and sat down in the main seat. Several pce attendants stood at his side, and Mu Xi was at his right hand.
"You said you wanted me to save your life. What happened?" he asked.
Concubine Yu''s face revealed her panic. She looked around nervously and whispered, "Noble monarch, someone is going to kill me."
"Kill you?" Mu Xi was puzzled. "Yuzhang Pce is heavily guarded. It''s much safer for you here than where you lived before. Why would someone want to kill you?"
"This concubine wouldn''t dare lie. This concubine woke up in the middle of the night several times and felt someone standing by the bed, holding something in his hand. He was staring at this concubine coldly." Concubine Yu swallowed nervously. "This concubine was terrified and didn''t dare look closely to see what was going on."
"Then how do you know this person wants to kill you?"
"Because this concubine happened to see the dagger in that man''s hand." Concubine Yu was scared silly. Before she entered the pce she was an ordinary girl with at best a little cleverness. She''d never encountered violent things before. She wasn''t evenpletely sure the man was real, but the next day she raised a fuss.
She didn''t know why the man hadn''t already killed her, but she was very much afraid he would do so in the future. When she originally agreed to participate in the scheme, she knew that if she failed or was discovered by the emperor, she wouldn''t end well.
But before she could even implement the n, she was imprisoned by Shen Yu in Yuzhang Pce. Unless some ident happened, there was no way for her toplete the task. She had every reason to believe the conspirator would deal with her in advance to ensure his secret was never revealed.
"Noble monarch, this concubine really isn''t lying!"
"I know." When Shen Yu originally decided to bring the women to Yuzhang Pce, he thought about what to do if the people behind the scenes attacked the concubines to make sure they weren''t exposed. Shang JunLin also ordered the Hidden Dragon Guard to pay attention to the movements of people here at all times. If someone really wanted to do something, they would be discovered at once.
The man hadn''t killed Concubine Yu yet. Maybe he was worried about being discovered. And also
Since that person hadn''t been found yet, he was probably a servant who worked in the courtyard.
Shen Yu thought of the Hidden Dragon Guards that Shang JunLin ordered to follow him. Shen Yu didn''t know if they would answer him.
Tentatively, he called out the same way Shang JunLin usually did to give orders to the Hidden Dragon Guard.
A man dressed in ck silently appeared in the room. "What does the noble monarchmand?"
It seemed he was able to call them.
"Tell the people guarding the courtyarddon''t let anyone leave. If someone does anything unusual, immediately take them into custody," Shen Yu ordered.
"Yes." With that, the man in ck disappeared.
Shen Yu believed in the Hidden Dragon Guard''s ability and felt slightly relieved. If they didn''t handle this well, they might really beat the grass and startle the snake.
Shen Yu put one hand on the armrest of his chair and looked down calmly. "Tell me everything you know."
"It started ten years ago"
Ten years ago, the throne changed hands and the new emperor ascended. The era of thete emperor was over. Soon after the new ruler took the throne, there was an emergency at the border. The new emperor led his iron cavalry to crush the invaders and recover the lost territory.
For a long time, the imperial pce was without a master.
The new emperor left the court too quickly, and the handover of power wasn''tpleted. The old forces fought with the new. The imperial pce, thergest ying field, bore the brunt and was affected the most.
Thete emperor died suddenly, leaving behind arge number of concubines and immature princes. Among these people were many inexperienced girls like Concubine Yu who''d just entered the pce and had no power or influence.
A person approached them secretly and asked them to find a way to remain in the pce.
"At first, the man sent us a lot of gold, silver, and gorgeous jewelry. He said that he couldn''t bear to see how miserably we were living in the pce. Later, he asionally asked us to do small tasks or send news outside. They were all trivial things. Even if someone found out, it wouldn''t endanger our lives.
"A few yearster, His Majesty returned to the court and spent more and more time in the pce. The man asked us to find a way to get close to His Majesty and said it was best if we could find a way to be one of His Majesty''s women."
"He dared a great deal. How could he be sure His Majesty would ept you?" That was the biggest thing Shen Yu didn''t understand. No matter how beautiful or young these women were, they couldn''t hide the fact they were the concubines of the previous emperor.
"Maybe they thought this emperor would be the same as the previous emperor, a person who eats everything he sees."
Shang JunLin''s expressionless voice came from the door. Shen Yu looked up and saw a tall man, dressed in a ck robe with a golden dragon pattern, walking step by step into the light.
TL Notes:
ties to the throne merit as a dragon
beat the grass and startle the snake beat the grass and frighten away the snake act rashly and alert the enemy; beat emptily upon the grass, and the snake will be frightened; beat the grass and drive the snake away; beat the grass and the snake will be startled
eats everything he sees doesn''t abstain from meat or vegetables non-vegetarian Ref. the note in Ch 20 about eating meat and celibacy
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Lin County
Concubine Yu Y ningning
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Chapter 25.3
Chapter 25.3
Shen Yu got up to meet Shang JunLin. "Your Majesty arrived so quickly."
"The person you sent to call this emperor looked anxious, so I came immediately. What happened?" Shang JunLin led Shen Yu back to the main seat.
Shen Yu told him the information he''d just received. "That''s all I had time to ask."
Shang JunLin sat down on the main seat, stroked Shen Yu''s wrist and said lightly, "Continue."
The rest wasn''t veryplicated. The man who was behind the scheme continued to send things to the former concubines via pce attendants and asked them to do "inconspicuous, trivial tasks", and he finally ordered them to find a way to get close to the emperor.
"At first the man wasn''t as persistent about making us approach His Majesty. Later, after the noble monarch entered the pce, it was like he became obsessed for some reason. He gave strict orders that we should find a way to be His Majesty''s women."
"You don''t know who was giving these orders?" Shen Yu asked.
"I don''t know. He always sends messages to us through pce servants. We''ve never seen him in person."
"Who are the servants who sent you the messages?"
"Xiao Guizi, Aunt Fan, Xique"
Shen Yu silently noted the names. "Do you know who else besides you follows his orders?"
Concubine Yu reported several names.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin looked at each other, and their eyes were grave. Lin ZhiLan wasn''t one of the people on Concubine Yu''s list.
Shang JunLin ordered someone to take Concubine Yu out, and then asked, "What does the noble monarch think?"
"Either Concubine Yu doesn''t know about Lin ZhiLan, or different people are controlling them." Shen Yu leaned more towards thetter exnation.
"Your Majesty''s pce really is crouching tiger, hidden dragon''," Shen Yu teased.
"Then this emperor should thank the noble monarch for working hard to give this emperor a clean'' pce." Shang JunLin pinched Shen Yu''s cheek.
Shen Yu covered his face and didn''t let Shang JunLin seed. "Did Your Majesty''s side make any progress?"
"Lin ZhiLan provided some information, but not enough to catch the person behind everything." Shen Yu was involved from the beginning, and Shang JunLin didn''t intend to hide it from him.
"Catch the person identified by Concubine Yu first. There could be a rtionship between the two of them," Shen Yu suggested after thinking about it.
"What the noble monarch says is reasonable."
Then Shang JunLin took out a waist token. "This is for the noble monarch. If you have orders for the Hidden Dragon Guard, use this token."
The token was pitch-ck, engraved with a dark red flower pattern. Shen Yu picked it up and traced it with his fingers. There were small uneven characters on the back. He didn''t even recognize the type of script it was written in.
"Why is Your Majesty suddenly giving me this?"
"The noble monarch is helping this emperor with work, and this emperor should recognize it. At most, you can mobilize a single team of Hidden Dragon Guards. The noble monarch can ept it without worrying too much."
Shang JunLin had other things to do and left after giving a few orders.
When Shen Yu returned to his chambers, he took out the ck token and looked at it carefully.
This token couldmand the Hidden Dragon Guard, yet Shang JunLin gave it to him so casually. Shen Yu''s feelings were a littleplicated.
But he didn''t have much time to think about it. He still had to deal with the follow-up of the Concubine Yu incident.
Shen Yu ordered the Hidden Dragon Guard to check the names she provided. Nothing like what happened to Concubine Yu had happened to the others.
That was good news. It showed that the person behind the scenes hadn''t infiltrated too far into the pce.
The Hidden Dragon Guard acted quickly. They soon identified the suspicious man described by Concubine Yu. As Shen Yu suspected, it was a young eunuch who served in the courtyard.
Shen Yu didn''t spend much time talking to the person. Every realm had its own experts, and he thought the Hidden Dragon Guard would obtain useful information from this man more easily than he could.
Everything was done in secret. Thanks to the isted nature of the ce where Concubine Yu lived, not many people were impacted. After Shen Yu gave orders, no one dared to discuss it.
Since Shang JunLin''sst major purge, many of the links between the pce and the outside had been severed. Aristocratic ns like the Zhang family who dared to reach into the pce had been disposed of as well, and the others who were lucky enough not to be found out were still cowering.
"If the noble monarch hadn''t suddenly decided to imprison these -controlled former concubines in Yuzhang Pce, the conspirator never would have revealed himself." Shang JunLin held a ck go piece in his hand and blocked one of the white pieces.
"Did Your Majesty learn something?" Shen Yu pondered for a while and yed a white piece.
"The noble monarch''s go skill has really opened this emperor''s eyes."
On the go board, the ck pieces and white pieces were battling each other in the dark. Shang JunLin''s moves were wide open and direct, while Shen Yu''s were unpredictable and treacherous. Every move was an opportunity to kill. A dead end became a path to life, and a path to life became a dead end. The situation on the board changed rapidly. One careless move and you could lose everything.
"But I performed such a meritorious deed. Why doesn''t Your Majesty go easy on me?" Shen Yu pretended toin and yed a white piece.
The go stone made of white jade was pressed between the young man''s slender fingers, but it was impossible to say which was more beautiful, the jade stone or the hand. Shang JunLin''s eyes followed the movement of those fingers, and suddenly it seemed like he''d be the game piece.
"Your Majesty, you''ve lost."
The clear voice pulled Shang JunLin from his thoughts. He looked at the game board where Shen Yu had turned the tide with a single move, and he couldn''t help but smile. "This emperor concedes."
Shen Yu epted a hot drink from Mu Xi, took a sip, and squinted his eyes with pleasure. "Your Majesty seems to be in a good mood today."
Shang JunLin looked away from the chessboard. "What makes you say that?"
"Today I defeated Your Majesty by cheating, but Your Majesty doesn''t seem angry." Shen Yu was holding a small bowl, and the rising steam made his eyes look hazy and warm.
Shang JunLinughed in spite of himself. "When has this emperor ever been angry with you?"
Shen Yu thought for a moment. It seemed that Shang JunLin really hadn''t lost his temper with him since he entered the pce. He decided to change the subject. "Mu Xi, bring His Majesty a hot drink too. Let His Majesty try the new product developed by the small kitchen of Yuzhang Pce."
Mu Xi quickly brought over another bowl. It was something Shen Yu liked to drink recently, and the small kitchen always had some prepared.
Shang JunLin was never picky about food. He took a sip andmented, "Not bad."
"To receive Your Majesty''s praise, it must be good indeed." Shen Yu finished drinking and put the small bowl aside. "I''ll prepare more for Your Majestyter."
Mu Xi made a note of this.
Shang JunLin drank slowly. "The young eunuch we found had a lot of information."
Shen Yu: "Your Majesty, go on."
Shang JunLin: "The pce has a hugework of rtionships which has been in ce since the reign of the previous emperor. A lot of pce servants are involved, but most of them act on orders and don''t know whom they serve. Only a small number of people actually know the identity of the conspirator. The young eunuch captured in Yuzhang Pce is one of them."
Shen Yu: "Is he a core member?"
Shang JunLin: "Not really. He only knew because his master told him."
Shen Yu: "Master? Who is that?"
Shang JunLin: "It was the eunuch who was originally in charge of Yuzhang Pce."
Atst Shen Yu understood why the person behind the scenes chose that young eunuch. After Shang JunLin''s two purges, Yuzhang Pce was even more difficult to enter than elsewhere. Maybe that young eunuch was their only option.
"Was that eunuch disposed of?"
"Yes. The first time he was investigated, it was found that he worked for more than one person." But Shang JunLin hadn''t expected to discover even more people hiding in the dark.
"Your Majesty, who is it?"
Shang JunLin''s eyes deepened. "The King of Huaiyu."
"The King of Huaiyu? The King of Huaiyu whopeted for the throne with the previous emperor and lost? He ims to be ill and hasn''t gone out ever since." Shen Yu didn''t recall much information from his previous life about this person. Until the King of Yue made his attempt to ascend the throne, the man huddled in his pce and did nothing.
"Yes." Shang JunLin frowned. "Before thete emperor ascended the throne, the King of Huaiyu was the most popr candidate to be emperor. But for some reason he chose to withdraw voluntarily. After thete emperor took the throne, the King of Huaiyu was granted permission to stay in the capital for treatment."
Shen Yu: "That''s understandable. Instead of letting the tiger return to the mountain, it''s better to keep him under your nose. After all, that''s a person who almost ascended to the highest position."
"What does the noble monarch think this emperor should do?"
"Didn''t Your Majesty already make a decision?" Shen Yu looked at him. There was an unspoken understanding in both of their eyes.
In Huaiyu Pce.
A thin man was leaning against a low table, opposite a white-faced, middle-aged man who spoke a slightly shrill voice:
"Your Highness has been exposed. What do you n to do now?"
"Isn''t this what your master wanted? Why did youe here to ask me what to do?" The King of Huaiyu had a hoarse voice, and from his tone he clearly didn''t like this visitor.
"The master asked me to give this to you. He said you would understand his intentions when you see it."
A dark red box was ced on the table. Knowing that he wasn''t wee here, the middle-aged man didn''t stay much longer, so he got up and left.
For a long time, hoarseughter was heard from the room.
Shortly after the middle-aged man left, a team of well-trained imperial guards surrounded the not-very-luxurious Huaiyu Pce.
In the evening, Shen Yu finished copying a few pages of a book while waiting for Shang JunLin.
The news from outside had already reached the pce, and the servants who were involved in the plot were secretly taken away. Some politically astute people sensed aing storm.
"Why isn''t the noble monarch resting yet?" Today Shang JunLin came backte. Usually at this hour, Shen Yu was already in bed.
"I was waiting for Your Majesty."
After taking a moment to dispel the cold, Shang JunLin approached Shen Yu. "What are you doing?"
"Copying some pages." Shen Yu moved aside and made room for Shang JunLin. "Is Your Majesty finished?"
Shang JunLin sat down next to Shen Yu. "Almost."
After learning who was behind the n, Shang JunLin immediately confined the pce servants on the list to prevent them from spreading the news. Then he ordered the imperial guard to go to Huaiyu Pce to get the person.
Thinking about the things that had happened recently, Shen Yu sighed. "After this, all those people who want to send their sons or daughters into the pce, or give new people to Your Majesty, should finally stop."
"There are always people who won''t give up." Shang JunLin picked up the book copied by Shen Yu and looked at it for a few moments. "More people like shortcuts than honest promotion."
"That''s because Your Majesty is too charming."
"The noble monarch is mistaken. What charms them is the power this emperor represents."
"Even if Your Majesty wasn''t the foremost man in the empire, I think that with Your Majesty''s charm, a veryrge number of people would want to be with Your Majesty." Pretending to be sad, Shen Yu looked at Shang JunLin, and his tone altered. "Does Your Majesty really have no one but me?"
"Why doesn''t the noble monarch direct these words to yourself?" Shang JunLin lifted Shen Yu''s chin and said with deep meaning, "Young Master Wang, Young Master Xu The noble monarch might as well tell this emperor first. Exactly how many good young masters do you have outside the pce?"
TL Notes:
crouching tiger, hidden dragon (idiom) talented individuals in hiding / concealed talent
-controlled This was censored in the raw for whatever reason
go q chess Since they''re ying with white and ck pieces, the game is probably go (weiqi ). Traditionally, because ck moves first and has an advantage, white is yed by the superior yer
A dead end suddenly became a path to life "life" and "death" are specific go terms. A group of stones can be considered alive or dead. If a yer manages to connect a dead group to a living group, all of the stones be alive, which can dramatically change the flow of the game
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Xiao Guizi
"Xiao", meaning "little" or "young" (), is a term of endearment frequently used in nicknames
Aunt Fan Fn gg (paternal aunt)
Xique
King of Huaiyu Huiy wng
Huaiyu Pce Huiy wngf
master zhzi Master (term used by servant) / Your Majesty / boss
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Chapter 26
Chapter 26
The force on Shen Yu''s chin continued to increase. He curved his lips. "Is Your Majesty angry?"
Shang JunLin''s eyes narrowed slightly. "This emperor is just reminding the noble monarch. Don''t forget your identity."
"Then" Shen Yu trailed off. "Your Majesty, tell me what my identity is."
"The noble monarch shouldn''t ask things you already know."
"I was only speaking casually. How did Your Majesty hear about it?" Shen Yu rolled his eyes. "Does Your Majesty really care about me that much?"
"It has always been impossible to hide secrets in the imperial pce. This emperor can''t say how many ears were listening to your conversation with the King of Yue." Shang JunLin was stating facts.
"Then it''s no wonder the King of Li threatened me with that." As Shen Yu thought about it he put his hand on the back of Shang JunLin''s. "If Your Majesty wants to know about my experience outside the pce, you can ask me directly. There''s no need to hear it from others."
Shang JunLin''s eyes deepened. "Then the noble monarch might as well tell this emperor how many good young masters you have outside the pce, hmm?"
With that, the conversation returned to the original topic.
"Does Your Majesty believe what I said to fool the King of Yue? Other than Your Majesty, I haven''t had any good young masters. Isn''t Your Majesty clear about that?" Shen Yu knew Shang JunLin must have investigated what happened before he entered the pce.
Shang JunLin didn''t deny it. "What the noble monarch says is correct." He loosened the hand holding Shen Yu''s chin and frowned. "How can you be so delicate?"
Shang JunLin deliberately used a light amount of strength, but unexpectedly, he still left a red mark on Shen Yu''s chin.
"Meng Chang, bring the medicine."
"Yes." Meng Gonggong quickly brought in the medicine for removing bruises.
Shen Yu rubbed his chin, but he didn''t feel anything. "Your Majesty, don''t worry about it. It will fade on its own in a while."
Shang JunLin didn''t listen. He opened the medicine bottle. One hand held Shen Yu''s jaw, while the fingers of the other hand dipped into the ointment and carefully applied it to the red marks.
There was a cool sensation on his chin. The man''s fingertips rubbed the ointment little by little, and the coolness gradually turned into heat.
Shen Yu was caught between Shang JunLin and the wall. The bitter cold aura and the heating from the man''s body were constantly dueling each other, making his head swim.
Shen Yu closed his eyes a little, and his confused thoughts gradually calmed down.
"All right."
Just before his consciousness slipped into the abyss, he heard the man''s voice. Shen Yu opened his eyes and found he was now even closer to Shang JunLin.
The two were only an arm''s length apart, so close he could clearly see Shang JunLin''s long, upturned eyshes. Their breathing alternated, and Shen Yu''s ears became hot.
"The noble monarch has a mole here," Shang JunLin said in a low voice.
Below his earlobe, there was a very light mole. Shang JunLin couldn''t resist stroking it with his fingers.
Shen Yu tilted his head uneasily, wanting to avoid Shang JunLin''s hand. At the same time he reached up to touch the side of his ear.
He never knew the ce he had that mole was so sensitive. Shang JunLin had barely touched him, but it was like hitting a switch. He was trembling slightly.
"Your Majesty" Hearing the unconcealed tremor in his voice, Shen Yu closed his mouth.
Shang JunLin withdrew his hand with a cough. "It''ste. The noble monarch should get some rest."
Under his wide sleeves, the man rubbed his fingers. That delicate, warm, yet cool feeling seemed to linger on his fingertips.
Shen Yuy on the bed with his head turned slightly to the side. Under the candlelight, Shang JunLin approved memorials in a firm, upright posture. The orange candlelight gave the man a warm glow, making it hard to look away.
It was destined to be a sleepless night.
The King of Huaiyu was suddenly taken away. The ministers were blindsided by the emperor''s sudden series of moves.
Without a word, the imperial guard jailed several officials, including but not limited to some old ministers who''d been in office since the previous emperor.
This time the action was even bigger than for Imperial Censor Zhang.
Well-connected ministers gathered together to ponder His Majesty''s decisions.
"First His Majesty punished the King of Li and the King of Yue, and now it''s the King of Huaiyu. The King of Huaiyu didn''t disrespect the noble monarch like the other two princes, did he?"
"Probably not. The King of Huaiyu always kept a low profile, right? He never even asked questions about the government. The King of Li wanted his niece to enter the pce as empress. I never heard of a youngdy like that in the King of Huaiyu''s family."
"His Majesty suddenly made a big move and sent the imperial guard to surround the Huaiyu Pce. I really don''t think it''s because of something trivial."
"Could it be rebellion?"
"Careful, mind what you say."
"In fact, it''s notpletely impossible. You may not know, but before the previous emperor ascended the throne, the King of Huaiyu was the prince with the most support to inherit."
The speaker fell into his memories. Back then, the King of Huaiyu was only seventeen or eighteen years old. It was the most vigorous time of a young man''s life. He had outstanding natural talent and was prominent among the other princes. Unfortunately, the dazzling star shone for only a brief time before it was concealed by dark clouds and disappeared into obscurity.
Many years had passed since then, and the once-proud son of heaven became like gravel on the ground, his elegance worn away by time.
Another person put forward a different view: "But the current emperor has been on the throne for so many years. If he really wanted to do something, he wouldn''t have waited until now."
"Yes, the imperial court is stable, and His Majesty is viewed favorably and has the support of the people. If what you say is true, wouldn''t it have been better to take action before His Majesty ascended the throne?"
Many of these ministers had personally experienced the chaos of the previous reign. Thete emperor was weak-minded in hister years. He doted on treacherous ministers and allowed them to control the court, wantonly amassing wealth and eliminating dissidents. Capable generals were falsely used. Millions of soldiers gave their lives in vain and died with grievances in their hearts. Meanwhile, enemy nations took advantage and attacked on arge scale, seizing one richnd after another.
The previous emperor was only focused on pleasure and turned a blind eye to the turmoil. When the current emperor took the throne, he was like a sharp knife, stabbing into the belly of the enemy and recovering the lost territory piece by piece.
Shen Yu flipped through the court records sent by Shang JunLin and tried to piece together some clues.
In his previous life, nothing happened with the King of Huaiyu. Shen Yu didn''t know how Shang JunLin dealt with the previous emperor''s concubines back then. Did he ever discover that someone was secretly manipting them? Shen Yu couldn''t help feeling there was something strange about it.
"Noble monarch, Imperial Physician Gu is here."
Now that Shen Yu''s health was better, Imperial Physician Gu didn''te every day. It had been three days since hisst visit.
After paying his respects, Imperial Physician Gu took Shen Yu''s pulse as usual. After a while, Imperial Physician Gu frowned and withdrew his hand. "The noble monarch''s pulse isn''t quite right."
Shen Yu didn''t respond immediately, and Mu Xi was too anxious to worry about etiquette. She quickly asked, "Imperial Physician Gu, is the noble monarch well?"
"This minister still needs to confirm it. There''s no need for Lady Mu Xi to feel rmed. It''s not necessarily serious," Imperial Physician Gu said.
"Mu Xi." The maid wanted to say something else, but Shen Yu interrupted. "Don''t be rude to Imperial Physician Gu."
Imperial Physician Gu thought for a moment, then said, "Noble monarch, please stretch out your other hand. This minister will check again."
"Thank you, Imperial Physician Gu."
Imperial Physician Gu carefully took Shen Yu''s pulse twice more. His tightly knitted brows loosened a little.
"The noble monarch needn''t worry. The noble monarch''s body has reacted to a certain toxin and rejected it. Fortunately, you weren''t exposed to much. This minister will write a prescription. It will soon heal."
"A poison?" Mu Xi frowned. "But the noble monarch''s diet is strictly controlled. This ve can guarantee that everything that enters the noble monarch''s mouth is good."
"It may not necessarily have been in food," Imperial Physician Gu exined. "The amount of toxin in the noble monarch''s body is very low. If not for the noble monarch''s weakness from birth, and the fact you''ve been taking medicines that are in conflict with the toxin, it wouldn''t have any effect on your body."
"Can Imperial Physician Gu determine when I ingested this toxin?" Shen Yu recalled what had happened recently and formed a certain guess.
"It should be within a week."
Within a week, that matched the time Shen Yu was thinking of.
The only unusual thing that had happenedtely was probably the trouble caused by Concubine Yu when he visited that ce. It just so happened that Mu Xi was his closest servant and followed him there.
Shen Yu needed to confirm his thoughts. "I''ll trouble Imperial Physician Gu to diagnose my handmaid also."
After taking Mu Xi''s pulse, Imperial Physician Gu was surprised. "Lady Mu Xi also has a very small amount of this toxin in her body."
Sure enough, it was as he thought. Shen Yu asked, "What impact does this toxin have on people?"
"It has a certain hallucinogenic effect. If the dosage isrge enough, it can trap people in a nightmare, but the noble monarch can rest assured the amount of toxin in your body won''t have any such effect."
Shen Yu noted that if it weren''t for Imperial Physician Gu, he''d have had no idea he was somehow poisoned.
"Can I trouble Imperial Physician Gu to also take a look at His Majesty?"
"It''s this minister''s duty. I don''t dare to use the word trouble''."
When Shang JunLin returned to Yuzhang Pce after finishing his work, he found Imperial Physician Gu conversing with Shen Yu in a low voice. The upturned corners of the emperor''s mouth slowly straightened.
Shen Yu saw Shang JunLin before the pce servants announced him and stood up. "Your Majesty,e here quickly."
Imperial Physician Gu and the pce people knelt to pay their respects.
"You may rise." Shang JunLin went over to Shen Yu.
"Your Majesty, I found something," Shen Yu told him about his guess. "Your Majesty, first let Imperial Physician Gu take your pulse."
Shang JunLin''s face was serious. He stretched out his hand to let Imperial Physician Gu check.
As expected, Shang JunLin also had traces of toxin residue in his body.
"Your Majesty?"
Shang JunLin''s face suddenly became extremely ugly. Shen Yu was about to exin that such a small quantity of poison wouldn''t have much impact on his body, but he heard the emperor''s deep voice ask Imperial Physician Gu:
"Will this toxin harm the noble monarch?"
Imperial Physician Gu froze. He didn''t expect that to be Shang JunLin''s first question after learning about the poison.
Once again Imperial Physician Gu sighed at His Majesty''s deep affection for the noble monarch. He exined, "Your Majesty, don''t worry, it won''t affect the noble monarch''s health."
Shang JunLin nodded and his face returned to normal. "What''s the name of this poison?"
"It''s called Fei Meng''."
"Fei Meng''?! isn''t Fei Meng'' banned?" Shen Yu blurted out. Due to his poor health, Shen Yu had done some research on various drugs. "Fei Meng" was deeply impressed on his memory, because in his previous life someone had used this seemingly insignificant substance to almost destroy a city.
After speaking, Shen Yu realized this appalling event hadn''t happened yet, and "Fei Meng" wasn''t banned. At the moment "Fei Meng" was just an obscure drug.
Shang JunLin''s eyes narrowed slightly. He''d heard of "Fei Meng", but it wasn''t a drug worthy of attention. It was often used with certain kinds of medicine to heighten pleasure. Why did Shen Yu have such a strong reaction to hearing its name?
Was it something he''d experienced, or
After pressing down various thoughts, Shang JunLin gave orders to thoroughly inspect Yuzhang Pce.
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu grabbed Shang JunLin''s hand. "We have to find out where this Fei Meng'' came from."
Shang JunLin gave him a deep look. "Give this emperor a reason."
Noble monarch, how many more secrets are you hiding from this emperor?
TL Notes:
The next 2 chapters are already prepped, so I don''t need to take a break tomorrow. I''ll take a 1 day break after Ch 28
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Lady Mu Xi M X gning Alternatively: Miss / girl / young woman / youngdy / daughter / paternal aunt (old)
Fei Meng "Crimson Dream"
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Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Shen Yu was silent.
After all this time together, his understanding of Shang JunLin had increased, but his rebirth was aplicated thing. It was a secret he didn''t intend to tell a single other person.
He knew he''d revealed a lot to Shang JunLin. Shang JunLin hadn''t pried, so Shen Yu took for granted that the emperor didn''t know anything. That was the case with Young Master He, and "Fei Meng" was the same.
Shang JunLin sighed and stroked Shen Yu''s cheek. "This emperor won''t ask about other things, but the noble monarch must tell this emperor what kind of harm Fei Meng'' will bring."
"Your Majesty?" Shen Yu looked up. His face was small, so small that Shang JunLin could hold it in one palm. At the moment, the young man''s face revealed a little disbelief, like a kitten who''d made trouble but hadn''t been dealt with yet.
Shang JunLin raised his eyebrows. "Does the noble monarch think this emperor is a person who''d insist on getting to the bottom of things regardless of your wishes?"
"Of course not, Your Majesty." Shen Yu steadied his mind. "The problem with Fei Meng'', to say the least, might be difficult to believe."
When Shen Yu learned the truth in his previous life, he could hardly believe it. Who would have thought that an obscure but otherwise ordinary drug would have such terrifying effects?
"On its own, Fei Meng'' isn''t worth fearing. The unavoidable danger it poses lies in another drug, which uses Fei Meng'' as an ingredient. Like Fei Meng'', this substance is colorless and tasteless. Just a little of it can make a strong man suffer from fever, and anyone whoes into contact with the fever will be infected in a short time. In seven days at most, they die."
In his previous life, this exact thing had appeared after a natural disaster. At first Shen Yu, like everyone else, thought it was a gue caused by the conditions of the disaster. Onlyter did he realize the gue was a false one, entirely caused by human activity. That was when the imperial court decided to ssify "Fei Meng" as a forbidden drug.
Unfortunately, Shen Yu was living in the King of Yue''s fief at the time. He didn''t know much of the inside story. Until the effects of "Fei Meng" were discovered, Shen Yu didn''t have any idea the gue was man-made.
Shang JunLin knitted his brow. "This emperor will ask the Hidden Dragon Guard to investigate."
Shen Yu didn''t know if Shang JunLin fully believed him, but when he said he''d check into it, Shen Yu was deeply relieved. Maybe the people responsible for this disaster hadn''t begun yet. If they could avert the tragedy in advance, it was worth the effort.
Shen Yu had borrowed some books from Imperial Physician Gu. To pass the time he frequently read a variety of medical texts.
They say that a long illness makes a doctor. Because of Shen Yu''s poor health, he''d studied the art of medicine. He wasn''t as knowledgeable as Imperial Physician Gu, who''d trained since childhood, but he knew some basic medical theory.
Shen Yu''s hobbies were no secret, and Shang JunLin soon learned that Shen Yu was interested in medicine. His pen slightly paused, and he asked, "Was the noble monarch interested in medicine before, when he lived in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence?"
"Your Majesty, ording to the information collected by the Hidden Dragon Guard, the noble monarch studied a variety of subjects at the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. Medical skills are among them," Meng Gonggong replied respectfully.
"I see."
When Shang JunLin returned to Yuzhang Pce, Shen Yu was flipping through a medical book.
The young man sat below a window, and the sunlight poured down on him,yering him with a hazy halo. His jade-like face was half-hidden behind a white wool cor, forming a delicate and attractive picture.
Shang JunLin walked over and sat beside Shen Yu. "Is the noble monarch still worried about Fei Meng''?"
"Not really. I borrowed some medical books from Imperial Physician Gu a while ago, and I need to finish reading them." Shen Yu pointed to several heavy books on the desk and showed them to Shang JunLin.
Shang JunLin picked up one of the books and turned it over. He saw that it mostly contained anecdotes about healing. It wasn''t so much a medical textbook as a series of case notes.
"Did the noble monarch finish reading the other books already?"
"Yes, there aren''t that many books in Your Majesty''s library." To be precise, there weren''t many books that could be used to pass the time. The rest of the books contained information about sensitive matters, and Shen Yu wasn''t going to take them out to read them.
"What kind of books does the noble monarch like? This emperor will send someone outside the pce to buy them for you." Shang JunLin knew this would take a while and suggested, "Or will the noble monarch apany this emperor in the imperial study to read memorials?"
"No." Shen Yu sprang forward and put a hand over Shang JunLin''s mouth. "The ministers are already so displeased with me. Is Your Majesty trying to convict me of bringing disaster to the country and ruin to the people?"
"The noble monarch is clearly worried about the country and the people." Shang JunLin had a smile in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, don''t try to give me a high hat or make me help you with government affairs. It''s a much better idea for me to read medical books than memorials. Maybe someday I''ll learn to save the dying and help the wounded." Shen Yu was leaning on Shang JunLin, and his tone of voice clearly showed his dislike for politics.
"Other people can only dream of having such an opportunity, but the noble monarch says you don''t want it. You really don''t regret it?" Shang JunLin deliberately tempted him.
Shen Yu sat up, propping himself against the man''s chest. "Your Majesty, don''t try to fool me. What''s so wonderful about looking at memorials? It''s much better to look at Your Majesty."
In his previous life, Shen Yu exhausted himself working for the King of Yue for more than ten years. After floating and sinking in the sea of officialdom for so long, he was almost executed. He didn''t want to get involved in political struggles in this lifetime at all.
"I just hope Your Majesty grows stronger and stronger and can always protect me." Shen Yu looked down at Shang JunLin, and his pure dark eyes were serious.
Shang JunLin couldn''t help being attracted to those eyes, which seemed to have some kind of magical power. As long as he wanted to, he could make people sink into them and never be able to escape.
"Don''t worry. This emperor will protect you well."
Shen Yu smiled, and the smile spread from his eyes little by little, curving his eyebrows, until his entire face became more and more vivid. Shen Yu''s looks were outstanding. When he smiled, no one could tear their eyes away.
Shang JunLin gave the matter of "Fei Meng" to the Hidden Dragon Guard for investigation. Whether Shen Yu''s information was true or false, it was better not to beat the grass and startle the snake until they had some results.
In addition to the Hidden Dragon Guard, Shang JunLin handed "Fei Meng" to Imperial Physician Gu.
Imperial Physician Gu didn''t know the terrible truth behind "Fei Meng". He just thought the emperor was worried about the noble monarch''s health. He didn''t publicize the fact that both the emperor and the noble monarch had been poisoned at the same time. Imperial Physician Gu understood without being told and didn''t say a word about "Fei Meng".
The imperial hospital had too many eyes and wasn''t suitable for some types of work. Imperial Physician Gu took his research home.
The Gu family house had three courtyards. It wasn''trge, but it was more than enough for Imperial Physician Gu and Gu Huai. Imperial Physician Gu had his own pharmacy at home. The working environment was no worse than the imperial hospital, although the medicinal materials and equipment weren''t asplete.
"Gu Huai, help me move this cab."
A young man in the courtyard was practicing martial arts. When he heard the gentle voice calling, he immediately stopped and ran into the house.
Imperial Physician Gu was wearing a light gray tunic. Both of his hands were full, busy dispensing medicine. Gu Huai entered the room and looked around. He immediately saw the cab that Imperial Physician Gu wanted to move and walked over to it without a word.
"Gege, where do you want me to move this?"
"Here, here." Imperial Physician Gu indicated the direction with his eyes. "By the way, bring me the box in the leftmost side of the cab."
Gu Huai followed Imperial Physician Gu''s instructions and went over to Imperial Physician Gu with the box. "What has Gege been busy withtely? You haven''t had any time to apany me."
"Xiao Huai is almost as tall as his gege now. Why do you still need an adult to stay with you?" Imperial Physician Gu joked, then returned to business. "Just put the box on the table over here and help me with this."
Gu Huai put down the small box, took the medicine from Imperial Physician Gu, and said curiously, "Is Gege preparing a new medicine?"
The tip of his nose twitched slightly as he smelled it. "Why doesn''t it have an odor?"
"Hey, be careful!" Fortunately, Imperial Physician Gu had already prepared a lot of antidote medicine for "Fei Meng". He hurriedly gave it to Gu Huai. "I told you beforedon''t touch and smell things in this room."
Blinking, Gu Huai obediently took the antidote. "I''m sorry, Gege. I shouldn''t have done that."
He admitted his mistake with a good attitude, and Imperial Physician Gu wasn''t really angry with him. "Fortunately you didn''t touch anything highly toxic this time. Don''t do that again."
When Gu Huai nodded dutifully, Imperial Physician Gu exined, "This is Fei Meng''. It''s colorless and tasteless, which is why you can''t smell it."
Fei Meng''? Gu Huai''splexion changed. A dark color shed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to normal. "Why is Gege studying Fei Meng''?"
"Children shouldn''t worry so much," Imperial Physician Gu said, poking him on the forehead. "Well, put those things down and go have fun."
Gu Huai did his best to put everything away with the same attitude as usual and obediently left the room.
Imperial Physician Gu didn''t think about it too much. He continued with his work.
As Gu Huai walked back to the martial arts training ground, his face grew darker and darker. He didn''t know who''d ordered his Gege to study "Fei Meng". If he found out, he''d give that man a hard time!
"Master." The man in ck knelt silently.
"My Gege is looking into Fei Meng''. Go and find out what''s going on."
If Imperial Physician Gu had been there, he would have seen that Gu Huai didn''t look like a bright young man at the moment. Instead he was more like an evil spirit who''d just returned from hell.
After more than ten years, he''d finally found a clue about Fei Meng''! He would absolutely repay the blood debt from that year!
"What did you say?" Shen Yu stood up. With disbelief he asked, "When the previous emperor was in power, someone used this method to eliminate dissidents?"
The darkness in Shang JunLin''s eyes deepened. "This emperor didn''t expect the Hidden Dragon Guard to uncover such an important case."
"How much did Your Majesty learn?"
"Only a little. If this emperor hadn''t listened to the noble monarch''s suggestion to investigate Fei Meng'', I''m afraid the truth would never havee to light."
Shang JunLin''s voice was filled with a sense of oppression. "The lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers weren''t lost on the battlefield, but to the selfish desires of their own nation''s leaders. Howughable. If this emperor learns who nned all this, I won''t let them go lightly!"
When he reached the end of these words, Shang JunLin''s voice was already tinged with killing intent.
"Your Majesty will definitely avenge the injustice to those soldiers. Your Majesty, don''t be angry at yourself."
Shen Yu could more or less understand Shang JunLin''s anger. Shang JunLin rose to the throne through his military achievements. For a long time, he lived in the army and ate and lived among his soldiers. If there was anything in the world that could touch his emotions, it was probably the soldiers who apanied him for more than ten years.
"How dare they" Shang JunLin''s chest heaved with the force of his emotions. "This emperor knew the previous emperor was weak-minded, but I never thought he would allow such things to happen again and again."
"Your Majesty" Shen Yu didn''t know how tofort him. At the moment, Shang JunLin was like a wolf who''d lost his pack, lonely and desperate.
"Noble monarch." Shang JunLin took hold of Shen Yu and held him tightly in his arms, as if he''d found a pir of support. "This emperor won''t let those men rest easy. This emperor will never allow anything simr to happen under my rule!"
TL Notes:
getting to the bottom of things inquire into the root of the matter; bombard someone with questions; dig out the bottom truth; get to the root of the matter
give me a high hat makepliment; tter; eulogize
understood without being told heard the string apaniment and knew the elegant meaning understood what a person wanted to express even if only told superficially (Baidu)
three courtyards three-in and three-out A house with three entrances and exits, meaning it has three courtyards (Baidu)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
gege older brother; also a way to address a man of the same generation but older than yourself
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Chapter 28
Chapter 28
Shen Yu let Shang JunLin hold him without saying anything. Strictly speaking, this was the first time they''d been so close.
The man''s arms were so strong that Shen Yu''s waist hurt from being squeezed. But he was painfully aware he was needed right now.
He couldn''t have said what he was feeling, or what thoughts were going through his mind. The man''s scent wrapped around him from all directions, fully upying the gaps between him and the outside world. It seemed tost forever, but it also felt short.
He didn''t know how much time passed before Shang JunLin slowly loosened his arms. "This emperor forgot himself."
Shen Yu didn''t continue the topic from before. He knew that people sometimes needed time to digest certain things. If an outsider tried too hard to intervene, it would only increase the pain.
"Your Majesty, you hurt me just now." Shen Yu leaned against Shang JunLin and breathed slowly to ease the ache in his waist.
" This emperor will give you medicine."
Shang JunLin was already familiar with the procedure. There was a small cab at the head of the bed, which was full of medicines for improving blood cirction and removing bruises, as well as some unidentified ointments sent by the imperial hospital.
"It''s not that serious." Shen Yu pressed down Shang JunLin''s hand with the medicine. "Your Majesty, has the King of Huaiyu incident reached a conclusion?"
Shang JunLin: "He quickly confessed his guilt, but this emperor still thinks there''s something wrong."
Shen Yu: "Your Majesty feels the same way I do."
Shang JunLin: "Oh? What does the noble monarch think?"
"Doesn''t it seem too easy to Your Majesty?" Shen Yu pulled Shang JunLin to sit on the soft couch. "Based on what Your Majesty said before, the King of Huaiyu has been nting moles in the pce for years without being discovered. It''s strange that he was exposed so easily."
Shang JunLin nodded. "There are a lot of suspicious things about the King of Huaiyu, and his activity spans many years. This emperor isn''t finished with him yet."
The King of Huaiyu was locked up in the dark prison, and specially-trained people interrogated him every day. Unfortunately, no matter what method they used, the result was the same.
Either he confessed immediately or he refused to say a word. The more he was interrogated, the more suspicions and loopholes he created.
"What about those women? Did they say anything?"
Since the presence of "Fei Meng" was discovered in the pce, the former concubines who were previously living in a remote courtyard of Yuzhang Pce were confined in another location by Shang JunLin. One reason was to prevent information from leaking, and another was to eliminate the chance that someone would attack again.
"Their information was almost the same."
Although things might appear to be resolved, in fact there was no conclusion at all.
"Based on the information this emperor learned, the King of Huaiyu is indeed one of the people behind the plot. The former concubines and some of the pce attendants were his eyes, with one exception," Shang JunLin said with a teacup in his hand.
"The young eunuch who threatened Concubine Yu?" Shen Yu guessed.
If that eunuch hadn''t made a move and frightened Concubine Yu, she wouldn''t have asked for help, and without her confession, they wouldn''t have found out about the King of Huaiyu so quickly.
Shang JunLin: "Yes, but that''s the only breakthrough so far. The young eunuch pretended to work for the King of Huaiyu, but weter discovered he never carried out any orders for the King of Huaiyu. That leaves just one possibility. He said it to mislead us."
Shen Yu: "Deliberately putting all the me on the King of Huaiyu, so the real mastermind could escape."
Shang JunLin: "It''s a pity the young eunuch died without giving more evidence. The trail of clues has been cut off."
When Shang JunLin''s people found the discrepancy and tried to interrogate the young eunuch again, they discovered the man hadmitted suicide. This confirmed Shang JunLin''s suspicions more and more.
The King of Huaiyu''s arrest caused a stir. All of the court officials and the imperial family heard the news. At morning court, some of the ministers directly asked the emperor about it, and Shang JunLin had no intention of hiding it. He told them what happened and assigned a specific official to take charge of the matter.
Now that the investigation was so close to being resolved, it had turned into a dead end. The official in charge of handling the case was so anxious that his mouth blistered.
The New Year was approaching and everyone would normally be at home on holiday. But now, forget about a holiday, they were worried about getting drawn into the pce investigation.
Didn''t everyone see how several officials had been implicated and lost their ck hats?
Meanwhile, the Zhenbei Marquis had been eager to see Shen Yu for a long time, but he wanted to see him alone, not with Shang JunLin.
Finally, he found his chance.
It was at the New Year''s Eve pce banquet.
Having learned from past experience, no one dared to make trouble for Shen Yu at the banquet, but the meal was long and boring. After finishing the necessary etiquette, Shen Yu said a few words to Shang JunLin and slipped out quietly.
Shen Yu went for a casual walk with Mu Xi. After a while he saw a figure in front of them, and stopped.
The visitor saluted. "Noble monarch."
"Your Highness the King of An." Shen Yu was surprised. "What brings Your Highness here?"
Shen Yu had intentionally walked a little farther from the hall where the pce banquet was held. They were close to the harem now. If the King of An went out to get some air, he wouldn''t be all the way over here.
"This servant hasn''t been to the pce in quite a while. I wanted to visit the ce I used to y when I was a child," the King of An exined calmly.
"It looks like someone is looking for the noble monarch. This servant won''t bother you." The King of An nodded his farewell.
Shen Yu turned back and saw a boy dressed as a servant heading towards him.
"Noble monarch, the marquis asks if you''ll meet him for a moment." The boy had served the Zhenbei Marquis a long time and spoke with a respectful attitude.
"Father wants to see me?" Shen Yu was bored and didn''t feel like returning to the hall yet. "Where is he?"
"Noble monarch, pleasee with this ve."
Shen Yu walked a short distance with the boy before he saw the Zhenbei Marquis standing by the path.
Shen Yu had no intention ofpletely severing ties with the Zhenbei Marquis for now. "Father wants me for something?"
The Zhenbei Marquis had sent several messages to the pce, but there was no reply. He was a bit angry. "This marquis didn''t know it would be so difficult to meet his own son."
Shen Yu acted puzzled. "What does Father mean? Didn''t I make a special trip to the marquis'' residence not long ago?"
"This marquis wanted to see you alone, not for you to bring His Majesty along with you." As he spoke, the Zhenbei Marquis''s face turned unhappy. There were still people who thought he helped his son cover up a private meeting with his lover outside the pce.
He couldn''t tell anyone that it was His Majesty who came to the mansion with Shen Yu that day. There was no outside lover at all. He could only grind his teeth and hold his tongue and stubbornly endure it.
"Doesn''t His Majesty have an opinion about this? Outsiders are saying you have another lover, that you''ve been unfaithful to His Majesty. Don''t you want to make things clear?"
"Hmm? Other people are saying that?" Shen Yu really didn''t know anything. He thought it was just the King of Li who''d threatened him with the story. Was someone else spreading it?
"Public opinion can melt metal," the Zhenbei Marquis said bitterly. "Hearsay and lies can ruin a person. You shouldn''t take it lightly."
"I see. I''ll take care of it. Is that the only reason the Zhenbei Marquis wanted to see me?"
His words were almost direct. If there was nothing else, he didn''t want to waste his time.
When he heard Shen Yu''s careless tone, the Zhenbei Marquis almost fell over in anger. "Are you even listening to your father? You think you can rely on His Majesty to favor you alone. That''s why you don''t take any of this seriously, but once there''s a new man by His Majesty''s side"
"There is no such possibility." Shen Yu nced at him. "Instead of worrying so much about me, the Zhenbei Marquis should worry about your own backyard. That Aunt Ru of yours seems to be making a lot of little moves."
"You" The Zhenbei Marquis was furious. "Fine, I''m not going to talk about this anymore. I came here to ask you about His Majesty''s ns for the King of Huaiyu."
Originally, the King of Huaiyu should have been executed before the New Year, but Shang JunLin said he didn''t want to stain the asion with blood, so the case had lingered until now.
The evidence was overwhelming. Why hadn''t the emperor already given the order? Was it true he didn''t want to shed blood during the New Year, or was there some other secret? No one could guess.
"Do you think a consort like myself would know the reason for His Majesty''s decision?" Shen Yu stared at him and said seriously, "Since you''re my father, I''ll give you a word of caution. If someone told you to ask me this question, you should try to stay away from that person in the future. If you''re asking because you yourself want to know, I can only warn you that if you have nothing to do with this matter, don''t get involved.
"Whether you want to listen to me or not, Father, it''s up to you to decide."
The Zhenbei Marquis felt shocked. He really had asked Shen Yu because someone else suggested it. But after listening to Shen Yu, he couldn''t help but consider to himself whether that man wanted him to ask for a reason?
Given the current political tensions, one wrong step and the entire game would be lost. If he was careless, he''d lose his life and everything he held dear.
After this, the Zhenbei Marquis had no desire to continue talking to Shen Yu. He left in a hurry.
On the way back, Mu Xi didn''t understand. "Noble monarch, why did you say that to the marquis?"
After serving Shen Yu for so many years, Mu Xi knew better than anyone that Shen Yu had no father-son rtionship with the Zhenbei Marquis at all. If one ever existed, it was erased by one disappointment after another.
"Because I''m still his legitimate son. If the Zhenbei Marquis is overly stupid and falls into someone else''s trap, I''m the first one who will be implicated."
Shen Yu hadn''tpletely severed his rtionship with the Zhenbei Marquis. Until that day, he couldn''t tolerate anyone using the marquis as a weapon against him.
"Tell someone to keep an eye on the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence." Shen Yu ordered lightly.
"Yes."
It wasn''t the right time to draw a clear line between himself and his family. He still had to wait. Shen Yu smiledhe wasn''t in a hurry.
After the pce banquet, Shen Yu returned to Yuzhang Pce and changed into normal clothes. Compared with the expensive and cumbersome garments of a noble monarch, Shen Yu preferred to wear simpler things.
"Happy New Year, noble monarch." Shang JunLin took out the red sealed envelope he''d already prepared.
"Is this for me?" Shen Yu''s voice was a little uncertain. He felt startled for a moment, then epted it under Shang JunLin''s affirming eyes.
As he held the red envelope, Shen Yu felt that his palm was hot.
"I didn''t prepare one for Your Majesty. What should I do?" Mu Xi had been responsible for distributing gifts to subordinates. Shen Yu didn''t ask her, and he naturally didn''t prepare an envelope himself for Shang JunLin.
"This emperor is just giving this to the noble monarch. The noble monarch doesn''t need to give one in return."
"That won''t do." Shen Yu thought. "I''ll have to owe Your Majesty this time and make it up to youter."
Shang JunLin didn''t have much interest in gifts. "As the noble monarch wishes."
After Shen Yu put away the red envelope, Shang JunLin asked, "There''s a fireworks disy tonight. Would the noble monarch like to go and see it?"
Every year Da Huan held a grand fireworks event, and every year the people of Da Huan would take their rtives and friends to watch it.
Shen Yu''s eyes lit up. "Is it possible to leave the pce?"
Shang JunLin was only nning to take Shen Yu to watch it from the pce walls, and he fell silent for a moment. "You want to leave the pce?"
"They say the fireworks event outside the pce is exciting, and everyone takes their loved ones and friends to see it. Is it possible for Your Majesty to apany me?"
Shen Yu tilted his head to gaze up at Shang JunLin, and the eager expression on his face made it almost impossible to refuse.
TL Notes:
It feels like a game of king whack-a-mole in that pce
moles submerged piles installed to prevent the passage of boats / (fig.) informer / spy
his mouth blistered There''s amon saying that when someone is angry or worried, they get blisters or sores on their mouth
(exined) calmly neither too fast nor too slow; at an appropriate speed
hold his tongue swallow (the words) into his stomach
Public opinion can melt metal lit. public opinion is powerful enough to melt metal (" while umted defamation wears the bones") / fig. public mor can obscure the actual truth / mass spreading of rumors can confuse right and wrong; If you throw enough mud, some of it will stick
his life and everything he held dear man''s life and family possessions
red sealed envelope red seal / red sealed letter In modern times, red paper envelopes or packets () are mary gifts given during holidays or for special asions by seniors to juniors who are unmarried or still in school. In ancient times, the tradition involved coins, ingots, or auspicious tokens (Wikipedia)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
the King of An n wng
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Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Through some miracle, Shang JunLin agreed.
The two changed into nondescript clothes that wouldn''t identify them. With the Hidden Dragon Guard following in the shadows, they left the pce with Meng Gonggong.
As soon as they were past the pce gates, Shen Yu felt the atmosphere change. It waspletely different from the imperial pce.
He lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked outside.
The streets were swarming with people. The city was alive.
There were families strolling through the crowd, and couples snuggling together to enjoy the excitement. The streets were full of little stalls in a variety of colors. The goods on disy were dazzling and overwhelming.
People went out with their rtives and friends to enjoy the only fireworks event of the year.
The little carriage was the dividing line between two worlds. On the other side was the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Shen Yu could almost feel the energy beyond the carriage walls.
He was so intent on looking outside that he didn''t notice Shang JunLin, who was sitting beside him, kept looking at him.
The indistinct light from the window shone on the young man, making his face in the shadows appear blurred and remote. He was close enough to touch but also far away.
Shang JunLin''s fingers moved, but he restrained the impulse to take the young man into his arms.
Turning back, Shen Yu couldn''t wait to share his happiness with Shang JunLin. "Your Majesty, this is really exciting."
Shang JunLin averted his eyes a moment before the young man turned towards him. "En," he said. "Does the noble monarch prefer it this way?"
"I do." But after thinking for a moment, Shen Yu shook his head. "If it was this lively every day, I don''t think I''d be able to enjoy it."
Shang JunLin, who''d just started to think about how to make the pce more lively, abandoned his thoughts. "Is there something the noble monarch would like to do?"
"Anything at all?" Shen Yu asked eagerly.
Shang JunLin nodded.
"Then Your Majesty will have to pay the money. Your Majesty didn''t let me bring a maid, and I don''t have a single copper coin on me." Shen Yu held his chin and peered at Shang JunLin.
Shang JunLin was easy to persuade. "All right."
"I might want to buy a lot of things."
"This emperor thinks I have more than enough money to support the noble monarch."
The carriage didn''t travel for long before it stopped in a slightly isted location. After Shang JunLin got out of the carriage, he reached out to assist Shen Yu.
Shang JunLin helped Shen Yu straighten his clothes. "There''s no need to call me Your Majesty outside."
"If Your Majesty thinks so. What should I call Your Majesty instead? Husband? Or Ah Lin?"
Shang JunLin lifted his gaze and met Shen Yu''s smiling eyes. "I think husband is good. What does the noble monarch think?"
"I''d rather call Your Majesty Ah Lin''. There are countless people in this world who call you Your Majesty, but I''m the only one who can call you Ah Lin''."
"Then I''ll call the noble monarch Ah Yu''."
After a short rest, the pair stepped into the busy street.
To avoid being separated by the crowd, Shang JunLin always protected Shen Yu with one arm.
Both of them were wearing simr wide-sleeved robes, one dark and one light, and both of them were men with outstanding looks. As they walked together through the crowd they attracted the attention of countless people.
"Young masters, please wait a moment."
Shen Yu was talking to Shang JunLin when he heard a woman''s voice behind them and stopped.
When the men looked back, they saw two gorgeously-dresseddiesing towards them, and there wasn''t a trace of shyness in their faces. The reason thesedies called out to them was in.
The people of Da Huan had open customs, and there were few restrictions on women. If they saw someone they liked, bolder women woulde forward and speak to the person directly. Every year around this time, quite a few widely-known tales would be spun which were initiated by women.
It wasmon for young men and women to look for a partner on this day. If things went well, they''d return home and ask their families to go to the other person''s home to propose marriage. Shen Yu and his partner had met two of these more daring girls.
The two sides were getting nearer and nearer. Just as the women were about to begin flirting a little, the man beside Shen Yu took his hand.
His five fingers were separated without any chance to refuse. Shang JunLin''s bony fingers pried into Shen Yu''s grip little by little until their fingers were tightly interwoven.
Shen Yu lifted his hand, but the grip didn''t loosen, and he was held even more tightly.
"Your Majesty?" Shen Yu whispered.
"Ah Yu used the wrong name," Shang JunLin corrected him with a calm face.
Under the cover of their wide sleeves, the hands of the two men with their sped fingers weren''t visible. Then Shang JunLin moved his arm, and the womening towards them saw their interlocked fingers.
The two youngdies looked at each other and read the embarrassment in each other''s eyes. The first thing they''d noticed about these two young masters was their good looks and extraordinary bearing. They wanted to see if they had a chance, but they had no idea these two would turn out to be a pair.
The olderdy felt embarrassed but forced herself to speak. "Sorry for interrupting you."
"We''re sorry to disturb the two young masters. I wish you both happiness," the other woman said hastily
"It''s fine," Shen Yu said with a smile. "I hope the two of you find sweethearts soon."
After making such a big mistake, how could they stay? Thedies left in a hurry.
Shen Yu burst outughing and copsed against Shang JunLin. "They beat such a hasty retreat. How did Ah Line up with that technique?"
Shang JunLin wasn''t pleased. "Does Ah Yu mean to say you wanted to talk to them?"
"Ah Lin, don''t nder me. The only reason that happened is because Ah Lin attracts so much attention." Shen Yu could hardly restrain hisughter. In the end he heaped the me on Shang JunLin.
"Ah Yu should reflect on yourself before you speak. Am I the one who attracts attention or is it Ah Yu who attracts too many birds and butterflies?"
They happened to be standing before a stall that sold masks. Shen Yu pulled Shang JunLin forward, chose a wolf mask and a fox mask, and put the wolf mask on Shang JunLin''s face.
"This way people can''t see you."
Shen Yu put on the other fox mask.
The masks only covered the upper half of their faces. Below the mask, Shang JunLin''s sharp jawline was still visible.
It didn''t seem to help too much.
Shen Yu lifted his eyebrows and stared at the man whose face was half-covered. The ck mask gave Shang JunLin a strange air of mystery. His deep eyes were concealed behind the mask, dangerous and fascinating.
Shang JunLin was also looking at Shen Yu. He''d always been aware that Shen Yu was extremely beautifulhe possessed the kind of beauty that blurred the boundary between genders, but it had none of the softness of women. His beauty was extravagant and aggressive. If he wanted to, he could make others fall with just a nce.
At that moment, the young man was wearing a fox mask that covered the upper half of his face. The mask was white with a pattern outlined in red. The mask couldn''t hide his charm. In fact, it added a hint of seduction.
Shang JunLin suddenly regretted taking Shen Yu outside. They''d already met two women in the street. How many others were secretly spying?
Shen Yu''s curiosity wasn''t affected by this little episode. Buying the masks seemed to turn on a switch. Shen Yu dragged Shang JunLin through a sweep of all the stalls.
Foodstuffs, toys, useful things. Soon, Shen Yu harvested a pile of loot.
Passing by a stall selling sugar people, Shen Yu stopped in his tracks. "Does Ah Lin want to eat a sugar man?"
Before Shang JunLin could answer, Shen Yu walked up to the little stall.
"What would the young master like? Something that flies in the sky, runs on the ground, swims in the water? I can sculpt whatever the young master desires."
Shen Yu stood in front of the stall and looked at the selections for a while without speaking.
"If you''d like, I can sculpt one of yourself and this young gentleman." The sugar vendor''s eyes were sharp. He saw at a nce that these two masked young masters didn''t have a superficial rtionship.
When he heard this, Shen Yu perked up. "Ah Lin,e here. This old gentleman said he could sculpt us."
Shang JunLin had no choice but toe over.
Shen Yu pointed to Shang JunLin, then pointed at himself and said to the sugar people vendor, "Can you make two little people based on us? And then make a wolf and a fox?"
"Of course I can. Please wait a moment, young gentlemen."
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin stood by and watched the vendor make the candy figures. It was magical to see the sugar people take shape in the vendor''s hands little by little.
"The two gentlemen waited patiently. Here are your sugar people."
There were four sugar figurines in total. Shen Yu reached out to get his own figure, but Shang JunLin snatched it first.
Shang JunLin took all of the sugar people from the vendor and gave the figurine of himself and the wolf to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu didn''t understand. "Why did Ah Lin give his figurine to me?"
"Ah Yu doesn''t like it?" Shang JunLin obediently tried to take it away.
Shen Yu hurriedly took it back. "I like it, I like it. There are four sugar people. Ah Lin can''t have them all."
Shen Yu didn''t care which ones he ate. They were all made of sugar and tasted delicious.
"This is my first time eating sugar people." Shen Yu held the little man and wolf figures of Shang JunLin. He bit off half of the wolf''s head with a crunch.
"Oh, it''s really good. Ah Lin, you should eat some too." Seeing that Shang JunLin was staring at the sugar figure without speaking, Shen Yu encouraged him.
Shang JunLin slowly ate the little figure of Shen Yu.
Shen Yu was dissatisfied. "I saved Ah Lin''s figure forst. Why did Ah Lin eat me first?"
"This one is cuter."
"Is it? Foxes and wolves are cute too. Speaking of which, the candy vendor is good at his craft."
The little sculpted people and animals were lifelike and vivid.
Shang JunLin didn''t care about this much. "If Ah Yu likes it, you can invite the vendor home."
Invite him home? Didn''t that mean taking him back to the pce?
Shen Yu was startled by Shang JunLin''s suggestion. "Ah Lin shouldn''t indulge me like this. You''ll spoil me."
"Your heart is like a clear mirror. How can I spoil you?" Shang JunLin pinched Shen Yu''s cheek with his free hand.
When the young man was eating the candy, his cheeks puffed out, which made them easy to pinch.
"Ah Lin, you''re really" Shen Yu escaped his annoying hand. Under his breath he said, "I can''t guarantee that myself."
The two continued to stroll along. After the earlier misunderstanding with the two women, Shang JunLin kept his arm around Shen Yu''s waist. Their pose was so intimate that no one else rushed up to chat with them.
There was still some time before the fireworks would be set off. Shen Yu and Shang JunLin walked here and there like ordinary people and enjoyed a rare bit of leisure.
When the crowd suddenly began to surge, Shen Yu was caught off guard and almost knocked over. Shang JunLin felt unhappy and firmly protected him in his arms.
"What''s going on?" Shen Yu was leaning against the man''s chest, and Shang JunLin could feel the vibrations of his voice.
"The time is almost here. They''re all looking for a good ce to watch the fireworks." Shang JunLin said steadily.
"Do we also have to go find a good ce?"
"No, I asked someone to take care of it. We can go there directly."
The press of the crowd lightened a little, and Shen Yu withdrew from Shang JunLin''s embrace. The two slowly made their way through the streets.
"Beauty, are you going to see the fireworks too? Why don''t youe with me? I guarantee you can see the most gorgeous fireworks without having to squeeze in with all these rowdy people."
A slightly frivolous voice spoke from behind them. Shen Yu looked back and saw a young man in fancy clothes standing not far away. He was looking at Shen Yu with a drooling expression.
"Beauty, don''t worry. I''m not a bad person. If you''re worried, the man next to you can apany you too."
Shen Yu couldn''t believe it. He looked at Shang JunLin in disbelief. Was this man serious?
This guy was trying to snatch someone from His Majesty himself???
TL Notes:
beat a hasty retreat beat a retreat in the face of difficulties; Aware of the overwhelming odds against him, he retired from the scene; retreat before the impossible; shrink back from difficulties
attracts too many birds and butterflies attract the attention of the elegant young idlers; flirt with men
sugar people A traditional Chinese form of folk art using hot, liquid sugar to create three-dimensional figures. These fragile, plump figures have a distinct brownish-yellow color, usually with yellow or green pigment added. Popr figures include animals such as dragons, roosters, and pigs. They''re mainly purchased for ornamental purposes due to hygiene concerns (Wikipedia)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
old gentleman lozhng sir (respectful form of address for an old man)
young gentlemen lng jn a gentleman; a wife''s way of addressing her husband / my husband and master (archaic) / yboy of rich family / pimp
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Chapter 30
Chapter 30
When Shang JunLin heard what the man said, his face sank. But when Shen Yu turned to look at him, he''d already returned to his expressionless appearance.
Still, Shen Yu could feel Shang JunLin''s displeasure.
The more he didn''t show it, the more it revealed the depth of his anger.
At first Shen Yu felt offended, but when he heard the next thing the man said, he just thought it was funny. Imagine, there was someone who lusted for beauty so much he was rushing to his own death.
It was rare for His Majesty to get so angry.
Shen Yu drew closer to Shang JunLin, poked his arm, and asked in a low voice, "Ah Lin, how does it feel to be robbed in the street for the first time?"
"Ah Yu doesn''t seem to be angry at all?" Shang JunLin also lowered his voice.
"Of course I''m angry, but I know Ah Lin will get justice for me. Also, I don''t think it''s worth getting upset over the words of a clown. Is Your Majesty unhappy?"
Clearly, Shang JunLin was displeased, but not for the reason Shen Yu thought. He was angry because Shen Yu was coveted by someone else. How dare that person have thoughts about his noble monarch!
The man across from them obviously had no idea whom he''d provoked. When he saw the two whispering together, he thought they were tempted by his proposal and he redoubled his efforts.
"You see, there are too many people here. Even if you hurry, you might not find a good ce to see the show, and when the timees, all these people might jostle you. If youe with me, you''ll avoid these annoyances. I promise my ce isn''t crowded. Not only that, it has the best view."
A servant spoke up. "As our young master says, you should appreciate the honor of this invitation. You''re lucky our young master condescended to invite you."
Shen Yu was growing curious about the identity of this young man in fancy clothes. There were a lot of powerful figures in the imperial capital. Someone with no influence at all couldn''t have said such a thing.
"Does Ah Lin know who that person is?"
"I don''t."
Shen Yu didn''t recognize him either. In his previous life, he dealt with many dignitaries for the King of Yue, but he never met such a person. Maybe it was just his family that was powerful, and the young man himself didn''t have any achievements.
"We don''t even know you. Shouldn''t you introduce yourself before inviting us somewhere?"
"That''s an oversight on my part. Go on, tell them who I am."
"Our young master is Qian MingFu, the di son of the Qian family. In the future, our young master''s di sister will enter the pce and be the empress." The young servant''s face was proud.
What a coincidence. The Qian family was the family of the King of Li''s princess consort. They were also the family of the young woman he was fighting so hard to send into Shang JunLin''s harem.
"Ah Lin, what do you think is going on with the Qian family? Why are the young master and this youngdy so eager?"
"The Qian family has quite an appetite," Shang JunLin interrupted. "What does Ah Yu say, yes or no?"
Shen Yu knew of the Qian family. When the previous emperor was in power, they were just a minor family in the capital. Later, a daughter of the Qian family married the King of Li as his official wife. The King of Li backed the right side when Shang JunLin ascended the throne. The Qian family''s boat lifted with the tide, and with the help of the King of Li, they grew more and more powerful over time.
"I think Ah Lin would say that the unworthy should give way to the virtuous," Shen Yu said.
Thanks to the King of Li''s maniption, many younger members of the Qian family had be officials. If they had actual ability, that was fine, but if they only knew how to enrich themselves, it would be better to vacate their positions as quickly as possible.
Qian MingFu thought the two men were astonished by his background. His beauty-addled brain had finally woken up a little, but he wasn''t willing to give up yet.
With a single nce he''d fallen in love with the young man in the fox mask when he saw him across the crowd. He could only see half of Shen Yu''s face, the part that was visible below the mask, but that delicate jaw and the thin waist under his robes enticed his heart and soul.
He''d seen a lot of beauties and knew at a nce that this young man was a rare and unique specimen, far more delicious than anyone else he''d tasted.
When he considered that the young man mighte from an impressive background, Qian MingFu knew he couldn''t be too aggressive. He just had to do some coaxing with some nice-sounding words at first. Then, when they got to his ce, he could do whatever he wanted.
He was experienced at this kind of thing and knew how to sweet talk his targets.
Shen Yu pretended to be persuaded. "Why don''t we go and have a look?"
Shang JunLin didn''t know what Shen Yu wanted to do, but he was certain he could protect Shen Yu, so he didn''t object.
Seeing the two were persuaded, Qian MingFu looked happy. He quickly ordered his boy to lead the way.
The ce Qian MingFu mentioned was the upper floor of a restaurant, partially open to the night air. Shen Yu stood on the upper level and looked out at the sky. He sighed. "This really is a good ce."
The view was wide open and unobstructed. When the fireworks began, they could enjoy the view to the fullest with no one else around them. But that also meant that if someone tried to do something here, it wouldn''t be easy to call for help.
The restaurant waitstaff sent up good wine and food. After confirming the guests had no other needs, they withdrew.
"How does the ce chosen by Ah Linpare to this?" If it weren''t for that annoying person, Shen Yu thought this would be a good ce to watch the fireworks.
"If Ah Yu likes it, we can watch from here."
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin huddled together as they talked,pletely ignoring Qian MingFu. Qian MingFu waited with growing impatience. He hadn''t invited this pair here to watch them enjoy themselves together.
He poured two sses of wine and walked over to them. "Our meeting was fated. Let me toast you."
Shen Yu didn''t ept the wine.
Shang JunLin took a ss, but he didn''t sip from it. He put it directly on the table.
Qian MingFu''s face grew distorted. "Gentlemen, what do you mean by this?"
He wanted to use soft methods, but now it seemed that was impossible.
Shen Yu didn''t appear to notice Qian MingFu''s ill temper. "I don''t mean anything. I''m not in good health and can''t drink."
"What about him?"
"Him? He probably just doesn''t want to drink it. After all, who knows if there''s something in the wine that shouldn''t be there," Shen Yu said lightly.
"Are you saying I drugged the wine?" Qian MingFu''s face took on a sinister smile. "I wanted to do this the easy way, but you obviously don''t know how to behave. Don''t me this young master for what happens next.
"Men, take them down!"
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin remained peacefully in their seats. They waited a while, and none of the men Qian MingFu shouted for appeared.
Shen Yu rested his cheek in his hand and smiled. "Oh no, Young Master Qian, do you think you should shout a little louder? Maybe they didn''t hear you."
When Qian MingFu saw the calm appearance of the two men, he felt flustered. "What are you trying to do? Do you even know who I am?"
"Isn''t that the question we should be asking you? Qian MingFu, you seem to have a lot of experience at this. How many other men and women have you tricked?"
"Do you know my uncle is the King of Li? Aren''t you worried the King of Li wille after you?"
"The King of Li? The King of Li can''t even protect himself. Instead of saying we should be worried, why don''t you worry about yourself?"
Shen Yu stood up and came out from behind the table. With every step he took, Qian MingFu took a step back.
In order to facilitate his "act", Qian MingFu sent everyone else away. He intended to use wine to drug the two men. He didn''t think they''d avoid his trap entirely.
Maybe they were nning this from the start!
When this thought crossed his mind, Qian MingFu was filled with anger.
The candlelight shone down from overhead, illuminating half of Shen Yu''s face. Qian MingFu looked at the face half-covered by the mask and his courage grew, inmed by resentment. He reached out to snatch the mask from Shen Yu''s face.
He wanted to see who this person really was!
He was too furious to let this go!
Before he could touch Shen Yu, a chopstick shed through the air
"Ah!"
Qian MingFu clutched his pierced hand and fell to the side.
Shang JunLin walked over and gazed down at him with an icy expression. "Who said you could touch him?"
Qian MingFu gasped in pain. "How dare you! I won''t let you walk away!"
"Is that so?" Shen Yu came forward and stepped on Qian MingFu''s wound with one foot. "Does that hurt?"
When Shen Yu spoke, the tail end of his words rose a little, as if he''d found something entertaining. He pressed down a little harder with his foot, and the chill in his eyes grew deeper and deeper.
Qian MingFu was in so much pain that he hunched over and couldn''t speak.
"You deserve this pain. Have you ever thought about the pain of the people you prey on? Their pain is a hundred, a thousand times greater than yours."
"Who''s bullying my son?" The door was violently pushed open. A middle-aged man in the blue robes of an official appeared at the door with a group of soldiers in uniform.
When the man saw the scene inside, he sucked in a breath. "How dare they be so bold! Capture these people at once! This official wants to know who dares to move against the Qian family!"
Before his soldiers could take a step, another team of well-trained men in ck surrounded them all.
Shang JunLin slowly, carefully adjusted Shen Yu''s loose mask, and then he turned back. "Minister Qian is such a powerful official."
As he spoke, he slowly removed the mask from his face.
"Your, Your Majesty?" Minister Qian''s legs weakened and he immediately knelt down. "This, this minister didn''t know, didn''t know it was Your Majesty. Your Majesty, please forgive me."
By the end of these words, his voice was shaking with a tremor that couldn''t be concealed.
When he heard what Minister Qian said, Qian MingFu''s eyes rolled up and he immediately fainted.
It was unclear if it was from the pain or from fear.
Minister Qian knelt on the ground and lowered himself even further. "This servant had no idea my son offended Your Majesty. This servant will strictly discipline my son. Begging Your Majesty to be lenient."
No matter how much Minister Qian dearly loved this son, he was full of bitterness. His son could have provoked anyone, but he had to provoke His Majesty himself! Was he worried that his family was too prosperous?
Even if Minister Qian could ignore the death of a son, he couldn''t ignore the death of the entire Qian family. He only prayed that Qian MingFu didn''t have time to cause a huge disaster.
Gritting his teeth, he continued, "Your Majesty can do whatever you want with my son. I just ask Your Majesty not to involve innocent people"
"Minister Qian''s words are interesting. What do you mean by His Majesty not involving the innocent? Should he turn a blind eye to your behavior of oppressing others?" Shen Yu smiled sarcastically. If he and His Majesty hadn''t appeared here today, wouldn''t someone else have been targeted instead? Did they deserve to be ruined by this scumbag?
"This servant"
"Minister Qian needn''t say any more. His Majesty has a clear distinction between public and private. As for your son and the Qian family, we''ll certainly discover who is innocent and who is not."
Minister Qian fell to the ground, paralyzed. The King of Li was too distracted with his own affairs to do anything for him. Really, no one would be able to save them.
"It''s time," Shang JunLin said in a calm voice.
Shen Yu was startled. "What?"
"Come with this emperor." Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s hand and walked out to a ce with a wide view.
Almost the moment they reached it, there was a "boom", and a loud explosion rang out.
A sequence of huge fireworks bloomed in the ck sky, turning the night as bright as day. All kinds of multi-colored light streamed down like a fairnd.
The noisy voices faded away, leaving only the enormous flowers in the dark, hanging between heaven and earth.
"Ah Yu, Happy New Year."
Amid the roar of the explosions, Shang JunLin''s slightly maic voice was clear. Shen Yu squinted his eyes. "Ah Lin, Happy New Year."
At that moment they weren''t emperor and noble monarch, but only themselves.
TL Notes:
Corrected this chapter to make clear that the woman of the Qian family married the King of Li as his official consort/main wife
quite an appetite "big heart"
official wife official concubine, proper consort etc.
involve innocent people Trouble involves the innocent people; bring disaster to the innocent; involve the innocent in the trouble; shoot at a pigeon and kill a crow
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Qian MingFu
Minister Qian Alternatively: Lord Qian, His Excellency Qian, Mr. Qian
princess consort wng fi
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Chapter 31
Chapter 31
The fireworkssted less than an hour.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin ignored the trembling Minister Qian and enjoyed the event which only came once a year.
There were countless people downstairs, but upstairs was peaceful and quiet. Shen Yu and Shang JunLin asionally whispered a few words to each other. No one else dared to make a sound.
Minister Qian wanted to plead for his family, but as time stretched on, he was less and less eager to disturb the emperor and noble monarch as they enjoyed themselves. He hoped His Majesty would be in a good mood and take a lighter view of Qian MingFu''s behavior.
Qian MingFu woke up to a loud boom. At the moment, he didn''t dare to be arrogant. He huddled on the floor like a quail.
After the fireworks ended, the imperial guard arrived.
The Qian family members and their people were taken away. It was impossible to decide how to deal with them without investigating what they''d done over the years.
It was alreadyte, and Shen Yu wasn''t interested in shopping anymore. He returned to the pce with Shang JunLin.
After taking a hot bath, Shen Yu came out with damp hair.
Shang JunLin was reading a memorial. Shen Yu came over to him and said, "It''s sote. Is Your Majesty still busy with official business?"
After spending a lot of time with Shang JunLin, Shen Yu knew how diligent he was as emperor. Shang JunLin spent a lot of time dealing with official reports every day. Especially with all the recent events, he didn''t have much leisure time.
Shen Yu''s half-dried hair was still hazy with moisture. Shang JunLin frowned and put down the memorial. "Why didn''t you dry your hair?"
After speaking, he picked up the dry towel that was ready and began to wipe Shen Yu''s hair.
"The noble monarch should cherish your body."
Shen Yu squinted and sat in front of Shang JunLin, allowing the man to gently dry his hair.
His long, ck hair was smooth and slipped between Shang JunLin''s fingers with a silken feeling.
Just after his bath, the young man''s body had a slight fragrance. They were so close to each other that Shang JunLin could feel the warmth of Shen Yu''s body.
His fingertips rubbed Shen Yu''s scalp, creating a slight tingling sensation. Shen Yu moved his neck. He never knew that touching someone''s scalp could cause this kind of feeling. The tingling meandered down from his scalp to his heart.
Shen Yu was sitting in front of the man, almost embraced in his arms. Shang JunLin''s cold aura seemed to pounce at him with every movement until he waspletely surrounded.
"What is it?" Shang JunLin stopped moving his hands. "Does it hurt?"
Shen Yu suppressed the strange feeling inside him. "No, Your Majesty''s strength is just right."
Shang JunLin resumed. He''d wiped Shen Yu''s head a little hastily. He had so much hair that some of it was still wet, and Shang JunLin rubbed it a bit more.
Shen Yu stared at the candle in front of him. He felt restless and thought he should find something to talk about.
His eyes swept over the memorials that were open on the desk. He nced at the contents and asked, "Is that from Lin County?"
"Yes, this emperor took the gift from the noble monarch and gave it to some experts to study. Lin County has major floods every year and should be able to use it."
They discussed this topic for a while. Shang JunLin put away the towel and said, "It''s done."
Shen Yu touched his hair, which was no longer wet, and smiled. "Your Majesty is skilled at his work."
Shang JunLin: "The noble monarch is the only person in the world who dares to make this emperor dry your hair."
Shen Yu: "Who made Your Majesty my husband? If Your Majesty wants, I can wipe your hair too."
"Then the noble monarch can wipe this emperor''s hair next time. Don''t forget your words."
After the excitement of New Year''s Eve, the ministers received one piece of news after another about the Qian family.
Thanks to the King of Li''s backing, the Qian family had acted recklessly and made numerous enemies at court. Many families were secretly pleased to hear the Qian family provoked the wrong person.
There were fifteen days of rest after the New Year. During this time, everyone went to visit rtives and friends, and there was no need to attend morning court. If something urgent happened, His Majesty would summon the necessary people to the pce.
"Do you think His Majesty will severely punish the Qian family?"
"It''s not clear. After His Majesty sent the Qian family to prison, no one from the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review went to the pce. Maybe His Majesty just wants to beat up the Qian family a bit."
"I don''t think so. Do you remember what happened to the King of Li? He''s still confined at home. You can see how much that incident annoyed His Majesty. Maybe the Qian family is being investigated because of the King of Li."
The Qian father and son were suddenly taken away on New Year''s Eve with no warning, and His Majesty didn''t state a reason for it afterwards.
In fact, the ministers were familiar with this type of behavior from His Majesty. The previous two cases where full details were published weren''t the emperor''s usual style at all.
News of the Qian family soon reached the King of Li''s pce.
When the King of Li''s princess consort heard what happened to her family, she went crying to her husband. "Your Highness, don''t you know what kind of person this concubine''s father is? He absolutely would nevermit a major offense. And this concubine''s nephew has always been well-behaved and obedient. He''s filial to both of us, yet His Majesty sent him to prison without a single word?"
The King of Li had heard some rumors, but his information was too uncertain and no clear reason was given. Heforted his princess consort. "Don''t worry, beloved concubine. This king already sent someone to inquire."
The princess consort had deep feelings for her family, otherwise she wouldn''t have continued to help her family all this time. As for the King of Li, he loved the house and the crows, and he was fond of the Qian family.
"This concubine believes in Your Highness."
Although the King of Li was confined to his home, it wasn''t difficult to get information. He''d lived in the capital many years and had his own contacts, so he immediately sent some people to investigate.
Nothing the King of Li did was hidden from the man sitting on the throne.
Shang JunLin listened to the Hidden Dragon Guard''s report and gave a cold snort. "If he wants to look into it, let him look into it. This emperor would like to see how he intends to save the Qian family."
The matter of the Qian family, whetherrge or small, depended entirely on Shang JunLin''s attitude. If he didn''t want to investigate deeply, he could just let them go. If he wanted to look deeper, it wouldn''t be easy for them to escape.
At dinner, Shang JunLin told Shen Yu about it.
Shen Yu felt curious. "What does Your Majesty n to do with the Qian family?"
Shang JunLin didn''t answer directly. "When spring arrives, students wille to the capital to take the imperial examination. Officials who are changing posts will also return for their assignments."
Shen Yu understood. The emperor wasn''t going to let the matter go. In the early years of his reign, Shang JunLin fought on the border and didn''t take firm control of the imperial court. If he hadn''t done some bloodletting a few times to threaten the people with ulterior motives, it was impossible to say what the court would look like now.
Installing new people was the fastest way to make changes.
As it happened, the newer officials who passed the examination in recent years were already well-trained. As long as there was an open position for them in the capital, they could take office the moment they were transferred back.
Shen Yu sighed. "So the imperial examination is this year."
Da Huan had two systems for selecting officials. One was the imperial examination system, which most people used, and the other was a rmendation system for the convenience of the sons of nobility. Shen Yu, the only di son of the Zhenbei Marquis, should have been the marquis'' heir. In the future, he would inherit the title and could directly enter the imperial court as an official. Unfortunately, he happened to have a father who was biased against him.
"Would the noble monarch like to participate?" Shang JunLin suddenly asked.
"What?" Shen Yu was surprised. "Is Your Majesty asking if I want to join the students in the imperial examination?"
"If the noble monarch wants to, this emperor can arrange it," Shang JunLin said quietly.
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu propped his chin in one hand, and his voice was amused. "If I really manage to pass with a brilliant score, would I enter the imperial court as an official or continue to be Your Majesty''s noble monarch?"
"With the noble monarch''s ability, you could have been"
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu interrupted Shang JunLin. "It''s my good fortune to be with Your Majesty. I won''t regret any of the decisions I made. Your Majesty shouldn''t try to trick me into doing two jobs by myself. Da Huan is full of talents, and there''s no shortage of people like me."
Shen Yu genuinely thought his current situation was excellent. He was below one person and above ten thousand, and he didn''t face many constraints.
Shang JunLin saw Shen Yu wasn''t being entirely sincere and didn''t continue the topic.
After the meal, Meng Gonggong came to give a report.
"Your Majesty, His Highness the King of Li is requesting to see you."
"The King of Li? Didn''t His Majesty order him to remain home?" Shen Yu remembered that after thest incident, the King of Li was ordered to self-reflect behind closed doors.
"It must be about the Qian family," Shang JunLin exined. "He and his princess consort have a close rtionship. If she asks, he''lle to see this emperor one way or another."
Shen Yu shook his head. "The King of Li tried so hard to marry his niece to Your Majesty. I wouldn''t have thought he was such a romantic person."
"He and Princess Consort Li have known each other a long time. When the previous emperor was in power, they were always suppressed. It was only after this emperor ascended the throne that things became easier for them."
Shang JunLin turned to Meng Gonggong. "Bring him here."
Not long after, Meng Gonggong returned with the King of Li.
"This servant greets Your Majesty and the noble monarch."
Shen Yu looked at the man whose energy and spirit had decreased by half. The King of Li looked far older than thest time they met. His attitude towards Shen Yu was much more respectful as well.
"The King of Li is supposed to be at home reflecting on your actions. Why did youe to the pce asking to see this emperor?"
The King of Li didn''t talk in circles. He said bluntly, "Your Majesty, this servant came here to ask about the Qian family."
"Does the King of Li know what the Qian family did?" Shen Yu asked.
The King of Li bowed deeply. "This servant only asks Your Majesty to spare the Qian family for my sake. If Your Majesty is lenient, this servant will surrender all rights that belong to the King of Li''."
That took a lot of determination. Surrendering his rights meant the King of Li was willing to give up his royal identity. Shen Yu didn''t speak. It seemed that the King of Li really valued Princess Consort Li highly.
Shang JunLin tapped the table with his knuckles. He seemed to be considering something, and the look in his eyes was unreadable.
After a long time, Shang JunLin finally said, "This country hasws. This emperor can only say that if their crimes do not merit the death penalty, this emperor will give them a way to avoid death."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The King of Li bowed his head deeply.
After the New Year, Imperial Physician Gu came to check Shen Yu''s pulse.
Thanks to Imperial Physician Gu''s treatment regimen, the toxins in Shen Yu''s body had been cleansed. His physical condition was also much better than before.
"The noble monarch''s recovery is going well. We can change the prescription again."
Imperial Physician Gu wrote a new prescription based on Shen Yu''s current condition. Before leaving, he left a wooden box for Shen Yu. "This officialbined several medicines to prepare a new ointment. The noble monarch can try the effect."
The wooden box contained five medicine bottles made of white jade. Each bottle was about as long and wide as a finger.
Shen Yu picked up one of the bottles and opened it carefully. A faint fragrance escaped.
The bottle contained a transparent cream.
Shang JunLin came over. "What is the noble monarch looking at?"
Shen Yu handed him a medicine bottle. "This is the new ointment sent by Imperial Physician Gu. He said he added medicine to it and rmended I try it."
Shen Yu often received medicines for promoting blood cirction and removing blood stasis. The imperial hospital sent new ones to Mu Xi every few days. Usually they were handed to Mu Xi to manage. When Imperial Physician Gu sent something too, Shen Yu didn''t think about it much.
He removed the cap of the medicine bottle in Shang JunLin''s hand. "Your Majesty, smell it. This ointment smells very nice."
Shang JunLin looked at the transparent ointment in the medicine bottle and was silent.
If he wasn''t wrong, this cream was used to lubricate a man''s body during sex.
TL Notes:
I corrected the previous chapter to make clear that the woman of the Qian family married the King of Li as his official consort/main wife
Ministry of Justice Also known as the Board of Justice, one of the Six Ministries under the Department of State Affairs in imperial China (Wikipedia)
loved the house and the crows The love for the house extends even to the crows perching on its roof loving one thing on ount of another; He that loves the tree loves the branch; love for a person extends even to the crows on his roof
blood stasis A pseudo-scientific concept in traditional Chinese medicine described as a slowing or pooling of the blood due to a disruption of heart qi. Symptoms can include blue or dark red lips or tongue, heart palpitations or a speeding heart rate, or a stabbing pain or tightness in the chest (Wikipedia)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
nephew brother''s son
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Chapter 32
Chapter 32
"What''s the matter?" Sensing the difference in Shang JunLin''s mood, Shen Yu felt puzzled.
After a moment of silence, Shang JunLin asked, "Does the noble monarch know what this medicine is for?"
"Isn''t it for promoting blood cirction and removing blood stasis?" Shen Yu was even more bewildered. "It''s not only these. The imperial hospital sent a lot of simr medicines."
Shen Yu pointed to the small cab at the head of the bed. Shang JunLin usually didn''t look in that cab when he used medicine. He didn''t know what was stored there.
Shang JunLin took a deep breath. This really was a good medicine for promoting blood cirction and removing blood stasis, but it was used in a different ce. He put down the medicine bottle. "This emperor will have a look."
Shen Yu followed Shang JunLin to the bedside and watched as he opened the small woodenpartment. He took out a bunch of small bottles and jars.
There were long and slender bottles, small rounded bottles, and square angr bottles. Shang JunLin picked up several of the smaller ones at random and opened them one by one.
Only two of the ten small medicine bottles contained normal ointment. The rest were for lubrication.
"Have you ever used these medicines?"
Shen Yu thought about it a moment and shook his head. "I don''t remember ever using them."
He hadn''t experienced many injuries since entering the pce. A few rare times Shang JunLin had identally bruised him, but if Shang JunLin hadn''t insisted, Shen Yu wouldn''t have bothered to use medicine.
Shen Yu didn''t understand why Shang JunLin was reacting so abnormally. "Your Majesty, is there a problem with this medicine?"
"No problem, but it''s better if the noble monarch doesn''t use them." Shang JunLin pointed to the medicine bottles sent by Imperial Physician Gu. "Especially these."
"But Imperial Physician Gu said they''re good for my health." Shen Yu felt more and more curious. He was certain Imperial Physician Gu wouldn''t lie to him about something like that.
"Does the noble monarch believe this emperor or do you believe Imperial Physician Gu?" Shang JunLin frowned slightly. There was a trace of dissatisfaction in his voice.
"Of course I believe Your Majesty," Shen Yu said without hesitation.
Shang JunLin''s mood warmed. "Tell Mu Xi to store these medicines somewhere elseter."
Shen Yu drew closer to the man and poked him in the arm. "Your Majesty really won''t tell me what these medicines are for?"
Shang JunLin gave him a deep look. "Really so curious?"
Shen Yu nodded.
"It''s for men to use during lovemaking." Shang JunLin''s voice was calm, but the tips of his ear flushed slightly red.
Shen Yu paused. The medicine bottle in his hand suddenly felt like a hot potato. He could neither hold it nor put it down. When he thought of what he''d just said, he wanted to find something to hide under.
"Ah I really didn''t know. Imperial Physician Gu didn''t say anything when he gave it to me." Shen Yu hurriedly put the medicine bottle on the table. "I''ll tell Mu Xi to put them away."
Taken by surprise, Shen Yu couldn''t help but notice the scarlet at the tip of Shang JunLin''s ear and was distracted from his own embarrassment. How rare, His Majesty was actually flustered too.
The hand that had put down the medicine bottle changed direction and slowly reached up to Shang JunLin''s face. The young man''s slightly teasing voice said:
"Imperial Physician Gu specially prepared this medicine for me. Throwing it away seems like a waste of his good intentions. Doesn''t Your Majesty think so?"
Shen Yu leaned forward. The distance between him and Shang JunLin grew smaller and smaller. His breath mingled with the other man''s, and a hint of ambiguity suddenly appeared.
"The scent of this medicine is really good. Does Your Majesty like it too?"
Shang JunLin couldn''t help remembering the fragrance he''d just smelled. If that scent merged with Shen Yu''s
As Shen Yu approached, he stared at Shang JunLin''s ears. As expected, the man''s ears flushed even more red after a few words.
The color of Shang JunLin''s eyes grew darker and deeper. Finally, when Shen Yu was extremely close, he reached out and cupped Shen Yu''s chin, gently caressing his skin.
"The noble monarch seems quite interested in this medicine? If the noble monarch wants, why doesn''t this emperor try it with you tonight, hmm?"
The man''s breath was close, with a strong sense of aggression. That cold aura swept towards Shen Yu like a physical thing, firmly encircling him.
"No, no." Shen Yu backed down. "I was wrong."
Shang JunLin didn''t let go. "Oh? How was the noble monarch wrong?"
Shen Yu turned his head uneasily. A touch that was both hot and cold brushed his cheek, and his heart rate suddenly elerated.
"Your Majesty"
Shen Yu truly repented. If he''d known Shang JunLin would take his teasing so poorly, he wouldn''t have said that just to see Shang JunLin blush.
"This emperor thinks this ointment''s scent is a good match for the noble monarch. This emperor likes it very much."
The man''s low voice sounded close to his ear, and the hot breath exhaled on the side of his throat. Not just his ears, but Shen Yu''s entire face turned red.
Shang JunLin''s eyes darkened. The tip of his nose touched the warm skin of Shen Yu''s neck.
Shen Yu felt a jolt of stimtion. It was the first time he''d been touched like this, and it was like tiny sparks were ignited by the man''s actions. His will was on fire, and he couldn''t help wanting to pursue the temptation.
Like a moth to a me, even if he knew the fire would burn him to ash, he couldn''t help wanting to get closer.
Pleased by Shen Yu''s reaction, Shang JunLin stopped teasing the fragile skin of the young man''s neck. He gradually widened the distance between them.
"This emperor likes this ointment very much. The noble monarch should take good care of it. Maybe it wille in handy soon."
The skin on the side of Shen Yu''s neck felt hot. He couldn''t help reaching out to touch it.
"Your Majesty, Minister Fang requests an audience."
Meng Gonggong''s voice interrupted the unusual atmosphere lingering in the room. Shang JunLin approached Shen Yu again, touched his face, bent closer to his ear and whispered:
"Noble monarch, this emperor is looking forward to it."
After Shang JunLin spoke he pulled away. He looked at Shen Yu with a smile in his eyes for a moment, then left.
Not long after, Meng Gonggong came in and began to clean up the scattered bottles and jars on the table.
"Meng Gonggong, what are you doing?" When Shen Yu looked at the medicine bottles and thought of the scene just now, he wanted to close his eyes and pretend he couldn''t see anything.
"His Majesty instructed this ve to put these things away," Meng Gonggong exined with a smile.
Shen Yu slightly widened his eyes. Shang JunLin wasn''t serious just now, was he?
At the imperial hospital.
Imperial Physician Gu was sorting through medicinal ingredients when several pce servants suddenly came in with gifts. The first one was Meng Gonggong''s godson, Xiao Meng, who also served before the emperor. Although his status wasn''t as high as Meng Gonggong''s, it was much higher than the other pce staff.
Under the curious eyes of many other people in the imperial hospital, Xiao Meng Gonggong walked directly up to Imperial Physician Gu and smiled. "His Majesty said he likes the medicine prepared by Imperial Physician Gu very much. He ordered this ve to send you a reward."
Xiao Meng Gonggong waved his hand, and the pce servants behind him came forward with the reward.
In addition to the usual gifts, there were some rare medicinal herbs.
"His Majesty said that Imperial Physician Gu is a healer with a benevolent heart. These medicinal materials will go to the best use in Imperial Physician Gu''s hands," Xiao Meng Gonggong exined.
Amidst the envious eyes of the crowd, Imperial Physician Gu epted the reward. He didn''t care about the other gifts, but the rare medicinal nts genuinely impressed him.
After Xiao Meng Gonggong departed with the pce attendants, Imperial Physician Gu returned to his work room, and the others dispersed one by one.
"Imperial Physician Gu is really fortunate."
"Who said he''s not? Noble Monarch Shen is highly favored right now. As long as the noble monarch is around, Imperial Physician Gu''s life will get better and better."
"What about that person who always looks down on Imperial Physician Gu? He''s always incredibly arrogant. I haven''t seen him make trouble for Imperial Physician Gutely."
"He wouldn''t dare ah. He probably spends every day shivering, afraid Imperial Physician Gu will retaliate."
"I''ve always liked Imperial Physician Gu more than him. Imperial Physician Gu doesn''t put on airs. If you ask Imperial Physician Gu for advice when you''re confused about a medical issue, he''ll teach you patiently. But if you ask Imperial Physician Sun, he''s afraid of how much you''ll learn from him."
"I couldn''t agree more. Thest time I asked Imperial Physician Sun about something, not only was he rude, he actually advised me to do a bunch of incorrect things. In the end it was Imperial Physician Gu who answered my questions."
Imperial Physician Sun, who was standing around the corner, had an uglier and uglier expression on his face. Didn''t he just gain the favor of someone who relied on hooking men with his looks? Don''t think it''s that easy!
Before he was discovered, Imperial Physician Sun quickly left.
Imperial Physician Gu returned home with a pile of rewards. He picked out some things Gu Huai could use and gave them to him.
"Why was Gege suddenly rewarded?" Gu Huai asked in a casual tone as he toyed with an emerald.
His people had discovered that another group was checking into "Fei Meng" recently. They didn''t know exactly who those people were, their purpose, or why "Fei Meng" had attracted attention after so many years, but Gu Huai couldn''t tolerate the fact that someone wanted to involve Imperial Physician Gu in something like that!
"His Majesty liked the medicine I sent to the pce." Imperial Physician Gu sorted out the medicinal materials from the rest of the gifts. Some of the nts were still alive. He could attempt to grow them and see if they survived.
"Medicine? What kind of medicine?"
"It''s for the noble monarch. Children shouldn''t ask too much." Imperial Physician Gu felt helpless. He really couldn''t tell Gu Huai what the medicine was for.
"As for the rewards, I can probably guess what His Majesty is thinking. It''s like an alternate way of dering sovereignty."
Imperial Physician Gu was aware of His Majesty''s asional hostility towards him, but he didn''t think His Majesty would use such a method to tell him the noble monarch could only belong to His Majesty.
"Gege, what kind of person do you think His Majesty is?"
"He''s a good emperor and a good lover."
He was a good emperor for the country and a good lover to Noble Monarch Shen. In the past, Imperial Physician Gu never would have believed His Majesty had such a soft side.
Gu Huai lowered his eyes. ording to the information he''d collected, Shang JunLin was indeed a good emperor. Some people called him a tyrant, but they were deliberately distorting the facts to discredit him. Moreover, Shang JunLin had deep feelings for the army. He''d served among the soldiers for a long time in his early years. He absolutely wasn''t the kind of person who''d kill hundreds of thousands of soldiers because of his own selfish ambition.
He had to find a way to meet Shang JunLin.
Noble Monarch Shen might be the key.
Shen Yu didn''t know that someone wanted to use him to reach the emperor. As the sky grew darker, he got more and more restless.
It was because of what Shang JunLin said earlier. Shen Yu thought about it all day and still wasn''t sure whether Shang JunLin was serious.
Shang JunLin came in with a chill on his body. "The noble monarch is waiting for this emperor?"
Shen Yu put down his book and stood up. "Your Majesty."
After warming up a bit, Shang JunLin walked over to Shen Yu. "What is the noble monarch reading?"
"Your Majesty sent someone to bring me some books from outside the pce." Shen Yu was thinking of other things and hadn''t read it at all. "Why did Your Majesty ask Meng Gonggong to put away that ointment?"
"If the noble monarch hadn''t reminded this emperor, I would have forgotten. Why, does the noble monarch want to give it a try?" Shang JunLin made a gesture to call Meng Gonggong in.
"No." Shen Yu stopped him with a sincere look in his eyes. "That''s not it. Your Majesty, don''t misunderstand me."
"This emperor remembers how the noble monarch told the King of Yue that this emperor is more powerful than him in every way." Shang JunLin wrapped his arms around Shen Yu''s waist and pressed him close. "Why doesn''t the noble monarch try it for yourself?"
TL Notes:
godson adopted son (traditional adoption, i.e. without legal ramifications)
always incredibly arrogant from "his eyes were about to grow into the sky" looking down on people from a high position, etc.
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Imperial Physician Sun
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Chapter 33
Chapter 33
The body so close to his was hot and powerful. Even through severalyers of clothes he could feel its forceful strength.
This wasn''t the first time Shen Yu and Shang JunLin had such intimate contact, but it was never this torturous and difficult.
The man''s aggressive aura was extremely heavy, pressing against him vigorously. Shen Yu had no doubt this man might really devour him.
"How can Your Majestypare yourself to others? Few people in the world canpare with Your Majesty, let alone the mere King of Yue."
"Ha." Shang JunLin let out a stifledugh from his chest. "This emperor didn''t know I had so much weight in the noble monarch''s heart."
"Your Majesty is naturally the most important person in my heart," Shen Yu said.
"Did the noble monarch smear your lips with honey? Let this emperor have a taste. Why are your words so sweet?"
Shang JunLin started to lower his head, and Shen Yu hurriedly stretched out his hand to block him. "Your Majesty, how can you wrong me? It''s clear that my wordse from my heart."
Shang JunLin also didn''t force it. He retreated a little. "The noble monarch has learned so well. How many people have you practiced with?"
Shen Yu wasn''t willing to show weakness. "Then I should also ask Your Majesty how you knew what that ointment is for."
"The noble monarch is really" Shang JunLinughed in spite of himself. "Didn''t the aunts teach the noble monarch about this before you entered the pce?"
Knowing that Shang JunLin was going to marry the son of the Zhenbei Marquis, the aunts in the pce sent Shang JunLin a booklet on how men do such things. With it was some of the ointment made for the imperial family.
After Shen Yu entered the pce, the imperial hospital sent over additional bottles one after another. Whenever Imperial Physician Gu reported Shen Yu''s condition, he repeatedly told Shang JunLin not to be too fierce, because Shen Yu''s body wasn''t able to endure it for now.
When Shang JunLin ordered Shen Yu to enter the harem, he initially didn''t have any other thoughts. He was tired of the endless arguing of his ministers and randomly agreed. If it was anyone but Shen Yu who entered the pce, they would have ended up ced in a random hall to fend for themselves.
"The people sent by the Zhenbei Marquis talked too much nonsense. I couldn''t be bothered to listen, so I drove them out. The people from Your Majesty didn''t say much. They just served in silence." Shen Yu described the situation.
It really wasn''t his fault. At the time, he''d just been reborn. It took several days to digest the fact of his rebirth, not to mention he needed to ask a lot of questions to refresh his memory about what had happened by that point.
After all, a lot of things could happen in ten years. There was a huge information gap between Shen Yu of nearly thirty and Shen Yu of less than twenty.
Not only that, he had to deal with Shen QingRan and his mother.
All sorts of things piled up together, and Shen Yu simply ignored the less important ones.
In his previous life, Shen Yu''s health was much worse than it was now. He never had particrly close contact with the King of Yue. Because of his health, he wasn''t interested in that kind of thing at all, which led to his embarrassing mistake about the ointment.
Shang JunLin understood. "So, the noble monarch wasn''t intentionally trying to joke with this emperor?"
Shen Yu was truly wronged. He really hadn''t known. However, after he found out, he didn''t stopbecause he wanted to see His Majesty blush.
"How would I dare to make fun of Your Majesty." Shen Yu was dissatisfied.
Shang JunLin''s words were nomittal. "Even if others wouldn''t dare, this emperor thinks the noble monarch might."
Shen Yu inwardly admitted His Majesty wasn''t wrong. Even if he knew, he might not have been able to resist.
"Your Majesty, bad news. The King of Huaiyu tried to kill himself in prison." When Meng Gonggong got the news from the servant, he didn''t dare to dy. He pushed open the door and walked into the room with his head lowered.
He didn''t know what the two masters were doing, and he didn''t dare look up. He inwardlyined to himself: How could something happen to the King of Huaiyu at such a time?
Shang JunLin let go of Shen Yu. "What did you say?" His voice was stern.
"Just now, the prison sent a message saying the King of Huaiyu attempted suicide. This ve didn''t dare to dy."
Shen Yu asked the key point. "How is the King of Huaiyu?"
"He''s been saved for now," Meng Gonggong replied.
"Tell the imperial doctors to attend him. Send the messenger to this emperor and order people to investigate further. This emperor wants to know what happened!" Shang JunLin''s voice seemed to be frozen, as cold as crackling ice.
The Hidden Dragon Guard acted quickly, and the news wasn''t difficult to investigate. Before long, the Hidden Dragon Guard handed their report to Shang JunLin.
Shen Yu: "Your Majesty, how is the King of Huaiyu now?"
Shang JunLin: "He didn''t manage to injure a vital point. The people from the imperial hospital are seeing to him. This emperor needs to go there also."
Shen Yu: "Can I go with you?"
Whenever Shen Yu encountered something that happened in this life that didn''t happen in his previous life, he felt concerned.
In the dark prison.
The King of Huaiyu had a special identity. He wasn''t detained in the Ministry of Justice''s prison, but held in a cell in the dark prison.
When Shen Yu walked inside the prison for the second time, he noticed it was much more heavily guarded thanst time. After the attempted jail break, Shang JunLin must have increased the prison''s defenses.
As they walked, there was near silence all around. There weren''t many people detained here. Each prisoner was held in a separate ce, far apart from each other. Under the guidance of the jailer, the two walked for nearly a quarter of an hour before they arrived at the King of Huaiyu''s cell.
The imperial doctors were already at work. Shen Yu nced at them and saw that Imperial Physician Gu wasn''t present.
Suddenly Shen Yu frowned. He felt a subtle sensation, as if someone was looking at him with disgust.
Shen Yu looked at the people one by one. His eyes lingered on one of them for a few seconds. Interesting. A person he''d never seen before was so hostile to him. Why?
Imperial Physician Sun had deliberately elbowed Imperial Physician Gu out of the way in order toe here. He thought that if he was able to cure the King of Huaiyu, Imperial Physician Gu wouldn''t remain the only physician taking care of the noble monarch.
The King of Huaiyu slowly returned to consciousness. When he woke up, he saw a circle of people standing around him and his imperial nephew not far away. He immediately realized his suicide attempt had failed.
"How is the King of Huaiyu?" Shang JunLin asked coldly.
"Your Majesty, the King of Huaiyu is no longer in serious jeopardy," said an older doctor. "Fortunately, the King of Huaiyu is physically weak. If he was stronger, this servant wouldn''t have been able to save him."
Shen Yu couldn''t resist looking at this doctor for a while. Did he say that intentionally? It looked like the King of Huaiyu was going to faint again because of those words.
"You may go. This emperor will have a word with the King of Huaiyu."
"At once."
The imperial doctors and the jailer withdrew one after the other. In the blink of an eye, there were only three people left in the cell.
The King of Huaiyu propped himself up against the wall, looking extremely wretched. "Your Majesty really dotes on this child of the Zhenbei Marquis'' family. You even brought him with you at a time like this."
Shen Yu''s face took on an incredibly spoiled and arrogant look. "His Majesty loves me. Of course he doesn''t like to part from me. Anyway, what if someone bullies me when His Majesty isn''t there to see it?"
The King of Huaiyu was stunned for a moment, and then he suddenly smiled. "Noble Monarch Shen is absolutely right. If you love someone, you should guard them like a pearl. Otherwise, if you look away for a single moment, they might disappear."
After he spoke, the King of Huaiyu covered his chest and began to cough.
A long time passed before the coughing gradually eased.
"Are you all right?" Shen Yu frowned. He knew how painful it was to cough like that. When his condition was at its most serious, that kind of cough could leave him half-dead.
"I''m fine, I''m fine." The King of Huaiyu waved his hand. "I''ve been used to it for a long time. With this sick body, I can''t die even when I want to. If you have anything to ask, just say it."
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin looked at each other, confused. Why had the man''s attitude suddenly changed?
After a moment of thought, the King of Huaiyu added, "Have your noble monarch ask me. I won''t answer anyone else."
Shen Yu felt even more confused. He knew without a doubt that he had no intersection with the King of Huaiyu in either of his lives. Why would the King of Huaiyu treat him differently?
"Why should I be the one to question you? Isn''t it the same if His Majesty asks Your Highness?" Shen Yu asked directly.
He nced at Shang JunLin and didn''t see any unhappiness on the man''s face.
Feeling Shen Yu''s eyes, Shang JunLin said, "The noble monarch will ask."
All right, fine.
"I want to know why the King of Huaiyu sent the previous emperor''s concubines to His Majesty, and whether someone pushed Your Highness to do this."
"Why? Of course, I did it so I can tell thete emperor that his own son slept with all the women he left behind! Hahaha! I can imagine his face when I bring him the news!"
"Only because of that?" Shen Yu had thought of all sorts of reasons but never thought it would be so simple.
"He made me lose the one I love. I want him to learn the taste of having his lovers carry on with someone else behind his back." The King of Huaiyuughed a bit more. He looked at Shang JunLin with madness in his face. "He should thank you. You''re the only one he never believed was his own son. If you hadn''t killed those bastards, the empire of Da Huan would no longer be ruled by the surname Shang''!"
! ! !
Shen Yu never thought a simple question would lead to such a secret. He couldn''t help looking at Shang JunLin.
The man''s face was unmoved. He didn''t seem to be surprised by the King of Huaiyu''s words. Shen Yu frowned slightly. Did Shang JunLin already know about this?
He leaned over and hooked Shang JunLin''s sleeve. "What about my second question?"
The King of Huaiyu: "I don''t know. I did everything just to get back at the previous emperor. But let me give you a piece of advice. Noble Monarch Shen, don''t take men of the imperial family too seriously. All of them are rotten."
Shen Yu: "Does that include Your Highness?"
The King of Huaiyu froze for a moment. "Yes. If it wasn''t for me, that person would still be alive and well. Child of the Zhenbei Marquis, don''t ever give that man your heart."
"But His Majesty is His Majesty, and you are you. His Majesty won''t be like that," Shen Yu refuted with a serious face.
Shang JunLin''s expression changed slightly. He took Shen Yu''s hand and held it firmly in his own.
Shen Yu scratched the palm of the man''s hand. The cold aura which had frozen around Shang JunLin thawed in an instant. He turned to Shen Yu. "Everyone must pay the price for their own decisions. The King of Huaiyu acted in his own best interest."
After the two returned to Yuzhang Pce, it was alreadyte at night. Shen Yu was usually in bed by this point. When he stepped into the bedchamber, he felt a wave of sleepiness wash over him.
The moment he touched the bed, he wanted to crawl into it. But he encountered a wall of muscle halfway.
"Hmm?" Shen Yu grabbed the man''s shoulder. His eyes were half-closed, and he asked vaguely, "Your Majesty?"
"The noble monarch hasn''t washed yet."
"I guess so." Shen Yu''s thoughts were confused. "The dark prison is a dirty ce. I should bathe, but I''m so sleepy I don''t want to move. Your Majesty"
Thest two words drawled a bit.
A warm breath exhaled against his neck. Shang JunLin''s cold eyes darkened. He held the man in his arms and coaxed him gently. "This emperor will take you to wash."
TL Notes:
If you hadn''t killed those bastards (Some of the lovely readers came up with a much better theory than I did, so nevermind)
acted in his own best interest conduct oneself well; go ahead; try to do your best / to do one''s best / to shape up / to behave / to fend for oneself / you''re on your own
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
aunts mon name for mother; granny, a general term for older women, wet nurse; (dialect) elderlydy; Catholic nun
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Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Shen Yu thought about it. The cell in the dark prison wasn''t especially clean. If he didn''t take a bath before bed, he definitely wouldn''t sleep well.
"I need to change my clothes too," Shen Yumented.
"After washing, this emperor will change the noble monarch into clean clothes."
After speaking to Shen Yu, Shang JunLin turned and said, "Mu Xi, get a set of clean,fortable clothes and a heavier cloak."
"Yes."
Meng Gonggong received the order in advance and had already gone to prepare the bathing ce. He returned by the time Shang JunLin finished dressing Shen Yu.
"Your Majesty, it''s ready."
Shang JunLin picked up Shen Yu, who was half asleep. "Is the floor heating ready also? The noble monarch can''t stand the cold. Is the temperature in the room warm?"
"Don''t worry, Your Majesty. I promise not to expose the noble monarch to the slightest chill."
"Your Majesty, aren''t I going to bathe here?" Shen Yu heard Shang JunLin''s orders. It didn''t sound like he nned to stay in the bedroom.
"This emperor will take the noble monarch to another ce. I''ll carry you there. If you''re sleepy, you can take a nap," Shang JunLin said in a low, soothing voice.
There was a special bath in the imperial pce, not far from Yuzhang Pce, where hot water was prepared in advance. The steps were made of white jade, and the air was dense with humid, sumptuous heat.
Shen Yu was carried in the man''s arms, and only a portion of his mind was attentive to what was happening around him.
"Your Majesty, where are we?" Shen Yu asked in a quiet voice, looking at thepletely unfamiliar scenery.
Shang JunLin was extremely patient tonight and answered every question. "It''s a ce to bathe."
"Your Majesty misled me. This isn''t where I normally bathe at all," Shen Yuined.
Shang JunLin gathered the person in his arms to avoid letting him be affected by the freezing wind. "This emperor didn''t mislead you. The dark prison is gloomy and cold. This emperor took you to a ce where you can soak in more hot water."
Shen Yu was suspicious. "Really?"
"Why are you so wary? Please exin, noble monarch, why would this emperor lie to you?" Shang JunLin lifted his eyebrows.
At the moment, Shen Yu was dazed and particrly easy to tease.
Shen Yu thought about it with a hazy mind and didn''te up with an answer. "I don''t know."
"We''re almost there. Don''t fall asleep yet." At the moment, all the roiling negative emotions were far away from Shang JunLin. In his eyes and heart, all that remained was the man he was holding in his arms.
The distance from the bedchamber to the bath wasn''t far. It took less than a quarter of an hour to walk.
Meng Gonggong went ahead of them and opened the door. Hot air spilled out from the opening.
"Your Majesty, do you want someone to stay here to serve you?"
"No need." Shang JunLin stepped through the door with Shen Yu in his arms, and the oing heat met his face.
The huge bath was entirely indoors. Knowing that Shang JunLin wanted to use it, Meng Gonggong ordered the pce servants to light the floor heating in advance. When Shang JunLin brought in Shen Yu, there wasn''t the slightest hint of cold in the room.
Suddenly brought to a warm ce, Shen Yu stretched out a hand from his tightly wrapped cloak. "Your Majesty, where are we? It''s so warm here."
"This is the bath. Noble monarch, have a look." Shang JunLin carried Shen Yu to a chair covered in rich fox fur.
After sitting there a while, Shen Yu felt hot and he slowly opened his eyes. The scene before him was hazy and white.
The only two people present were Shang JunLin and himself. There was a bath not far from them which upied arge area of the room. It was filled with hot water. Warm steam rose continuously from the pool.
Shen Yu thought the bath wasrge enough for him to swim back and forth.
Warm rooms can easily make people drowsy, but when Shen Yu saw such an obviouslyfortable bath, he was keenly interested in it. He tried to wake up a little and sat up straight.
Looking around, he saw that the hall was truly empty. It wasn''t an illusion caused by the pce servants'' well-trained unobtrusiveness. There really wasn''t anyone else here to serve them.
Not even Meng Gonggong and Mu Xi.
Shen Yu tugged Shang JunLin''s hanging sleeve. When the man looked at him, puzzled, Shen Yu asked, "Your Majesty, is it just the two of us here?"
Shang JunLin narrowed his eyes. "Who else does the noble monarch want to invite?"
Shen Yu didn''t sense any danger. "What about the pce attendants? There''s no one to serve us?"
"We don''t need them," Shang JunLin answered lightly.
"Oh." Shen Yu withdrew his hand and slowly untied his cloak.
Shang JunLin bent down and took Shen Yu''s hand.
Shen Yu looked at him in confusion. "Your Majesty?"
"This emperor will do it." Ignoring Shen Yu''s surprise, Shang JunLin crouched down, pushed Shen Yu''s hand aside, and skillfully began to untie Shen Yu''s cloak.
He put the cloak on and took it off personally.
Shen Yu looked down at Shang JunLin''s hands with their clearly-defined knuckles and couldn''t help but wonder if he was actually dreaming?
How else could he exin why an emperor didn''t want to be served by pce servants, and even personally attended him?
When Shang JunLin was young, he didn''t receive the proper treatment a prince should have. Later, he lived in the army for a long time. He could do all the things ordinary people could do, but he could also do what ordinary people couldn''t.
The temperature near the bath was high. After the cloak was removed, Shen Yu felt much more rxed.
Because Shang JunLin was half-crouched, Shen Yu was looking down at him from an angle. He could see the man''s long eyshes, the straight bridge of his nose, and the shape of his beautiful thin lips.
It was said that people with thin lips fell easily in and out of love. Was Shang JunLin the same?
The eyshes flickered slightly, and Shen Yu couldn''t resist touching them.
As soon as his fingertips touched them, the man looked up.
Shang JunLin''s eyes were quite dark, and Shen Yu had always thought they were pure ck. Caught off guard, he suddenly saw a faint hint of purple in the ckness.
The purple was deep and mysterious, like an abyss that tempted people to fall into it. Shen Yu stared nkly as if he''d been pulled into that mysterious ce.
"Your Majesty"
"What is the noble monarch doing?"
Shen Yu suddenly withdrew his thoughts. He looked at Shang JunLin''s eyes. There was no purple color anymore. He was probably so sleepy that he was bewitched.
Shen Yu, who''d returned to his senses, sobered up. "Your Majesty has beautiful eyes," he replied with a smile.
"The noble monarch is also very beautiful." Shang JunLin''s tone was calm, as if he was just stating a fact.
Seeing another item of his clothes go missing, Shen Yu could no longer sit still. "Your Majesty, I''ll do it myself."
"Doesn''t the noble monarch think it''s a littlete for that?" Shang JunLin asked deliberately, looking at his masterpiece.
The cloak and outer robe were removed, leaving the thin middle robe, but the sash was already half loosened.
Shen Yu looked at his half-dressed self and fell silent.
Shang JunLin insisted, and Shen Yu let him continue. He was extremely drowsy and didn''t want to move. He was happy to be waited on.
Shang JunLin was the emperor, the one above all others. If he was willing, Shen Yu didn''t care.
Until there was only thestyer left and Shen Yu stopped Shang JunLin''s hand.
"Your Majesty, that''s enough."
Shang JunLin no longer insisted.
He stood, bent over to pick up Shen Yu, and put him in the bath. "Don''t fall asleep," he admonished.
Now that he was soaking in hot water, Shen Yu felt much more refreshed. He nodded. "Don''t worry, Your Majesty, I won''t let myself drown.
"Does Your Majesty want to join me?" Shen Yu was immersed from his shoulders down. Only his head was exposed above the water, and his gaze drifted around.
His Majesty proved with his actions that he wanted to bathe together.
Shang JunLin cleaned himself much faster than Shen Yu did. Shen Yu hadn''t been soaking very long when he felt water sshing around him.
Turning his head, he saw that Shang JunLin had swum over to him.
Unlike his usual appearance, dressed in imperial robes representing power and majesty, Shang JunLin''s aura was much softer now, and the long hair that was usually tied up was loose and cascaded down. It suddenly made Shen Yu realize that, apart from his identity as emperor, Shang JunLin wasn''t actually that old.
Shang JunLin noticed Shen Yu looking at him. "Why are you staring at this emperor?"
Shen Yu: "Your Majesty''s wounds"
From his shoulders and neck down, Shang JunLin''s body was crisscrossed with scars. It was clear that some had existed a very long time.
Shang JunLin didn''t care much about his scars. "Most are from the battlefield."
"Why are there so many?" And some were obviously worse because they hadn''t been treated until a long time after the injury.
"When this emperor was younger, I joined the army, but the situation wasplicated and I didn''t use my true identity. I received many injuries at the time. Later on, the situation improved." When talking about the most difficult period in his life, Shang JunLin''s tone remained calm.
Shen Yu gently stroked a scar on Shang JunLin''s shoulder, which almost stretched across half of the man''s chest. Even after many years, it was clearly a terrible wound. It wasn''t difficult to imagine what it looked like when it first happened.
"Did it hurt at the time, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu couldn''t help picturing a younger version of Shang JunLin, little more than a boy, wearing ill-fitting armor and fighting an enemy taller than himself.
After soaking in the hot water for a while, Shen Yu''s hand wasn''t as cold as it normally was. His hot fingers traced the scar, and Shang JunLin''s heart leaped.
A strange feeling spread from the point where they were touching. His heartbeat unconsciously elerated, and an unexined stirring rose from the depths of his heart.
Like a pair of warm hands reaching through time and space, healing the wounds in the heart of a young, lonely boy.
"Noble monarch." Shang JunLin grabbed Shen Yu''s wrist and pulled the man towards him with slight force. "This emperor stopped feeling it a long time ago."
When he first went to war, he received new wounds almost every day. As the injuries piled up, he eventually became numb to it. Later on, even if he was covered with wounds, he could take down the enemy''s leader.
Shen Yu leaned against Shang JunLin''s chest and listened to the man''s strong heartbeat. He couldn''t have said what he was feeling, but he couldn''t help wondering why hadn''t been reborn earlier. Even if it was only to reach out to a young man who''d suffered since childhood, that would be good.
"Your Majesty is obviously the proud son of heaven. You shouldn''t have to suffer like this."
"This emperor thinks it''s a good thing." Shang JunLin was d, because he now had someone he wanted to protect. If he wasn''t strong enough, how could he give this person an environment where he could live freely?
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin were stuck together until Shen Yu suddenly noticed the strange things happening below waist level and quietly moved away.
Before he could move too far, an arm wrapped around his waist and pulled him back.
Shang JunLin pressed against Shen Yu''s neck and chuckled. "Where''s the noble monarch trying to go?"
His hot breath swept across the sensitive skin of Shen Yu''s neck, and he trembled. "Your Majesty" You''re hurting me.
The man seemed unaware of Shen Yu''s embarrassment and continued to press against Shen Yu. "Noble monarch, stay with this emperor for a while."
Shen Yu''s toes curled up. He was tempted to ask Shang JunLin whether he would want to stay if he was the one being painfully rubbed. But he couldn''t bring himself to say anything because the image of a young version of a poor, pitiful Shang JunLin was still vivid in his mind.
"Your Majesty, can you loosen up a little?" When a burning sensation began, Shen Yu couldn''t convince himself to ignore it anymore. He couldn''t help but struggle.
After Shen Yu''s body shifted, Shang JunLin stifled a groan. "Don''t move," he said in a low voice. "If the noble monarch moves again, this emperor can''t guarantee what will happen next."
TL Notes:
tried to wake up a little tried to chase away some sleepy bugs from a folk belief that when you''re sleepy, sleep-inducing bugs are in your eyes (a mythological insect that makes people doze off)
fell easily in and out of love inconstant in love; fickle; ungrateful
You''re hurting me / the one being painfully rubbed The verb used in both ces is "" : (coll.) (of sth hard or rough) to press against some part of one''s body causing difort (like a small stone in one''s shoe) / to hurt / to chafe
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Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Note: The first half of this chapter contains noncon. The end is marked with three line dividers. I''ll put a brief summary in the TL Notes for people who decide to skip it.
"Your Majesty, I think it would be better if you let go of me," Shen Yu proposed seriously.
"But this emperor doesn''t want to let the noble monarch go. Be good and let this emperor hold you for a while."
Desire tinted the man''s voice with different colors, and Shen Yu''s ears were tingling.
The arm wrapped around his waist was firm and disciplined. Shen Yu remained motionless for a while. When he confirmed Shang JunLin really didn''t intend to do anything to him here, he felt relieved.
He didn''t dare to provoke Shang JunLin anymore. There were times men couldn''t stand to be teased. But after waiting a while, not only did the situation not subside, it got more and more serious. Shen Yu couldn''t remain where he was any longer.
The two were very close to each other, almost skin to skin, separated only by a thinyer of clothing. The thinyer was soaked in hot water and had almost no effect. The burning spread from outside to inside until Shen Yu felt so hot he was no longer sleepy at all.
If he was somehow still able to fall asleep at a time like this, it would really be too much. Shen Yu couldn''t ignore the situation no matter how sleepy he felt.
"Your Majesty, why don''t you let go of me." It would be easier to calm down if they were alone than the way they were now.
Shang JunLin buried his head in Shen Yu''s shoulder and didn''t make a sound.
Shen Yu moved, and his waist was mped in an instant. Shen Yu didn''t understand why Shang JunLin would rather suffer than let him go.
The room was quiet, and even the sound of sshing water had disappeared. Shen Yu''s body was getting hotter and hotter. He didn''t know whether he was being scalded by the water or by
! ! !
"Your Majesty!" Shen Yu eximed. He felt the man behind him move slightly.
At that hot touch, Shen Yu''s scalp went numb.
Can''t stay like this any longer!
He had to move away from Shang JunLin!!!
A loud rm sounded in his mind, and he felt a sudden sense of crisis. Shen Yu didn''t care about anything else. He broke free from the arm at his waist and tried to leave.
"Where''s the noble monarch going?"
Before Shen Yu could move away, Shang JunLin hooked the hem of Shen Yu''s clothes and brought him back with a strong pull. Shen Yu turned around in the water and fell into Shang JunLin''s arms, face to face.
This position was even more dangerous than a moment ago!
Shen Yu was extremely aware of this. He stiffened his resolve and said, "Your Majesty said you wouldn''t touch me."
"" Shang JunLin was silent for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice, "This emperor won''t do it all the way."
Shen Yu''s hair was about to stand on end. After the weird mistake with the ointment, he''d asked Shang JunLin for some informational books and knew what men and men did together.
But that didn''t mean he could face this sort of thing calmly!
Just being held tightly had brought forth such an appalling aurawas it possible he''d go inside?!
"This emperor feels unwell." Shang JunLin moved Shen Yu''s hand down. "The noble monarch should help me."
The man''s tone was full of uncontroble desire. His voice was lower, hoarser, more tantalizing than usual.
Shen Yu no longer noticed. He just wanted to withdraw his hand, but the man held him close and he couldn''t break free.
His strength was no match for Shang JunLin. Even though he resisted, in the end he touched it.
"Your Majesty"
"Ah Yu, be good and touch me." The man coaxed in a low voice.
"I don''t want to. You You let me go."
Waves of water rippled around them, and in the hazy steam was sometimes heard the man''s low coaxing voice and the younger man''s slightly whimpering refusal.
After an unknown amount of time, the sshing sound gradually stopped.
Shen Yu rubbed his sore wrist and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I''m not washing it anymore."
"This emperor will help the noble monarch too."
Shen Yu avoided Shang JunLin''s hand. "I don''t want to. I want to go back to sleep."
Shen Yu didn''t understand how tempting he looked at the moment. The tail ends of his eyes were crimson, and water droplets were poised on his eyshes, about to fall. With just one nce, Shang JunLin''s gaze darkened.
"Come here, Ah Yu."
Shen Yu took advantage of the man''s rxation to swim a distance away. When he heard Shang JunLin''s words, he trembled instinctively, shook his head, and retreated.
In a moment Shang JunLin swam to Shen Yu''s side, took him into his arms, and whispered in his ear, "Why are you running?"
"The water will get cold if we continue to soak here, Your Majesty. Let''s go back." Shen Yu reached out to push the ever-approaching man away. He just wanted to end this absurdity quickly.
"Ah Yu needn''t worry. The water here won''t go cold. Didn''t Ah Yu notice? After all this time, the water in the bath is still hot."
Shen Yu felt the water for a moment and realized it was true. After such a long time, it was reasonable to say the bath should have cooled already, but the temperature was about the same as when he first entered.
Now that they were closer, Shen Yu felt something and was shocked. "Your Majesty, didn''t you just"
"Does the noble monarch think this emperor can be satisfied so easily?" Shang JunLin deliberately approached him.
The light fragrance of Shen Yu''s body was more and more obvious in the steaming heat, and Shang JunLin found it highly attractive. He couldn''t help but lower his head and inhale it lightly.
His lips and the tip of his nose brushed the skin of Shen Yu''s neck, making him tremble. When the familiar sensation returned, Shen Yu couldn''t help cringing a little.
"Your Majesty, my hand hurts."
Shang JunLin rubbed Shen Yu''s wrist. "No hands this time."
When it was over, Shen Yu was carried outside by Shang JunLin. Shen Yu had no strength left at all. His whole body was weak and hurt badly.
He hadn''t fallen asleep yet, buty in Shang JunLin''s arms with his eyes closed as they walked out the door. Inside and outside werepletely different climates. Shen Yu felt a little cold and tightened his grip on his clothes.
Noticing his movement, Shang JunLin stopped. "What''s wrong?"
Shen Yu didn''t speak.
Shang JunLin paused for a moment. He ordered Meng Gonggong to bring over the cloak he was holding and put it on Shen Yu.
Until he fell asleep, Shen Yu didn''t say another word to Shang JunLin. He was too tired and didn''t want to talk to him!
He obviously said it hurt, but Shang JunLin refused to let him go.
Shen Yu was already very tired, and after this, he was even more tired. After holding on for a while, he couldn''t bear it anymore and fell asleep as they reached the bedroom.
When Shang JunLin returned with the person in his arms, Mu Xi, who''d waited most of the night, was about to wee them, but Meng Gonggong pulled her away.
"Don''t you see that His Majesty is with the noble monarch right now? What are you doing by going over there?"
Mu Xi was worried. "Is the noble monarch all right?"
Meng Gonggong: "His Majesty''s here. How could there be anything wrong with the noble monarch?"
Mu Xi: "But The noble monarch, he"
Meng Gonggong: "Aiya, why don''t you understand? Think about it. His Majesty and the noble monarch bathed together for such a long time with only two people present. And His Majesty carried the noble monarch back."
Mu Xi: "What does the gonggong mean?"
Meng Gonggong gave her a meaningful look. "I mean what you think."
Shang JunLin carried Shen Yu all the way to the bed. He must have been extremely tired, because even when Shang JunLin changed his clothes andy him down on the bed, Shen Yu didn''t wake up.
Not long after,. Shen Yu rolled over a few times, arched into Shang JunLin''s arms, found afortable position, and stopped moving.
Shang JunLin felt amused. He gathered the man into his arms and told himself: He was trying to avoid getting close to me before, but he''s honest when he''s asleep.
After the King of Li returned to his pce, he told Princess Consort Li that the Qian family''s affairs had been resolved and she shouldn''t worry anymore. At first she didn''t think too much about it, aside from being happy the Qian family had escaped. But all too soon, she noticed something was wrong.
Princess Consort Li was an intelligent woman. As long as she didn''t notice anything wrong, it was fine, but the moment she noticed the slightest thing, she''d pull the thread until she learned the truth.
In the morning, she stopped the King of Li, who was about to leave his room. "Are you hiding something from me?"
"What are you saying, princess? How could this king hide something from you?" the King of Li instinctively retorted.
"Whenever you feel guilty, you call me princess''." Princess Consort Li mercilessly pierced the King of Li''s lie.
"Not at all, why can''t you believe this king?" The King of Li knew he couldn''t conceal the truth, but he thought he''d have more time to tell her. He didn''t want the princess consort to me herself.
Princess Consort Li listed the strange things that were happening in the pce one by one. "What did you say to His Majesty when you entered the pce? What did you trade for the lives of the Qian family?" she asked coldly.
"Don''t be upset. It''s really nothing." Seeing how angry Princess Consort Li was, the King of Li knew he couldn''t hide it any longer. He told the truth. "I gave up the authority belonging to the King of Li''. It really doesn''t matter. You don''t have to worry."
"Really?"
"Really. As long as you don''t despise me for having nothing in the future."
After making things clear with his consort, the King of Li stopped hiding. He took an inventory of all of the properties under his name, handed over what should be handed over, and sold what should be sold.
When something big happens, a lot of people soon find out about it. Some of the King of Li''s friends came over to make inquiries, but they were quietly blocked.
"The King of Li is actually quite clever. He decided to retreat in order to advance. Not only did he preserve his reputation, he made a good trade with His Majesty." Shen Yu scooped a spoonful of porridge and slowly raised it to his mouth.
Mu Xi was puzzled. "Why does the young master say that?"
"Originally, the King of Li angered His Majesty at the pce banquet. He probably understood that he''d done too much over the years. Instead of waiting for His Majesty to calcte the ledger, he took the initiative to show his attitude and retreated voluntarily. It''s not a bad result."
Shen Yu had woken up at noon the next day, and Shang JunLin wasn''t there. When Shen Yu washed up, Mu Xi told him that His Majesty gave orders for Shen Yu not to be disturbed. Food was to be kept ready for whenever he awoke.
If Shen Yu had to say how he felt, he wouldn''t go as far as saying he was angry, but he was certainly a little sullen. When he woke up, he was not only still in pain, it was actually a little worse than before.
His hand Fortunately, Shang JunLin had used his left handst night. His right hand was unaffected. He suspected Shang JunLin did it intentionally. He actually thought in advance about which hand to use.
Not to mention his legs. It hurt to walk a few steps, and it always felt like a foreign body was present. That was the most unbearable thing for Shen Yu.
He didn''t have to look to know it was red.
It felt cold and moist when he woke up, probably from medicine.
He wasn''t sure who gave orders to the small kitchen, but today all the dishes were light. Shen Yu stirred the porridge in the bowl. "Mu Xi, bring me the books Meng Gonggong sentst time."
"Yes."
There were several books with descriptions of men with men written in themon tongue. Shen Yu had only nced at them hastily before. Now, for his own sake, Shen Yu felt he needed to do more studying.
When Shang JunLin came to Yuzhang Pce, he saw that the ce where he usually reviewed memorials was full of books.
He walked over, picked up a book, turned one or two pages, and put it down silently.
The whole thing was about that, with pictures and text.
"Why is the noble monarch reading this?"
"Did Your Majesty also read it?" Shen Yu shoved one of the books into Shang JunLin''s hand.
Shang JunLin touched the spine of the book, puzzled. "Why?"
"The recipients shown in this book all have such delighted faces. So why do I hurt so much?" Shen Yu looked at Shang JunLin with wide eyes, as if he really didn''t understand.
However, Shang JunLin didn''t miss the glint of humor that shed in Shen Yu''s eyes.
"Why did Your Majesty hurt me so much?"
It was close to an explicit statement that he wasn''t very skilled.
Shang JunLin swept a nce at the open book in Shen Yu''s hand. "Why don''t I try this position with the noble monarch next time, what do you think?"
TL Notes:
Brief summary:
SY suggests SJL let him go. SJL coaxes him and says he won''t go all the way. SJL forces SY to give him a handjob. Vaguenguage is used throughout. SJL bes aroused again almost immediately and says he won''t use hands this time. Fade to ck.
Way back in Chapter 1, I said I wasn''t sure how many chapters of this novel I''d tl. This chapter is the reason why. I''ve read a lot of danmei and seen some extremely scummy gongs. I don''t require MLs to be perfect, but I''ve dropped novels before because I didn''t like the ML.
After working on this chapter I feel worse, because what I originally thought was just thigh sex is now pretty clearly going all the way. However, it happened totally offscreen. We don''t actually know because it''s just implied.
I guess it''s good that SY wasn''t that mad afterwards and even makes jokes about it?
I''m willing to keep going for now if you guys are. The only reason I''m still posting chapters is because of your support.
Either way, please be civil to each other in thements. Thank you
1) Is there more noncon in this novel? (*mild spoilers*)
I haven''t read all 291 chapters. In the chapters I''ve read, SJL backs off and the rest is consensual.
ording to a fellow tl who''s read the entire novel, this story has a lot of smut and it''s consensual (aside from this chapter maybe?) because SY falls in love. But I can''t make guarantees because I haven''t read it all myself.
I also can''t guarantee there won''t be more jokes about SY feeling pain and SJL making light of it. Because it''s reallymon for authors to portray shous as whiners and gongs as sociopaths. However,munication is a good thing. I''m d SY feelsfortable being honest with SJL, which is something that frequently doesn''t happen in RL rtionships. If you''re in pain, you have to speak up or your partner won''t know. And there are usually things you can do to improve it, like using more lube. Be kind to yourself!
2) Why is danmei smut so vague?
Writers have to be vague or they''ll be censored. That means they resort to extended metaphors, use vaguenguage, or leave it out entirely. Censorship isn''t an issue for private sites, but this novel was posted on a popr public site (JJWXC). Censorship of danmei became even more strict in Fall 2021. Many of the workarounds writers used before are no longer avable.
stiffened his resolve brace oneself to do sth; braving all rebuffs; put a bold face on it; summon up courage
desire from
(slightly) whimpering sobbing tone / sob / dirge / opera tune portraying mourning
having nothing have nothing at all; not have a stiver; not have a thing to one''s name; not own a thing in the world
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Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Not so good.
Shen Yu thought to himself.
He wasn''t sure what kind of switch had been flipped in Shang JunLin. Shen Yu felt like the man was different from before.
Shen Yu quietly put away his book. He didn''t intend to provoke Shang JunLin any further. If he continued, the biggest victim would be himself, and his legs and hand still hurt.
Can''t do that again.
Shang JunLin noticed Shen Yu''s left hand was stiff, and he reached out and held it. "Still ufortable?"
Warmth spread from his fingers, and Shen Yu''s fingertips trembled. "Doesn''t Your Majesty already know that?"
Shang JunLin lost his smile. "How can the noble monarch be so delicate?"
"It''s not that I''m delicate," Shen Yu retorted. "It''s Your Majesty''s fault for taking too long. If it was someone else, they wouldn''t be able to bear it either."
Shang JunLin sighed a little and rubbed Shen Yu''s fingers with moderate force. "This emperor will massage it for you."
Shen Yuyzily on the soft couch with his hand in the palm of the man in ck. The massage was neither light nor heavy. He was being served by the emperor, and he wasn''t the slightest bit embarrassed by it.
When he saw the atmosphere bing more and more ambiguous, Shen Yu decided to change the subject. "Your Majesty, how is the King of Huaiyu doing?"
"There''s no serious problem with him right now."
"I don''t understand why he had such a different attitude towards me. It''s not because of our rtionship, is it?" But Shen Yu didn''t think the King of Huaiyu''s opinion of Shang JunLin was that good.
"Maybe it''s because the noble monarch reminded him of his past."
Shen Yu felt curious. "Is it possible the King of Huaiyu gave up seeking the throne for a different reason?"
"There are countless secrets in the pce. The only thing outsiders know is that the King of Huaiyu gave up his position due to illness. They don''t know that something else happened before that."
Seeing Shen Yu''s interest, Shang JunLin slowly added, "Back then, the King of Huaiyu had a close rtionship with a man of unknown origin. The previous emperor seized hold of this w and plotted to kill the man. He made sure the me pointed to one of his other rivals, leading the two to tear each other down. In the end, one was dead and one was injured, and the previous emperor reaped the benefits."
Shen Yu: "How did the King of Huaiyu find out about the true murderer? Does Your Majesty know what the King of Huaiyu''s lover looked like?"
Shang JunLin: "There''s no information about that man. The King of Huaiyu destroyed the relevant records. As for what he looked like, probably no one knows. After all, not much time passed before the man''s departure, and his details were always secret. If not for the King of Huaiyu, almost no one would know he existed.
"This emperor isn''t certain how the King of Huaiyu learned about the real murderer. Based on when the King of Huaiyu began his scheme, it must have been just after thete emperor took the throne."
There was some unseen strangeness about the entire thing. In Shen Yu''sst life, he had no idea the imperial family had this kind of secret. The book he read after his death centered on Shen QingRan''s perspective and didn''t mention it at all.
"Will Your Majesty continue to investigate?"
Shang JunLin nodded. "That person hid everything too deeply, and it''s unclear what his actual purpose was. This emperor thinks the King of Huaiyu''s actions are rted to what happened back then."
"But the King of Huaiyu refused to say." Shen Yu frowned. "Wouldn''t say, or couldn''t say? What exactly was he nning all this for?"
No one knew the answer.
In the end, the King of Huaiyu''s punishment had to be put on the agenda. They couldn''t get any further information from him, and they couldn''t keep pushing the matter off when courtiers and other royal family members were watching. During the first morning court after the New Year, Shang JunLin ordered someone to announce the charges against the King of Huaiyu.
Everyone who heard it was shocked.
No one could have imagined that the King of Huaiyu, who always kept a low profile, had done so much in secret. They never thought he''d scheme for so many years to avenge his dead lover. Not to mention he was so crazed that he threw the bloodline of the imperial family itself into disarray.
More than anything else, confounding the imperial bloodline was uneptable. There was an immediate petition for a full investigation.
Prime Minister Wang ZhongCi stood up. "Your Majesty, this is of great importance. We must thoroughly investigate!"
At once, every member of the imperial family who shared the same father as Shang JunLin was under suspicion.
Some people were unhappy with this. "Prime Minister Wang shouldn''t have suggested such a thing. How can we expose such a big scandal to the public?"
"What''s more important, the imperial family''s face or the purity of the imperial bloodline?" the Prime Minister asked rhetorically.
"But Do we want everyone in the world to know the previous emperor was given a green hat by so many people?" the Deputy Minister of Justice asked hesitantly.
"It''s not necessary to make it explicit," the Prime Minister replied.
The ministers began a new round of quarreling on the question. Some believed the matter''s importance meant it had to be strictly investigated. Others said the face of the imperial family was at stake and it was inappropriate to cause an uproar.
Shang JunLin sat high above, overlooking the arguing ministers. Behind the tassels of his crown, no one could see the emperor''s expression.
It was Prime Minister Wang who put an end to the argument. "Begging Your Majesty to decide."
"In that case, the matter will be handed over to Prime Minister Wang."
"This minister will obey."
When the King of Yue heard the news, he was still confined at home. His first reaction was disbelief.
He grabbed the shoulder of his informant and demanded, "How can this be? How is it possible this king is not his father''s child?"
"Your Highness, don''t be anxious. Nothing has been confirmed yet. Besides, Your Highness looks simr to His Majesty. There can''t be a problem with your birth."
The King of Yue let go of his confidant''s shoulder and paced anxiously around the study. If there was a problem with his parentage, everything he nned would be in vain. No matter how good his reputation or how many people supported him, if people thought he wasn''t the biological son of thete emperor, everything he''d done woulde to naught!
The mere fact he didn''t share thete emperor''s bloodline would mean those old foxes wouldn''t let him ascend to that position.
And he couldn''t do anything about it. At present, he had little influence in the capital. He couldn''t go up against the imperial court at all.
The King of Yue took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. "This king rushed to conclusions. There''s no evidence I''m not the son of the previous emperor. I shouldn''t have lost my head."
"Your Highness is exactly right. There''s no need to worry. Everyone can see that you and the current emperor look simr. Besides, Consort Li was always favored by His Majesty."
"Mother Concubine would certainly never do something so disgraceful!" The King of Yue rubbed his forehead. "Continue to keep an eye on things outside. If anything goes wrong, inform this king immediately."
A major scandal had erupted just after the end of the New Year festivities. It put everyone in aplicated mood, especially the princes of the previous emperor.
During thete reign of the previous emperor, he was weak-minded and ipetent. The more ambitious princes fought each other to the death for the right to the throne. Later on, Shang JunLin intervened in force and prevented the internal struggle from escting.
The result was a tragedy. In one fell swoop, Shang JunLin killed numerous princes and officials. And now the court that had finally calmed down was almost in confusion again. Shang JunLin held firm and used direct force to suppress the turmoil and prevent another eruption of civil strife.
The ministers who''d lived through the previous round of chaos felt relieved. Fortunately, none of the other princes had ascended the throne. Who could have imagined that the Third Prince, Seventh Prince, and Fourteenth Prince who were so favored by the previous emperor weren''t even his sons?
Who would have guessed the King of Huaiyu''s methods were so powerful that he nted an entire grasnd on thete emperor''s head?
Thete emperor had numerous descendants. As the investigation deepened, more and more princes were found to have problems with their parentage. Especially for the younger ones, it was almost all of them.
Every day new developments arrived at the pce. Shang JunLin didn''t avoid Shen Yu when dealing with these things, and Shen Yu learned a lot of details.
"There''s no problem with the King of Yue''s background?" Shen Yu wasn''t especially surprised. If the King of Yue wasn''t descended from the previous emperor, he wouldn''t have looked somewhat simr to Shang JunLin.
"The noble monarch always seems to pay a lot of attention to the King of Yue."
"Isn''t Your Majesty clear about why? He lied to me, and I don''t want him to have an easy time. It''s that simple."
Shen Yu assumed that Shang JunLin knew what happened between him and the King of Yue. Even if he didn''t, Shen Yu didn''t mind telling him.
"This emperor is afraid the noble monarch will be disappointed. Consort Li, the mother of the King of Yue, is one of the rare individuals in the harem who was devoted to thete emperor."
Although Shen Yu had been in the same camp as the King of Yue in his previous life, Shen Yu didn''t know much about Consort Li. "Your Majesty, please tell me more."
"Thete emperor had a lot of concubines, but not many won his heart. Consort Li was one of them. She was a clever woman who didn''t fight or scramble for favor in the harem. Before the previous emperor passed away, Consort Li asked to die with him. Thete emperor was moved by her request and did many things for the King of Yue."
It was thest favor the previous emperor did for the King of Yue as his father. It was also why the King of Yue was able to survive the conflict for the throne.
Atst Shen Yu understood why the King of Yue had always wanted that position so badly.
It was because someone nted a seed in his heart and supplemented it with nutrients. As time passed, the seed grew, and eventually the King of Yue fulfilled the role that person wanted.
"Did Your Majesty find anything new when investigating the vassal kings?"
"The noble monarch is asking about the King of Yue, right?" Shang JunLin shook his head. "There''s no evidence he''s done anything extraordinary. Even if we pursued it, the consequences would be minor."
Shen Yu knew the King of Yue was still acting with extreme caution during this period. He wouldn''t expose his true ambitions to outsiders until he was certain.
Who would have thought that His Highness the King of Yue, who''d always been refined, elegant, and aloof from worldly sess, was actually seeking that position?
"The previous emperor must have given a lot to the King of Yue before he died." Shen Yu pondered. Although thete emperor was weak, after all, he''d been the emperor for decades. If he wanted to be partial, he might have left something to the King of Yue to protect him or even provoke his ambition.
Shang JunLin didn''t like hearing the words "King of Yue" from Shen Yu''s mouth. "The noble monarch shouldn''t think too much about that person. If you have so much time, you might as well think about when you''ll do what you promised this emperor before."
Sensing the man''s quiet approach, Shen Yu silently moved aside. After Shen Yu had jokinglyined about itst time, Shang JunLin didn''t let go of the issue. He wrapped it in the nice-sounding phrase, "the more we practice, the better it will feel".
Shen Yu tried to resume the previous topic. "Your Majesty, we''re talking about serious things."
Shang JunLin appeared calm, but there was an appalling storm beneath. "This emperor thinks the noble monarch should be more concerned about my affairs."
He stretched out a hand to stop Shen Yu''s backward movement and leaned forward.
Shen Yu held his book against this ever-approaching man. He gave a yful frown. "Did Your Majesty eat the new plum dessert the small kitchen made today?"
Why are you so sour?
Shang JunLin heard the unspoken meaning of Shen Yu''s words and lifted his eyebrows. "Why doesn''t the noble monarch taste for yourself and find out whether or not I''ve eaten it?"
TL Notes:
so crazed be frenzied; as mad as a March hare; be frantic; be seized with crazy ideas, losing all bnce of judgment
green hat green hat (figuratively, a symbol of being a cuckold)
the tassels of his crown crown in the form of a horizontal board with hanging decorations / imperial crown
old foxes A metaphor for someone who is very cunning and shrewd
sour A reference to jealousy
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Prime Minister chngxing In ancient China, the highest administrative official under the emperor, and the chief of officials who assists the emperor in political affairs. This specific title had various roles and positions throughout history but generally means the most senior minister (Wikipedia)
Deputy Minister of Justice Alternatively: Assistant Minister of Justice. The Ministry of Justice () was one of the Six Ministries under the Department of State Affairs. It had charge of most judicial and penal processes but had no authority over the Censorate or the Court of Judicial Review
Wang ZhongCi
Consort Li L fi Alternatively: Concubine Li
mother concubine m fi
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Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Once again he lifted a stone and smashed his own foot. Shen Yu stopped talking.
But he secretly told himself: Did His Majesty change? He''s not as funny as he used to be.
For a while they read together. Then Shen Yu suddenly remembered something.
"Your Majesty, spring is here. Should we go on an outing?" Shen Yu blinked. "Of course, if Your Majesty doesn''t have time, I can go alone."
"Thinking of leaving the pce?" Shang JunLin asked.
Shen Yu propped his head in his hand and nodded. "The spring scenery is so nice. Every year I go to the manor. If I can''t go this year it would be a shame."
Shang JunLin: "What manor?"
Shen Yu: "It''s one of the few things I inherited from my mother. Your Majesty knows how my life was in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. Sometimes I really thought it would be better if I lived in the vige all the time and didn''t have so many worries."
Before Shen Yu entered the harem, Shang JunLin asked the Hidden Dragon Guard to check his background. What Shen Yu said was indeed true. Despite being the only di son of the Zhenbei Marquis, Shen Yu didn''t have an easy life in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. For Madam Ru and her son, who was almost the same age as Shen Yu, his very existence was an eyesore.
Shang JunLin stroked Shen Yu''s long hair and said softly, "Don''t worry, noble monarch. No one will be able to bully you in the future."
He couldn''t change what happened in the past, but the present and future were under his control. He''d never allow anyone to oppress Shen Yu while he was under his wings.
He also knew Shen Yu made an annual visit to a certain vige every year, saying that he was going to recuperate in a ce with peace and quiet. But Shen Yu was the legitimate son of a noble house. Why did he have to go somewhere else to recover from illness?
Because it was an excuse for outsiders. Only Shen Yu himself knew the real reason.
Shen Yu didn''t know what was running through Shang JunLin''s mind, but he saw a touch of distress in the emperor''s eyes.
Shen Yu leaned over to Shang JunLin. "Does Your Majesty agree?"
As Shen Yu spoke, their breath intertwined. Shang JunLin''s eyes deepened. "If the noble monarch wants this emperor to agree, isn''t there something you should say?"
"Surely Your Majesty is impervious to offers of riches and honors? Is it even possible to sway someone who''s so mighty?" Shen Yu pretended not to understand the man''s hint. He innocently widened his eyes. "Your Majesty, I''m thinking of you as well. Everyone likes to go out to enjoy themselves when it''s spring. Your Majesty is so busy with public affairs every day. You should find some time to rx and unwind."
"The noble monarch knows this emperor has urgent business." There was no emotion in Shang JunLin''s voice.
There were multiple things piled up, all of which needed to be dealt with, and one of them involved a subject as serious as the bloodline of the imperial family. Shang JunLin hadn''t rested for several days.
"Political affairs are always urgent." Shen Yu pressed the memorial in Shang JunLin''s hand. "Your Majesty employs so many officials. Just leave some of it to them. Why does Your Majesty have to do everything yourself?"
"The noble monarch is right." Although he said so, Shang JunLin didn''t lower the memorial he was holding.
Therge desk was covered with the books Shen Yu was reading, which he''d intentionally strewn across the entire surface. Shang JunLin''s memorials upied only a small corner. Later, Shen Yu put some of the books in a pile to make more room for Shang JunLin''s reports.
Shen Yu knew it wasn''t possible to change Shang JunLin''s habits with one or two words. He concluded: "Since Your Majesty is busy, I''d better go by myself."
Shang JunLin raised his eyebrows and looked over. "The noble monarch intends to leave this emperor alone in the pce?"
"Then what does Your Majesty want?"
"The noble monarch should understand that with your status you can''t leave the pce too often. The noble monarch should get used to living in the pce instead of thinking about leaving it all day." Shang JunLin''s tone was indifferent.
"That means Your Majesty won''t apany me, and you forbid me to go by myself, is that right?" Shen Yu suddenly stood up, turned around, and walked out. "I see, I know. I won''t go anywhere. I''ll stay in Yuzhang Pce obediently."
Shen Yu did what he said. After that, he didn''t mention leaving the pce again, but those who waited on the pair noticed the atmosphere between them was different.
It was a lot colder, especially Shen Yu''s attitude towards Shang JunLin. Those with keen eyes could tell that something was wrong. But Shang JunLin seemed not to have noticed anything. Every day, except for attending morning court, he stayed in Yuzhang Pce as usual.
The servants didn''t know what their masters were thinking, but they hoped the two would make up quickly. They didn''t want to live in such a turbid atmosphere every day.
The events in Yuzhang Pce soon spread outside.
That wasn''t surprising, because Yuzhang Pce had a high profile for a long time and was watched by countless eyes. But the news hadn''t leaked identally. It would be more urate to say it spread with deliberate connivance.
The officials gathered together, confused about why two people who were glued to each other a few days ago were suddenly at odds.
"The emperor''s favor can change with a single word. If you ask me, Noble Monarch Shen should never have been so arrogant."
"Indeed, a man''s heart is fickle. That''s true for ordinary people, not to mention the emperor himself."
"I doubt Noble Monarch Shen will ever be favored again."
"No, I disagree."
As far as the news was concerned, most people had the mindset of enjoying a show. After all, what happened had nothing to do with them. How Shen Yu and Shang JunLin interacted with each other had little effect on their lives.
Of the people with the biggest reaction, the King of Yue was one, and the rest lived in the Zhenbei Marquis'' mansion.
The King of Yue heard the news when he was looking into recent political events. He felt surprised, but his mood wasplicated. Not long ago, Shen Yu had arrogantly shown off his power in front of him, but fell from favor just a few dayster. The King of Yue couldn''t help feeling somewhat delighted, but he was also filled with dissatisfaction that was difficult to put into words.
The people in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence had opposing reactions. The Zhenbei Marquis wanted to rush to the pce to ask Shen Yu what happened. Meanwhile, Shen QingRan and his mother were overjoyed. The sooner Shen Yu fell from favor, the happier they''d be.
They didn''t know the reason for the noble monarch and the emperor''s disagreement. In fact, if you looked at it carefully, it wasn''t so much that the noble monarch had fallen out of favor. It was more urate to say His Majesty had fallen out of favor.
The pce attendants who served beside them saw that His Majesty''s attitude was the same as before. The thing that changed was the noble monarch''s attitude towards His Majesty.
After holding back a few days, Mu Xi couldn''t help but ask, "Young master, why"
Shen Yu was loosening the soil in the flowerpot of the "jun ling" nt. The nt he''d cared for was doing well. It had safely survived to the beginning of spring.
"Are you asking why I''m hardly on speaking terms with His Majesty?"
Mu Xi nodded and looked at Shen Yu with concern. "Young master, you live in the pce. Shouldn''t you treat His Majesty better?"
"I thought you were the one who didn''t want me to enter the pce in the first ce. You didn''t think very highly of His Majesty, either, did you?" Shen Yu put down his trowel and lifted his eyebrows. "Is it mutiny'' already?"
"At first this ve thought His Majesty was no different from other men." After entering the pce, Mu Xi saw how His Majesty treated Shen Yu. Over time, Shang JunLin''s actions made her change her opinion.
"His Majesty is naturally different from other men." Shen Yu pinched the slender leaves of the "jun ling" nt. "But Mu Xi, you have to understand something. A single indulgence can ruin a man. If I want to get along with His Majesty in the long run, there''s all kinds of grinding and breaking-in that needs to happen. I can''t blindly agree to his wishes."
Shang JunLin was a genuinely talented emperor. In keeping with that, his personality had obvious imperial traits. But this was Shen Yu''s new life, and he had no intention of bending to anyone''s will, even if that person was the emperor.
Mu Xi appeared to understand. She didn''t know what happened between Shang JunLin and Shen Yu, but when she saw that the young master was clear about his intentions, she didn''t continue asking.
Shen Yu''s mood was also a littleplex. He had the feeling Shang JunLin didn''t know what the matter was.
Maybe he didn''t care much about Shen Yu at the beginning, which was why Shang JunLin didn''t have many opinions about what he did. Shen Yu liked that way of getting along. There was a clear line between them, and they didn''t intrude on each other.
But at some point Shang JunLin crossed the line. He began to try to control Shen Yu. It wasn''t always obvious, but Shen Yu felt it clearly.
Shen Yu had no interest in being controlled by anyone. Ever since he learned the world he lived in was a book, and that he was being manipted by an unseen consciousness to fall in love with the King of Yue, he felt disgusted by the idea of being controlled by someone else. He wanted to go back to having clear boundaries with Shang JunLin.
But obviously, Shang JunLin didn''t want that.
Shang JunLin read memorials for a while, and then threw his pen aside in annoyance.
"Is Your Majesty troubled because of the noble monarch?" Meng Gonggong had served at Shang JunLin''s side for many years. He''d never seen Shang JunLin so upset before.
He could tell Shen Yu''s attitude towards Shang JunLin had changed. He didn''t know what had happened between them, and His Majesty hadn''t said. As a servant, it wasn''t his ce to ask.
"This emperor can''t figure out what the noble monarch is angry about." Shang JunLin rubbed his eyebrows. "It''s not because this emperor didn''t agree to apany him out of the pce, is it?"
Shang JunLin didn''t think he''d done anything wrong. He was the emperor, Shen Yu was the noble monarch, and Yuzhang Pce was their home. What was the point of thinking about leaving the pce all day?
Last time Shen Yu wanted to go out of the pce to see the fireworks, and Shang JunLin took him there. That was only a few days ago, but now Shen Yu wanted to leave again. Would he find another excuse to leave the pce a few days from now?
"Your Majesty, why don''t you just ask the noble monarch? You and the noble monarch are husbands. It''s never good for outsiders to interfere in matters between husband and husband," Meng Gonggong suggested.
The words "husband and husband" pleased Shang JunLin. He stood up. "You''re right. This emperor was thinking too much, and it''s useless to guess. It''s better to ask him directly."
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Shen Yu put the flowerpot back in its original position. Only then did he unhurriedly stand to pay his respects.
"The noble monarch doesn''t need to be so polite." Shang JunLin took a few steps forward and stopped Shen Yu.
"The rest of you are dismissed." As soon as Shang JunLin waved his hand, each of the pce attendants retreated.
Mu Xi nced anxiously at the room before she was pulled away by Meng Gonggong.
Mu Xi stood anxiously outside, unwilling to leave. "Meng Gonggong, nothing bad will happen, right?"
"Lady Mu Xi shouldn''t worry. The matters between His Majesty and the noble monarch have to be solved by themselves. No one else can intervene," Meng Gonggongforted her. "You should trust the noble monarch. He knows what to do."
As far as this encounter was concerned, Meng Gonggong could see it clearly from the sidelines. Noble Monarch Shen, who never showed the slightest trace of a sharp edge, had the upper hand from the beginning.
His Majesty, ahhe lostpletely.
Shen Yu looked at the empty room. "Your Majesty, what''s this?"
"This emperor apologizes to the noble monarch for what happened before." Shang JunLin helped Shen Yu sit down. "Don''t be angry with this emperor."
Shen Yu sat obediently with a smile on his face, but the smile didn''t touch his eyes. "I''m not angry with Your Majesty. How could I, a noble monarch, be angry with Your Majesty?"
"What did this emperor do wrong, Ah Yu? Just tell me directly." Shang JunLin squatted down and looked into Shen Yu''s clear eyes. "Ah Yu, tell this emperor, how did I make you unhappy, hmm?"
TL Notes:
impervious to riches and honors Neither riches nor honors can lead one astray; be impervious to the temptation of wealth and high position; He is incorruptible by offers of money and power; He is unyielded by dirty lucre offered as bait
hardly on speaking terms cold war / (fig.) strained rtionship / to be barely on speaking terms
never showed the slightest trace of a sharp edge from simr to "not showing the mountains, not showing the water", a saying which means concealing one''s talents, showing humility, being low-key, subtle, and unassuming (Baidu) Instead of mountains () the version here used "", which means "the point of a spear / edge of a tool"
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Chapter 38
Chapter 38
Because he was seated, Shen Yu was a little higher than Shang JunLin. When he lowered his head he was able to meet the eyes of the man who was looking up at him.
There was no anger, no dissatisfaction in those eyes. Just slight confusion and enough indulgence to drown someone in.
Shen Yupletely forgot what he was going to say.
"Your Majesty, please get up."
No one would have believed the person crouched in front of him was the emperor of Da Huan, a man famous for his ruthlessness and brutality.
"Is Ah Yu still angry with this emperor?" Shang JunLin didn''t move. "This emperor isn''t good at getting along with people. If I did something to make you unhappy, Ah Yu, you must tell me."
Even if Shen Yu was angry, there was no way he could be angry anymore. Not to mention he wasn''t that mad in the first ce. He just wanted to use the opportunity to distance himself from Shang JunLin.
"To be honest, I''m not that angry." Shen Yu looked at the man''s dark eyes. "But I hope that Your Majesty views me as Shen Yu the person first, and Noble Monarch Shen second."
The first meant Shen Yu belonged only to himself. The second meant he was the property of Shang JunLin.
"If it''s the former, what will the noble monarch do? And what about thetter?" Shang JunLin asked.
"If I''m the former, Your Majesty may have to suffer a little of my anger from time to time. If I''m thetter, Your Majesty will have a proper noble monarch." But nothing beyond that.
Shang JunLin understood his meaning. "This emperor will pay attention in the future. In this emperor''s eyes, Ah Yu will always be just Ah Yu."
Shang JunLin chose without hesitation, and Shen Yu didn''t know how to feel. If Shang JunLin chose thetter, he could have immediately drawn a line between them. But Shang JunLin chose the former.
Automatically and without a second thought.
It was his immediate answer. Which meant Shang JunLin had always thought that way.
Shang JunLin made a choice. What about him?
Shen Yu silently traced Shang JunLin''s features in his mind''s eye. Once again he felt a throbbing in his chest, the same one he felt the first time he met Shang JunLin. In this life, what would develop between the two of them?
Shen Yu slowly lowered his eyes, and his voice was as light as a feather: "I understand."
"What about this emperor?" Shang JunLin gently cupped Shen Yu''s chin. "What is this emperor in Ah Yu''s heart?"
Shen Yu looked away. "Your Majesty is Your Majesty."
His Majesty, who was unique and unmatched, distinct from all others.
"Will Your Majesty get up now?" Shen Yu moved to one side of the soft couch and made room for Shang JunLin.
Shang JunLin smoothly sat beside Shen Yu. He began to talk with Shen Yu about what progress was being made with the King of Huaiyu.
"The King of Huaiyu has been cooperative. From the list he gave, we found that most of the princes aren''t descended from the previous emperor. There remain some others whose parentage hasn''t been determined."
As he spoke of the fact his biological father was made to wear a green hat, Shang JunLin''s voice didn''t fluctuate. He had no brotherly feelings for the other children left by the previous emperor.
"Decades have passed since then. It may not be easy to confirm." A person''s true bloodline was easy to conceal and extremely difficult to verify.
"The method of recognizing rtives with drops of blood isn''t reliable," Shen Yu reminded him.
"This emperor knows. The result of blood recognition is only one type of supporting evidence. The actual confirmation doesn''t rely on that method." Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s fingers and yed with them. "It''s all thanks to the King of Huaiyu, who left so much evidence when he did everything."
Shen Yu was startled. "He actually left evidence? He wasn''t afraid of being discovered?"
" He probably wanted the emperor to find out. Who would have thought the emperor never suspected at all." As he said this, Shang JunLin was a little bemused.
There were numerous beauties in the previous emperor''s harem, and there were many children. He didn''t care if some of the children didn''t look like him. He was only interested in pleasure. New beauties arrived constantly. Aside from a few who were particrly favored, he hardly thought of any of them more than a few times a year.
Shen Yu didn''t know what to say. "Thete emperor had such a carefree attitude."
It was already noon. They spoke for a while, and then Shen Yu felt a little sleepy.
Shang JunLin nced at the sky and stopped talking. "It''s time for Ah Yu to take a nap."
Shen Yu nestled in the man''s warm embrace and didn''t want to move. "What about Your Majesty?"
It was now early spring, but the weather hadn''t warmed up yet, and there wasn''t much changepared to before the New Year. Shen Yu''s body was prone to cold. He always liked to keep the room warm, but Shang JunLin was energetic and young and sometimes even felt hot. At such times, Shen Yu especially liked to be close to Shang JunLin.
Like his personal heater.
"This emperor will stay with you."
Shen Yu felt satisfied. He half-closed his eyes and whispered, "Your Majesty, carry me to bed."
"Yes."
As soon as Shang JunLin spoke, Shen Yu felt himself lifted into the air, with a pair of powerful arms steadily holding him, and then the man walked forwards.
He put Shen Yu on the bed. Without calling for the pce servants, Shang JunLin personally removed Shen Yu''s outer robe and covered him with the quilt.
Shen Yu listened to the sound of rustling cloth on the bed and gradually lost consciousness.
As he slept, he sensed a heat source close by and couldn''t resist moving closer to it. He found afortable position in the man''s arms and fell deeply asleep.
Shang JunLin looked down at the young man in his arms, slowly approached, and printed a kiss on his forehead.
Shang JunLin wasn''t in the habit of taking naps. He quietly watched the young man sleeping in his arms, and there was a tenderness in his eyes that he himself didn''t realize.
After an unknown amount of time, Meng Gonggong carefully pushed the door open and called softly, "Your Majesty."
Shang JunLin got up with careful movements, threw on his clothes, and went outside. "What''s the matter?"
"Prime Minister Wang asks for an audience. He said there''s an urgent matter." Meng Gonggong lowered his voice to avoid waking Shen Yu.
"Tell him to wait in the imperial study. This emperor will go there."
"Yes."
Shang JunLin left and returned to Yuzhang Pce before Shen Yu''s nap ended.
When Shen Yu woke up, Shang JunLin was sitting by the bed reading a memorial.
"Has Your Majesty been sitting here the whole time?" After waking, Shen Yu''s voice was low and hoarse, very different from usual.
Shang JunLin put down the memorial. "No, this emperor just returned."
Shen Yu sat up and slowly began to get dressed. "Did something important happen? If Your Majesty needs to do something, you don''t have to keep watch here all the time."
"It''s regarding the King of Huaiyu. The prime minister said he found some men suspected to be the biological fathers of the former princes."
That was the reason the prime minister went to the pce to request an audience. Everyone thought the men who gave the previous emperor a green hat were killed long ago. When they suddenly learned those people were alive, they didn''t know how to proceed. The prime minister went to the pce personally to ask Shang JunLin to make a decision.
! ! !
Shen Yu instantly felt alert. "They''re not dead?" he asked incredulously.
What in the world was the King of Huaiyu thinking? He couldn''t possibly have wanted to take those men to see the previous emperor and infuriate him face to face, could he?
Shang JunLin: "This emperor is also surprised the King of Huaiyu kept those people alive."
Shen Yu: "What about those men? How did they get into the pce and meet privately with the concubines? Even if they had the help of the King of Huaiyu, it''s not that easy to get in and out in one piece."
Shang JunLin: "That''s something only the King of Huaiyu knows."
Prime Minister Wang was mainly responsible for handling the issue of thete emperor''s bloodline. The person dealing with the King of Huaiyu was Minister Fang, who was previously responsible for Imperial Censor Zhang''s case.
Minister Fang exhausted all methods but didn''t get any useful information from the King of Huaiyu.
After another interrogation session, Minister Fang was so angry he almost cursed. "Aren''t you just relying on the fact we don''t dare to use aggressive measures? This official would like to see how long you''d keep your mouth shut otherwise!"
If it wasn''t for the King of Huaiyu''s poor health, would they have to put up with all this?
"He still won''t say anything?" A majestic voice rang out.
Minister Fang and the others turned around and saluted respectfully. "Greetings to Your Majesty."
When Minister Fang saw the young man standing beside Shang JunLin dressed in a deep blue cloak, he hesitated, then said, "Greetings to the noble monarch."
The rest of the people stared at each otherI look at you, you look at meand saluted with confused faces.
"You may rise." Shang JunLin led Shen Yu into the prison.
Wasn''t that Noble Monarch Shen? Rumors said he was extremely favored by His Majesty.
Many of the people were so curious they couldn''t help but stare at the young man walking beside the emperor dressed in ck.
The young man was almostpletely shrouded in a cloak. All that could be seen below his hat was the snow white, delicate line of his jaw.
Noticing the secretive nces, Shang JunLin looked back with a slight warning.
Everyone quickly looked away, staring at their noses, with their noses on their chests. They didn''t dare to gawk anymore.
Minister Fang, who observed everything, sighed a little to himself. His Majesty obviously cared a great deal about the noble monarch. Minister Fang didn''t know where those rumors came from. It didn''t look like Noble Monarch Shen had fallen from favor at all.
"This emperor has something to ask the King of Huaiyu. All of you may go."
"Yes."
After everyone left, Shang JunLin helped Shen Yu take off his hat.
Shen Yu walked up to the King of Huaiyu. "Does Your Highness remember me?"
The King of Huaiyu''s condition was worse than thest time they met. Shen Yu sensed that his vitality was rapidly draining away. Instead of dying from illness, it would be more urate to say he''d given up on life.
When a seriously ill person lost his will to live, his energy would recede like a flood after the floodgates were opened. There was no cure for it.
"The child of the Zhenbei Marquis?" The King of Huaiyu struggled to open his eyes. He didn''t so much as nce at Shang JunLin, but he focused a deathly stare at Shen Yu. "This king told youst time that there are no good men in the imperial family. Look, hasn''t your dear emperor already abandoned you?"
"Where did you hear those rumors?" Shen Yu took Shang JunLin''s hand and shook it in front of the King of Huaiyu. "We''re fine. The King of Huaiyu needn''t worry about us."
The King of Huaiyu''s face was stained with dirt. He squinted and looked at their hands, and then his gaze moved further upward. After a long while, he averted his eyes without apparent interest.
"Very well. What do you want to ask this time? I advise you not to waste your time. Isn''t it clear? Just dispose of me ording to thew. For me, each new day of life is another day of torment."
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin looked at each other and understood that they were unlikely to learn anything about the King of Huaiyu''s other conspirators. Shen Yu thought about it and asked a surprising question.
"Did the King of Huaiyu know my mother?"
" I didn''t."
"I didn''t say who my mother was. Why did the King of Huaiyu answer so quickly?" After speaking, Shen Yu watched the King of Huaiyu closely. He didn''t miss the consternation that shed across his face.
The King of Huaiyu actually knew his mother! Shen Yu tightened his grip on Shang JunLin''s hand.
Sensing the change in his mood, Shang JunLin held Shen Yu''s hand soothingly, as if silently offeringfort.
Shen Yu calmed himself down and continued to ask questions, trying to gain some clues about his mother. In two lifetimes, he''d never learned what kind of person she was. It would be false to say he didn''t care at all.
But no matter what Shen Yu asked, the King of Huaiyu refused to answer. All Shen Yu could do was give up.
"Since the King of Huaiyu doesn''t want to answer my questions, can you clear up something for me?" Shen Yu looked over. "Why did the King of Huaiyu preserve the lives of those men?"
"Why? Because I wanted to take them all before my good brother one day and tell him that his favorite children aren''t even his! Not only that, I wanted him to suspect that none of his children belong to himI wanted him to understand his entire life was a joke!"
The King of Huaiyu''s face distorted with madness. "Best of all would be when he''s terminally ill, lying on the dragon bed unable to move, and all he can do is stare with wide eyes as I take those men to him one by one, identifying which prince''s father this one is, and that one is! Ha ha ha ha! What a beautiful scene!
"Such a pity, he died before I could carry out my n! He''s deadhow could he just die like that? I spent decades preparing such a wonderful scene just for him. How could he die before he even saw it?"
TL Notes:
the method of recognizing rtives with drops of blood- A useless type of ancient "paternity test" in which the blood of both parties is dripped into a bowl of water to see if the blood coagtes. Under normal circumstances, that would happen if one person''s blood has antibodies against the other person''s blood type, for example Type A vs Type B. However, given the way blood types work and are inherited and the widespread distribution of blood types, it''s impossible to determine rtedness from this method (Baidu, Zhihu)
carefree attitude from big heart This means someone is careless, carefree, not very scheming, defenseless when they should be cautious etc. (Baidu)
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Chapter 39
Chapter 39
After listening to the King of Huaiyu, Shen Yu felt worried and looked over at Shang JunLin.
Whatever the rtionship, the previous emperor was Shang JunLin''s father. It couldn''t be easy for a child to hear that his father was given a green hat.
Shang JunLin''s face didn''t show anything unusual. When he saw Shen Yu look at him, he whispered, "Ah Yu, don''t worry. The King of Huaiyu described quite a show. To be honest, this emperor would like to see it too."
Shang JunLin didn''t feel any father-son affection for thete emperor. Throughout the ages, fathers are expected to be kind and sons to be filial. However, if a father gave his son not love but multiple assassination attempts, no child would have the slightest bit of fondness for him.
But there was more to the story. Shang JunLin lowered his gaze to conceal the turbulent, ink-ck emotion in his eyes. He and thete emperor were divided by the deep-seated hatred of a blood feud involving his mother''s entire family!
After the King of Huaiyu said his piece, he gradually fell silent and looked at Shen Yu with obscure thoughts in his eyes. "Shang JunLin is the son of my dear imperial brother and might turn out exactly the same. You''re such a cute little thing. Don''t give your heart to him."
Shen Yu didn''t know why the King of Huaiyu was still trying to persuade him. Just as he was about to reply, the King of Huaiyu continued:
"You can''t take him seriously. When my dear imperial brother ascended to the throne, he was passionately devoted to Shang JunLin''s mother. She was his one and only. But look how that turned out. No matter how many solemn oaths of love he swore, they didn''t stop his heart from changing all too quickly. When thete emperor took power, he sealed his empress at the same time. Many people envied how deeply in love they were. But no matter how deep love is, it can''t resist the ravages of time. A mere five yearster, the vows he made were thrown away. After the first betrayal, countless more will follow.
"I warned her at the time, but she refused to listen. She fell headlong into a gentle but carefully woven trap and dragged down her entire family in vain."
"Has the King of Huaiyu said enough?" Shang JunLin''s chilly voice rang out.
"Half the blood in your veins belongs to that man. Do you really think you''ll escape the shackles of your bloodline? Look at the other children he left behind. Which of them isn''t a scourge, each one worse than thest? Don''t think I''m saying these things just to frighten you. A person can''t change his nature, and love runs thin in the blood of the Shang family."
Shen Yu couldn''t agree with what the King of Huaiyu said. "What about you, King of Huaiyu? Are you unchanged after all these years? The thing that makes people human is the fact we restrain our nature. A normal person knows what to do and what not to do. It''s people who don''t know how to behave that use their nature'' as an excuse."
"An interesting argument, perhaps." As if thest breath of his anger had been dissipated, the King of Huaiyu seemed to shrivel into himself. "Don''t waste any more time on me. The matter ends here. You needn''t investigate further."
With these words, the King of Huaiyu closed his eyes and refused to say more.
Shang JunLin took Shen Yu outside. When they passed Minister Fang, he ordered, "That''s enough interrogation."
Minister Fang didn''t know why, but he replied respectfully, "Yes."
As they walked out of the iron-walled prison into the bright spring scenery outside, the warmth of the sunlight dispelled the cold and gloomy thoughts that followed them from the prison.
As he felt the warmth, Shen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. "It''s so pleasant out here."
"This emperor told you the dark prison was cold and wet and you shouldn''te along, but you wouldn''t listen."
"If I hadn''t gone, the King of Huaiyu definitely wouldn''t have said anything. Your Majesty, it seems he really did know my mother." After so much effort, Shen Yu had finally found a clue about her. He didn''t want to give up without trying.
"Regarding Shen Yue from before, this emperor ordered someone to investigate further. They didn''t find anything useful, but the pce servants who know her said that her personality suddenly changed one day. This emperor wonders if she suddenly learned something," Shang JunLin said.
The dividing line had to be the day Shen Yue transmigrated. The original Shen Yue might have known something, but the current Shen Yue might not.
Thest time Shen Yu spoke to her, he promised to get her out. In order not to break his word, he told Shang JunLin about it. As for what Shang JunLin arranged after that, Shen Yu hadn''t asked. "Your Majesty, where is Shen Yue now?"
Shang JunLin: "This emperor sent her to the elderly concubine. She''s impertinent and might have caused trouble elsewhere."
Shen Yu: "Elderly concubine?"
Shang JunLin: "A concubine of Imperial Grandfather. When this emperor was a child she was kind to me, so I found a secluded ce for her to live in the pce."
"Your Majesty, please don''t pay attention to what the King of Huaiyu said." Shen Yu came to a halt and grabbed Shang JunLin''s hand. "My father is the Zhenbei Marquis. Do you think the King of Huaiyu is right, that I''m the same as my father?"
"Ah Yu and the Zhenbei Marquis are different, of course," Shang JunLin answered without thinking. In his eyes, the Zhenbei Marquis wasn''t even worth as much as Shen Yu''s finger.
"And I say Your Majesty and thete emperor are different too." Shen Yu didn''t want Shang JunLin to live under a shadow because of what the King of Huaiyu said. "Your Majesty is Your Majesty and no one else. How the previous emperor lived has nothing to do with Your Majesty at all."
"Is Ah Yu worried this emperor might think too much?" Shang JunLin gently took Shen Yu''s hand and sped it in his palm. "Don''t worry. This emperor knows what kind of person the previous emperor was, and I won''t allow myself to be like him."
Thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Wang and Minister Fang, the mighty case of the King of Huaiyu finally came to an end. However, the ministers had a heated argument over whether to release the truth about the case.
Some officials wanted it made public, while others thought it should be covered up. After all, it concerned the face of the imperial family itself. If the news was announced, the reputation of the imperial family would be severely damaged, and that would be highly detrimental to the stability of the dynasty.
Shang JunLin got tired of hearing them argue and simply dismissed everyone.
When morning court ended, Prime Minister Wang asked for a private audience. "Your Majesty, what should we do with those men?"
Shang JunLin: "What does the prime minister suggest?"
Prime Minister Wang: "In this servant''s opinion, those men intentionally confounded the imperial bloodline. They should be punished for their crimes."
Shang JunLin: "Since that''s what the prime minister thinks, let''s do as you say."
Prime Minister Wang: "Also, there''s one more thing. What should we do with the other people who were found not to be princes?"
Shang JunLin: "If they haven''tmitted any crimes, they should be deprived of imperial status. Demote them tomoners and ban them and their descendants from bing officials for three generations. The prime minister should see to it personally."
Prime Minister Wang received his orders and left.
In any case, it was necessary for the false sons of the previous emperor to lose the imperial status that didn''t actually belong to them. The false princes who were already deceased also had to be moved out of the imperial mausoleum and reburied elsewhere.
After delegating the matter, Shang JunLin didn''t interfere further. He wasn''t going to pay for the blunders made in the previous emperor''s reign.
After some discussion, it was decided not to reveal all of the charges against the King of Huaiyu. Only the crimes that were appropriate for public disclosure were announced.
Especially regarding the descendants of the previous emperor, this waspletely concealed and not made public.
In teahouses and taverns, crowds of people discussed thetest news with relish.
"Did you hear about the King of Huaiyu? Bah, I mean the former King of Huaiyu?"
"I heard. I certainly didn''t expect that. To think the King of Huaiyu, who never went out in public, was actually scheming for decades. If not for His Majesty''s wisdom in seeing through his ns, who knows what might have happened."
"I don''t want to go through the turmoil that happened ten years ago all over again."
"Yes, life is better under the current emperor. You can count how many years of peace we''ve had since the emperor came to power. We don''t have to worry about enemies attacking the city gates all the time."
"Then there''s the Qian family. Before they were practically tyrants in the capital, but His Majesty dealt with them too. Didn''t people used to say the Qian family was clinging to the King of Li, and His Majesty wouldn''t touch them? That''s what I thought, but His Majesty settled ounts with them too."
"That''s right. I heard the King of Li is having a hard timetely. He was even confined during the New Year."
"True. It doesn''t matter if you''re rted to the imperial family. If youmit a crime, His Majesty will punish you."
"Judging from the recent cases, His Majesty arrested everyone for a reason. Do you think the officials His Majesty dealt with before had problems too?"
"Well It''s not impossible. Remember before the announcement when we all thought Imperial Censor Zhang was innocent? As it turned out, he was the least innocent person around!"
On the second floor of the teahouse, a young man in a cyan robe stood by the window, listening to the discussion of the people downstairs.
Another young man in a light blue robe walked over to him. "Huai Qing, what are you looking at?" he asked.
"Cheng Yu Xiong, what kind of person do you think His Majesty is?"
"His Majesty ah, that depends on what you''re asking. If you look at Da Huan as a whole, His Majesty is a capable emperor. Under his rule, Da Huan has calm seas and clear rivers, and foreign enemies don''t dare to intrude. But I''m afraid it''s a bit troublesome to be one of His Majesty''s officials."
"Why do you say that?"
"You heard what they were just saying downstairs. Before the case of Imperial Censor Zhang, His Majesty arrested or imprisoned people or dealt summarily with ministers without giving any reason. After a while, rumors began to spread about His Majesty''s ruthlessness and cruelty. I don''t know who influenced him, but now His Majesty actually exins the true state of affairs to the public."
"It seems that Cheng Yu Xiong has a good impression of His Majesty."
"That''s naturally true. Otherwise I wouldn''t havee all the way to the capital to take the exam."
After the beginning of spring, candidates from around the empire traveled to the capital for the imperial examination. As it weed the examinees, the city gradually began to bustle with noise and excitement.
Shen Yu also heard about this from Shang JunLin.
"They came so early?" There was still a long time before the spring exam. To think some of them had already arrived in the capital! Shen Yu felt a little surprised.
"It''s the same every time. Some peoplee early to settle in. They want to avoid performing badly because they''re not used to the environment," Shang JunLin exined.
Shen Yu climbed out of Shang JunLin''s arms with sparkling eyes. "Does that mean the capital will be more and more lively?"
When he met Shen Yu''s bright eyes, Shang JunLinughed in spite of himself. "A lot of restaurants, teahouses and bookstores specially prepare for the examinees. Does Ah Yu want to see them?"
Shen Yu nodded eagerly. "If I miss it, I''ll have to wait another three years for the next one, Your Majesty~~~"
Shen Yu deliberately drawled the final sound, like a hook that tickled the heart.
Shang JunLin pressed down the hand that was messing around on his shoulder and gently squeezed it. "The reason this emperor mentioned it is because I''d like to take you out. Didn''t you sayst time that you wanted to go to the vige? Tell Mu Xi to pack some clothes. We''ll stay outside for a couple of days."
The unexpected joy came so suddenly that Shen Yu''s shock could be seen at a nce. "So Your Majesty has been nning this for a few days? I wasn''t fair to Your Majesty."
Shang JunLin smiled as he moved closer. "Then how will Ah Yu express it? Why not give this emperor a kiss?"
TL Notes:
cute little thing xio ww baby, little doll
elderly concubine old/elderlydy concubine
impertinent forward, aggressive, jumpy
demoted tomoners reduced to white clothes (ofmoners without rank)
calm seas and clear rivers peace and tranquility under heaven; the world is at peace; the Yellow River is clear and the sea has no waves, a metaphor for peace and prosperity in the world
spring exam Also known as the metropolitan exam or conference exam (). The metropolitan civil service examination was held triennially in the national capital in the spring. It was open to schrs known as juren () who''d passed the provincial/township exams held triennially in the provincial capitals (Wikipedia) Chart
imperial exam A civil-service examination system in Imperial China administered for the purpose of selecting candidates for the state bureaucracy. The exams served to ensure amon knowledge of writing, Chinese ssics, and literary style among state officials. There was a roughly three-tiereddder of exams from the local to provincial to court level. Most of those who passed came from an elite background, but the exams offered the possibility of advancement to males of non-elite status (Wikipedia)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Imperial Grandfather hung yy emperor paternal grandfather
Huai Qing
Cheng Yu
Xiong elder brother, a courteous form of address between men
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Chapter 40
Chapter 40
"Like this?" Shen Yu quickly leaned forward and pecked Shang JunLin''s face. Before Shang JunLin could react, he returned to his previous position.
Now it was Shang JunLin''s turn to be stunned. He was only speaking casually and didn''t really expect Shen Yu to do anything. Shen Yu rejected him eight or nine times out of ten, and he was almost used to it.
The kiss ended immediately. It was over before Shang JunLin had any time to respond.
Shang JunLin''s face stiffened, and he looked over at the young man beside him.
Shen Yu was dressed in light-colored clothes. Because he was indoors, he wasn''t wearing a cloak with a fur cor. His palm-sized face seemed to glow in the sunlight, but there was a sly gleam in his eyes.
"You" Shang JunLin felt helpless. How could he not understand Shen Yu had just done that deliberately?
Shen Yu knew he meant something elsethe kiss he wanted was more than a light touch on the cheek. But he said "a kiss", and Shen Yu gave him one, which meant he could say he did what Shang JunLin asked. It made Shang JunLin feel a little bereft.
Shen Yu blinked his eyes with an innocent expression. "I did everything Your Majesty asked. Your Majesty can''t give me a hard timeter because of it."
Shang JunLin lifted his eyebrows slightly. "When has this emperor ever made things difficult for you?"
"Last time I clearly said no more, but you still didn''t let go." Shen Yu had reasons for not agreeing to Shang JunLin''s requestShang JunLin took too long and refused to stop when Shen Yu shouted to stop. After that time in the bath, Shang JunLin asionally wanted to do more, but Shen Yu didn''t agree because he remembered what happenedst time.
Shang JunLin squeezed Shen Yu''s fingers suggestively. "How long will the noble monarch bear a grudge like this?"
It was like he lit a fire. Shen Yu''s fingertips began to burn. He silently retracted his fingers.
Just when his fingers escaped a little, the man caught hold of him more tightly. Shen Yu looked up and saw that the man''s face was serious. Only the ink-ck color in his eyes revealed a little of his true thoughts.
If they continued this it might happen again. As if he was scalded, Shen Yu got up from the couch. "I suddenly remembered that I asked the small kitchen to prepare some new snacks. I''ll go find out why they haven''t brought them in yet."
Shen Yu was slightly flustered. Shang JunLin watched him retreat andughed quietly.
The man''s gaze seemed like a physical thing. Shen Yu couldn''t ignore it even if he wanted to. The feeling only dissipated when he stepped out of the room.
Meng Gonggong was waiting outside the door. When he saw Shen Yue out, he was surprised. "Does the noble monarch need something?"
Many times, in order to be alone with Shen Yu, Shang JunLin didn''t allow pce servants to wait inside the room. Shen Yu wasn''t used to being surrounded by attendants at all times and agreed with Shang JunLin''s approach.
However agitated he felt inside, Shen Yu''s face didn''t show it. "I came to see if the small kitchen is ready to serve the new desserts."
"Is the noble monarch referring to the new styles developed by the small kitchen? They''re ready. It isn''t the arranged time just yet, and this ve was afraid of disturbing the noble monarch and His Majesty, so I asked them to wait a little."
"Tell someone to bring them in. His Majesty is hungry." Shen Yu mercilessly dumped the me on Shang JunLin''s head.
Meng Gonggong didn''t doubt him. He left to give the order.
After waiting outside for a while until he calmed down, Shen Yu returned to the room.
Shang JunLin hadn''t moved at all. When he saw Shen Yue in, the smile in his eyes deepened.
"Your Majesty, the servants from the small kitchen will be here soon." Shen Yu was reminding Shang JunLin that outsiders would being, so don''t make trouble like before.
"What does the noble monarch think this emperor was about to do just now?" Shang JunLin looked at Shen Yu with interest.
With the people from the small kitchen due to arrive shortly, Shen Yu thought Shang JunLin wouldn''t mess around, so he grew bold. "Your Majesty was going to kiss me? Or hug me? Or me?"
Shen Yu said the middle few words in a tiny voice, but Shang JunLin heard them clearly. He put down the scroll in his hand, stood up from the soft couch and approached Shen Yu step by step.
"Oh? It seems the noble monarch has a clear idea of what this emperor wants. Then does the noble monarch intend to satisfy me?"
The man approached with a bitterly cold aura, as if he''d released the restraints on the fierce beast deep inside. A feeling of aggression poured out from him, assaulting the senses.
His breath was getting closer and closer. Shen Yu had to reach out to touch the man''s chest to prevent him from approaching.
Shang JunLin lowered his head, and his hot breath lingered on the sensitive skin of Shen Yu''s neck, making him tremble.
"Your Majesty, someone ising"
Shen Yu''s voice suddenly trailed off. Something warm gently touched the side of his neck.
Shang JunLin''s lips.
One touch and it was gone, as if he was responding to the brief touch of Shen Yu''s lips on his face.
Crimson spread from Shen Yu''s neck and crept into his cheeks little by little. Soon Shen Yu''s whole face was red.
His jade-like skin was dyed scarlet, like a piece of ripe fruit tempting one to taste it.
Shang JunLin''s eyes grew darker and deeper. He lifted Shen Yu''s chin, and the distance between them got shorter and shorter.
Shen Yu watched the man''s handsome face growrger before him. In those eyes, his reflection was clearly visible, as if they''d somehow sucked him inside. There was nothing else in the world except the two of them.
As if bewitched, Shen Yu didn''t refuse. He let Shang JunLin continue to reduce the distance between them.
Shen Yu could feel the arms around his waist getting tighter and tighter. He didn''t close his eyes but stared nkly at the man who kept getting closer and closer.
"Is this OK, Ah Yu?"
Between staggered breaths, he heard the man''s maic voice.
Shen Yu almost imperceptibly nodded his head.
Shang JunLin was about to kiss him when a voice suddenly interrupted.
"Your Majesty, noble monarch, your dessert is here."
It was Meng Gonggong.
Shen Yu snapped back to his senses. In a panic he pushed Shang JunLin away. The other man was unprepared and took a step back.
The two looked at each other.
The seductive atmosphere gradually dissipated into a slightly awkward silence.
Both knew it was impossible to continue.
With a ck face Shang JunLin said, "Get in here."
"Pfft," said Shen Yu, shaking withughter. He rested his forehead on Shang JunLin''s shoulder. "Your Majesty can''t me me this time."
He could only me the people in the kitchen for their timing.
Meng Gonggong heard the deep displeasure in Shang JunLin''s voice and was at a loss for words. Wasn''t His Majesty hungry? Why was he angry when they delivered his food?
Meng Gonggong didn''t dare to dy. He ushered in the pce servants to deliver the pastries prepared by the small kitchen one by one.
Shen Yu was stillughing. He wasn''t sure why, but the more he thought about it, the more he wanted tough.
"Stop it," Shang JunLin said helplessly. He patted Shen Yu on the back.
Small confections of various types and colors were ced on the table, and a sweet aroma wafted out. Shen Yu finally remembered that he was the one who asked for them to be served. He stoppedughing, leaned against Shang JunLin''s shoulder, and looked at the table.
Red, green, white, round, square, with fruit Each kind of pastry was half the size of a palm, but the entire table was filled with them. The variety could be appreciated at a nce, and Shen Yu''s eyes lit up.
The imperial chef who made desserts in the small kitchen was a master of his craft, using techniques handed down for generations. Because Shang JunLin didn''t have much interest in food, the chef hadn''t made much use of his skills until Shen Yu entered the pce and plucked him from a crowd of other chefs.
Because he wanted to disy his talent, and because he knew Shen Yu liked all kinds of pastries, after the chef came to Yuzhang Pce he devoted himself to making them: sweet, salty, tangy A variety of vors.
Today''s table was the result of his research during this period.
Shen Yu had specifically asked Shang JunLin when he''d have time and arranged a day to enjoy the new pastries with him.
He just didn''t expect it to interrupt that kind of thing.
After delivering the pastries, the pce servants stepped out one after another. Meng Gonggong nced at His Majesty, whose face showed a hint of frustrated desire, and silently retreated as well.
It appeared, seemed, looked like he''d disturbed His Majesty''s good time.
Meng Gonggong retreated outside the room, closed the door, and sighed. Young people have so much energy.
Shen Yu poked Shang JunLin, who was still unhappy. "Your Majesty,e and taste the new pastries made by the small kitchen. I especially saved them so I could try them with you."
Hearing Shen Yu''s words, Shang JunLin''s face began to improve. He led Shen Yu to the table and sat down.
Although the kiss he wanted was interrupted, Shen Yu was constantly thinking about him, and even shared his favorite sweets with him. When Shang JunLin thought about this, the feelings in his heart smoothed out.
Shen Yu had already been seduced by the sweet smell of the pastries. The moment he sat down, he couldn''t wait to pick up a piece with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth.
Mmm~ Delicious!
"Eat slowly. There''s a lot here." Shang JunLin wiped the sugar crystals from the corners of Shen Yu''s mouth. He gazed intently at Shen Yu without lifting his own chopsticks.
Perhaps because Shen Yu had to drink bitter medicine year round, he was slightly obsessed with sweets. After learning his preferences, Shang JunLin ordered Meng Gonggong to find all the imperial chefs in the pce who were good at making desserts and send them to Yuzhang Pce to cook for Shen Yu every day.
But the amount he ate every day was strictly limited. Eating too many sweets wasn''t good for a person''s health, so Shen Yu ate just enough to satisfy his craving. There weren''t many chances to eat freely like today.
It was all thanks to Shang JunLin. If Shen Yu hadn''te up with the idea of tasting the new recipes with him, this opportunity wouldn''t have happened.
"Your Majesty, try some too." Seeing there was nothing in front of Shang JunLin, Shen Yu diverted the chopsticks he was about to send to his mouth and put the soft little pastry into Shang JunLin''s bowl.
Because of what happened a moment ago, Shen Yu felt a trace of guilt. He didn''t want Shang JunLin to avoid eating desserts in the future because of psychological reasons. Thinking ofpensating him a little, Shen Yu paid more attention to Shang JunLin as he ate.
While enjoying a taste, Shen Yu clipped another piece for Shang JunLin. Because he was distracted, he forgot to switch to the serving chopsticks and used his own.
Shang JunLin looked at the pile of little cakes in his bowl and didn''t remind Shen Yu. He slowly ate them one by one.
As expected, Shen Yu was soon full, even though most of the pastries on the table went into Shang JunLin''s stomach.
In order to settle his stomach, Shang JunLin took Shen Yu for a walk outside.
When winter turned to spring, green tips of grass poked out of the ground, and the barren trees sent forth new buds. Some nts that weren''t afraid of the cold had already produced beautiful flowers.
Shen Yu had eaten heartily and was in a particrly good mood. With one hand braced on his back he walked leisurely along the path.
Shang JunLin minded his speed and walked slowly beside him.
Shen Yu looked at Shang JunLin, who had an arm around his waist, and then at himself with one hand on his back, and suddenlyughed out loud.
After the meal, Shang JunLin''s mood hadpletely changed from overcast to sunny. "What''s the noble monarchughing at?"
"Your Majesty, do you think our posture is very" Shen Yu paused. "Wellstrange?"
"What''s strange?" Shang JunLin stopped as well, with one hand still supporting Shen Yu''s waist.
"Your Majesty, look at me." Shen Yu straightened up and touched his stomach. "Doesn''t it look like I have Your Majesty''s baby in my belly?"
The author has something to say:
Mini theater a long time in the future~
The man crouched over him, his voice hoarse. "Ah Yu, do you think our baby is in here?"
"Your Majesty, I''m a man. I can''t"
"Ah Yu, think about it before you answer."
Light and shadow overturned. After a long time, the young man called out in a crying voice: "Yes"
TL Notes:
A holiday ising up~ I was stressing because I had a lot to do, but I managed to finish it all today. Hooray!! () Time to bezy again. lol
bear a grudge bear grudges; harbor bitter resentment, be vindictive
at a loss for words lit. like a three-meter high monk, you can''t rub his head unable to make head or tail of ; be all at sea; bepletely at a loss; be quite puzzled; be in the dark; puzzled
dessert; snack; light refreshments; pastry din xin
cookie, pastry, cake, confection go din ( )
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Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Shang JunLin:
"The noble monarch always says the most astonishing things."
That was what he said, but Shang JunLin''s thoughts couldn''t help following down the path Shen Yu described. If Shen Yu really did have his child in his stomach
Shen Yu only said it casually and had no idea how many waves this random remark set off in Shang JunLin''s mind. Shen Yu rubbed his slightly swollen stomach and continued to walk.
The weather was gradually warming. People who''d been huddled at home all winter began to go out and visit their friends. That wasn''t true just formoners but for aristocratic families as well.
The King of Li finally finished transferring his royal authority. On a beautiful, breezy afternoon he visited the imperial pce.
After handing over the tokens of his princely rank, the King of Li''s entire body rxed. As he stood opposite Shang JunLin, he finally felt like talking a little about family matters from the past.
"Lately this servant has been reflecting on the things I''ve done. This servant caused Your Majesty a lot of trouble over the years. Now that this servant has given up the shackles of being the King of Li, I feel like I''ve returned to myself. It''s truly a blessing for myself and my wife."
Power is, and always has been, a double-edged sword. For everything you gain, you also lose something. Maybe some people have the ability to maintain their original selves despite the distortions of power, but it''s far moremon to lose yourself.
When the King of Li took stock of his possessions, he realized just how many mistakes he''d made over the years. The things he said he did for Shang JunLin''s good were, in fact, only to satisfy his own selfish desires.
"This servant used to think Your Majesty needed a sweetheart to apany you. Because of my wife, this servant thought the daughter of the Qian family would be a good choice for Your Majesty. This servant thought that if I sent the Qian family''s daughter to Your Majesty, Your Majesty would be like this servant is."
At first, the reason the King of Li wanted to give his niece to Shang JunLin wasn''t to raise the Qian family''s status. It was simply because he wanted Shang JunLin to have someone who could support him. Later, his pure intentions became more and more corrupted by selfish thoughts.
"No matter how good the daughter of the Qian family is, this emperor doesn''t like her." Shang JunLin stated the facts calmly.
"This servant knows. This servant is d that Noble Monarch Shen, who was randomly chosen to enter the pce, is able to stand at Your Majesty''s side. Feelings aren''t something people can control. This servant has been confused for too long. It''s only now that I understand. Everyone has their own fate, and neither this servant nor the Qian family can force it."
The King of Li sighed deeply. "This servant sent people to investigate the Qian family''s affairs and will hand over the results. How to deal with them is entirely up to Your Majesty. Your Majesty doesn''t have to be merciful to them outside thew for this servant''s sake. In the end, they should receive what their situation merits. None of it can be separated from this servant''s blind indulgence."
If it wasn''t for his support, the Qian family never would have grown so bold. Fortunately, he came to his senses in time, before the Qian family made an irreparable mistake. In the process they might break an arm, but they had a chance to keep their lives.
"The King of Li isn''t afraid that Princess Consort Li will me you?" Shang JunLin knew the two had a close rtionship. It was why the King of Li looked after the Qian family and begged for mercy for them. They were the family of Princess Consort Li on her mother''s side.
"The wife of this servant agrees with me. Since the Qian family has done wrong, they should be punished. What''s more, not everyone in the Qian family is rotten. They can only prosper if the decayed branches and leaves are removed."
This was a truth he''d learned from Shang JunLin. What was Da Huan''s situation in the past? If Shang JunLin hadn''t taken decisive action and killed a number of corrupt officials, the country would not have recovered so quickly.
"This emperor knows. This emperor won''t pursue the members of the Qian family who work diligently for the empire."
"Many thanks, Your Majesty."
That night, the King of Li was stripped of his royal title. The next day, the Qian family was dealt with too.
No one thought the King of Li, who''d been a force in the dynasty for years, would withdraw from politics in such a way.
Few people knew the King of Li had spoken privately with Shang JunLin, but Shen Yu was one of them.
He knew because Shang JunLin told him.
Shang JunLin did just as he said. The criminals of the Qian family were disposed of ording to thew, and the clean people kept their official positions. They continued to perform their duties loyally.
It wasn''t clear if the King of Li said something privately to the Qian family, but they quietly epted the result.
After listening to Shang JunLin, Shen Yu was curious. "What happened to the girl from the Qian family?"
"She''s close to Princess Consort Li, but her father and brother bothmitted crimes. She couldn''t stay with the Qian family any longer, so she''s now being looked after by Princess Consort Li." Because of the King of Li, Shang JunLin was continuing to pay attention to the Qian family.
Shen Yu: "Has Your Majesty seen this Qian girl? The King of Li wanted to pair up the two of you. He must have arranged for you to meet."
"Yes, it was a few years ago." Shang JunLin nced at Shen Yu''s face. Seeing that Shen Yu''s expression was unchanged, some feelings that were difficult to describe ran through him.
Shen Yu: "Your Majesty never saw her again? What kind of woman was she?"
Shang JunLin: "This emperor didn''t see her again after learning what the King of Li had in mind. Why is the noble monarch so interested in this Qian girl all of a sudden?"
Shen Yu: "I''m just curious who the King of Li considers to be the person most qualified to be his nephew''s wife."
Shang JunLin wasn''t sure which word specifically poked at him, but the unclear emotions in his heart dissipated. He took a sip from his tea cup. "The noble monarch doesn''t have to worry. In this emperor''s heart, no one is better than you."
Shen Yu: "? ? ?"
How did that suddenlye up?
Shen Yu ignored Shang JunLin''s sudden inexplicable remark and asked, "Is Your Majesty going to send the vassal kings back soon?"
Shang JunLin frowned slightly. "Why did the noble monarch suddenly mention this topic? Did someone ask you to?"
Shen Yu nodded. "I was approached by the families of several princes. Don''t worry, Your Majesty. I didn''t promise them anything.
"Oh, right, and I refused the piles of gifts they prepared for me also," Shen Yu eventually added.
Shang JunLin pondered. "If the noble monarch likes something they offer, just take it. They''ve probably been beaten down and deterred enough. It''s time to let them go."
It wasn''t good to keep the vassal kings in the capital all the time. A few days ago a minister submitted a memorial about it. The spring exams wereing, and if the vassal kings were still in the capital, it might lead to trouble.
With Shang JunLin''s permission, Shen Yu told Mu Xi to send a message to the families of the vassal kings, who were waiting for news.
What Shen Yu didn''t tell Shang JunLin was that while he never promised them anything, he also didn''t t out refuse. He left a little leeway for exactly this reason.
Mu Xi didn''t understand. "Last time the young master firmly refused to ept anything sent by the princes'' families. So why did you hint this time that they should prepare some generous gifts?"
Her young master''s small storeroom was so full it was almost bursting. Not to mention, if Shen Yu wanted anything, all he had to do was tell His Majesty and someone would deliver it as soon as he turned his head. Why ept bribes and give people a reason to talk?
"I cleared it with His Majesty, don''t worry. It''s not like I can shear those sheep alone without His Majesty''s help, is it? Don''t be fooled by the way the vassal kings keep their heads down in the capital. It''s only because they''re afraid His Majesty''s axe will fall on their necks. Once they return to their fiefs, they''ll be more domineering than ever, with their coffers overflowing."
Mu Xi seemed to understand, and she passed on Shen Yu''s message.
When the family members got the reply, they returned to their temporary residence in the city and waited for the vassal king to meet them.
"What happened this time? Did the noble monarch agree?"
There was no other way but to go to Shen Yu. They''d used every other method at their disposal and even asked an official to submit a memorial. But Shang JunLin ignored all their implicit and explicit hints.
Normally they wouldn''t have gone so far, but first there was the case of the King of Huaiyu, and not long after that was the matter involving the King of Li, a man who was instrumental in helping Shang JunLin ascend the throne. If even he could be abolished so easily, who could say who''d be next?
There were a few people who might have been inclined to try something, but after observing this series of events, they pressed those careful thoughts to the back of their minds and didn''t dare to let them bubble up again so quickly.
Shang JunLin hadn''t made any big moves in recent years, which gave a few of them thoughts they shouldn''t have. But after seeing what happened recently, they knew Shang JunLin was still Shang JunLin, the killing god who''d dared to lead troops directly into the capital!
Under the anxious eyes of the prince, the family members ryed Shen Yu''s message.
"How fortunate. If he really refused to take anything, we''d have to worry. But since he''s going to receive things, he''ll y along. Hurry and prepare the things the noble monarch likes and send them to Yuzhang Pce."
After listening to the report, the vassal kings breathed a sigh of relief. The most difficult people in the world to deal with are those with no desires and no wants. It''s only when a person wants something that they can be grasped.
Without thinking about it, they ssified Shen Yu as greedy and easy to handle.
Which was exactly what Shen Yu wanted.
Since Shang JunLin hadn''t finished dealing with the vassal kings yet, Shen Yu decided he might as well make some extra money from them.
After Mu Xi told the family members of the vassal kings that Shen Yu liked all kinds of treasures, she was surprised at how enthusiastic they became towards her.
Shen Yu didn''t have to wait long. The vassal kings quickly prepared sumptuous gifts and sent them to Yuzhang Pce. The things were so conspicuous that Shen Yu had to find an abandoned estate from his younger days and told them to send everything there.
While doing so, he also told them the exact time the vassal kings would be allowed to leave the capital.
"Make sure to tell them they would have had to stay even longer, but I wore down His Majesty over several days. Thanks to my effort, His Majesty relented and chose a closer date."
Mu Xi did as she was told.
After everything was done, Shen Yu waited happily for the money to arrive.
"Why is the noble monarch so happy?" Shang JunLin came over. In the sunlight, Shen Yu''s smiling face was so extraordinary it shocked the senses.
"Your Majesty,e quickly." Shen Yu handed the booklet to Shang JunLin. "Your Majesty, look! These are all my earnings!"
Shang JunLin opened the booklet and looked at it for a moment. Recorded inside were things that were given by a certain prince on a certain date. Everything on the list was extremely expensive.
Shang JunLin raised the booklet in his hand. "Is this the business the noble monarch told this emperor about before?"
"Half the credit goes to Your Majesty. Don''t worry, I won''t take it all myself. Half of it belongs to Your Majesty!"
Shen Yu excitedly told Shang JunLin about the things sent by the vassal kings. "Look at this, a cloud-patterned pendant carved from the finest Hetian jade, and here, a chunk of red coral half a man high"
He concluded: "They''re so rich. I hope there are more opportunities like this in the future."
Shang JunLinughed. "Is the noble monarch nning to empty their vaults?"
Shen Yu corrected him: "It''s not me by myself, it''s me and Your Majesty together. If not for Your Majesty, why would they send me money so obediently?"
Shang JunLin liked to hear Shen Yu tying them together. He said dotingly, "As long as they can please you, it''s their good fortune."
TL Notes:
beautiful, breezy (afternoon) The wind is mild and the sun is bright; a peaceful, sunny day; The breeze was gentle and the sun warm; The wind is gentle and the sun radiant
Hetian jade nephrite / Hotan jade A rare type of jade with a unique luster, semi-transparency, and wear-resistance which stands up to fine carving. It''s ssified into various grades and categories ording to color and other properties (Wikipedia)
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Chapter 42
Chapter 42
I don''t think this is the kind of good fortune the vassal kings want.
Shen Yu inwardly said a few words on behalf of the vassal kings.
And, Your Majesty, don''t you think you have the potential to be a fatuous and self-indulgent ruler if you do this sort of thing?
Shen Yuined to himself a bit and then banished these unlikely thoughts from his mind. He reached out and touched the booklet in Shang JunLin''s hand. "Your Majesty, when will you arrange to bring back the gifts?"
It wasn''t safe to leave so much wealth in an abandoned estate.
"When would the noble monarch like?"
"As soon as possible."
As Shang JunLin looked over at him, Shen Yu slowly added, "If Your Majesty contributes the manpower, I can split everything with Your Majesty, forty-sixty."
"How generous of the noble monarch."
It sounded like Shang JunLin wasn''t satisfied with that.
"Forty-sixty is the most I can do." Thinking Shang JunLin wanted more, Shen Yu stressed how much he''d already given up. "Your Majesty should understand that you wouldn''t have gotten anything without me."
Shang JunLin shook his head helplessly. "This emperor doesn''t care. If the noble monarch likes these things, you can have them all for yourself."
"Then what does Your Majesty want?" Shen Yu had no intention of monopolizing the riches he''d plundered. "Even if Your Majesty doesn''t care, I won''t take Your Majesty''s share."
After all, there had to be give and take. If he didn''t bring His Majesty into the fold, his next n wouldn''t go smoothly.
Shang JunLin just looked at him without saying anything.
Shen Yu''s eyes wandered. He had a suspicion or two, but he wasn''t sure.
To confirm his guess, Shen Yu suddenly jumped forward and embraced Shang JunLin. "Then I''ll give Your Majesty a hug for your hard work, all right?"
When the young man suddenly rushed over, Shang JunLin was startled and firmly caught hold of him. He was about to chastise Shen Yu, and then he heard what he said.
A wave of contentment flooded through him, as if a certain gap in his heart had been filled. Shang JunLin made a slight effort to tighten his arms, hoping the feeling would linger.
"Be careful next time or you''ll fall," Shang JunLin said above him.
"Your Majesty will definitely catch me. You won''t let me fall," Shen Yu said in a slightly upturned tone. His voice was full of trust.
Shang JunLin''s thin lips were tightly pursed. Only the smile in his eyes revealed how happy he was.
Shen Yu was paying close attention to the changes in Shang JunLin''s mood. He couldn''t help but want tough a little. His Majesty was so easy to coax. One hug was all it took to soothe him.
Thanks to Shang JunLin, transporting the pile of gifts sent by the vassal kings was no longer a problem Shen Yu needed to worry about. After leaving the matter to Shang JunLin, Shen Yu began to think about how to manage his own forces.
Although he''d chosen a different path in this lifepared to his previous one, Shen Yu had no intention of actually bing a caged bird in the harem. It was always better to rely on yourself than other people.
His subordinates hadn''t developed to the point of being able to work on their own. Shen Yu had the experience he gained in his previous life, and it wouldn''t be difficult to train them. It was just that some of the subordinates he was ustomed to having weren''t under hismand yet.
That was why he needed to go to the vige personally to check the situation.
Shen Yu had been reborn at such a random time. He barely solved the matter of Shen QingRan and his mother, and it was already time to enter the harem. When the pce sent attendants to the marquis'' residence, Shen Yu couldn''t reveal all his cards. He always contacted his people in secret.
Shang JunLin moved quickly. That night, the numerous gifts sent by the vassal kings appeared in Yuzhang Pce without attracting attention.
Shen Yu gave Mu Xi instructions in advance. When the items were delivered, Mu Xi had an empty room prepared.
The gifts included all kinds of rare and exotic treasures, most of which were glittering jewels, but there was also some beautifully crafted porcin. Shen Yu even found an entire box of gold.
It wasn''t on the gift list.
"Your Majesty, your younger and elder uncles have so much money." Shen Yu sighed.
"They do seem anxious to leave." If not, why would they part with so much property? "This emperor is also surprised they brought so much money with them."
"Maybe they originally intended to develop their power in the capital." Shen Yu didn''t think it was strange. "If you have money, you can get a devil to turn a millstone. As long as you''re willing to spend, you can always find a few people who want money and don''t care about their lives."
Shen Yu thought it over. The vassal kings had brought so much money with them. Clearly, they had a few ns. Their fiefdoms were far away. If they had eyes and ears in the capital, it was much better than knowing nothing in their fiefs.
But they had no idea so many things would happen after they came to the capital, and now they were scared out of their wits. Even if they wanted to spend their money, given all the turmoil, no one dared to ept it.
Out of all of them, the King of Yue was the one who was most ready to vomit blood. After a lot of hard work, he was finally able to confirm that he was the blood of the previous emperor, but most of his arrangements in the capital had to be abandoned. The people he wanted to pull to his side withdrew because of the chaos.
Compared to the King of Yue, the current emperor was far more frightening.
"Your Highness, another message arrived from the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. Should we ignore it like thest one?"
The King of Yue was sitting at his desk reviewing what had happened recently. When he heard his servant, he nearly told him to deal with it the same as before. Then a thought urred to him, and he changed his mind.
"Wait, bring the letter here. The previous ones too."
He couldn''t return empty-handed!
The subordinate soon returned with arge pile of letters.
The King of Yue''s eye twitched. "Why are there so many?"
"There are several letters here from many other young masters anddies of major families. Would you like to look at them as well, Your Highness?"
In order to facilitate hister ns, aftering to the capital the King of Yue had deliberately befriended several junior family members of important officials. Some were purely friends, while others were slightly more significant than that.
Too many things had happenedtely. The King of Yue was busy proving his bloodline was genuine. He hadn''t contacted many of these people for a long time. He rubbed his forehead with a fresh headache and said, "Bring them all here."
The owners of these letters were like Shen QingRan. The King of Yue had befriended them while concealing his identity, but not all of these people were interested in him.
Many of the letters contained words of sympathy and concern. The King of Yue flipped through them and put them aside. Then his hand stopped moving.
He was looking at a letter from Shen QingRan. The King of Yue ignored the crooked, ugly calligraphy and carefully examined the content of the letter.
The more he read, the more solemn his face became.
"Didn''t he say he wants to see this king? Go and arrange a time for this king to meet him." The King of Yue flexed the letter in his hand. If Shen QingRan truly knew more than he wrote in the letter, he had to find a way to take Shen QingRan back with him.
He couldn''t allow these things to fall into the hands of Shang JunLin!
The subordinate epted the orders and left.
The King of Yue stood in front of the window, and the smile on his face gradually widened. He thought Shen Yu was the only person in the Zhenbei Marquis'' family who would be of great use to him, but as it turned out he was wrong. Shen QingRan ah, Shen QingRan. What an enormous surprise.
Shen QingRan soon received the King of Yue''s reply.
After a period of peace and quiet, the Zhenbei Marquis gave in to the repeated pleas of Aunt Ru and no longer confined Shen QingRan at home.
Shen QingRan''s leg was slowly improving. He had no intention of being trapped in the marquis'' residence until he died, and he certainly wasn''t willing to be subordinate to Shen Yu for the rest of his life. After thinking about it, there was only one person he could use, although the identity of the King of Yue was still unclear to him.
As if clutching hisst straw, Shen QingRan rifled through everything he knew, chose some things that would definitely be of use to a powerful man, and sent a servant to the King of Yue.
If the King of Yue had any desire for that position, he''de to Shen QingRan when he saw the letter. But even if he didn''t, nothing in the letter would hurt Shen QingRan.
After waiting several days, Shen QingRan finally received a reply. As he read the name of the meeting ce in the letter, he slowly smiled.
The date the vassal kings would return had been set. The vassal kings, who''d been unable to leave for a long time, wept with joy and sent a lot of nice things to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu didn''t think there''d be follow-up benefits. He divided half with Shang JunLin and put the rest away for himself.
Shang JunLin said nothing. He epted everything, and then he turned around and found an excuse to deliver another batch of rewards to Yuzhang Pce. These things were in no way inferior to the gifts sent by the vassal kings.
Meng Gonggong delivered the reward.
It had to be said that Shang JunLin''s actions once again underscored the public perception of his attitude towards Shen Yu. Meng Gonggong, who knew the inside story about the vassal kings, felt the weight of Shen Yu in Shang JunLin''s heart even more deeply.
By now, Mu Xi had grown numb to the rewards sent to Yuzhang Pce from time to time. Her master gave half the "spoils" to His Majesty, but a couple of dayster, His Majesty sent back a reward that was twice asrge.
She exchanged nces with Meng Gonggong, and they couldn''t help wondering the same thing: Is this the way royal husbands show their love?
Maybe people who weren''t rich or powerful enough really couldn''t understand.
"Your Majesty."
After morning court, Shang JunLin returned to Yuzhang Pce. Ever since Shen Yu entered the harem, the emperor had be ustomed to returning there directly. As soon as he stepped through the gate, he was greeted by Shen Yu.
Shang JunLin quickened his pace, and an unconscious smile appeared in his eyes. "Isn''t this your nap time? Why are you still outside?"
"The sudden reward Your Majesty sent frightened me so much I couldn''t sleep," Shen Yuined, but he was only half sincere. "There''s hardly any room left in Yuzhang Pce."
"The noble monarch doesn''t like it?"
"I like it," Shen Yu answered honestly. "But why did Your Majesty reward me with so many things?"
Shen Yu couldn''t remember doing anything recently.
"The noble monarch gave this emperor a gift. It made this emperor very happy, so I wanted to make you happy too."
Shen Yu truly was happy, but
"I was hoping to enrich Your Majesty''s treasury. But not only did I not enrich it, I made Your Majesty dig out another sum."
"Everything this emperor owns belongs to the noble monarch too, doesn''t it? This emperor just moved it to another ce. If this emperor can''t even afford to support Ah Yu, I wouldn''t be the emperor of Da Huan."
Shen Yu''s heart warmed so much when he heard this that he couldn''t help wrapping his arm around Shang JunLin''s waist and burying his face in the man''s shoulder. He said to himself secretly: Sure enough, money charms the eyes. If Shang JunLin made any excessive demands of him right now, his brain was so feverish he might just agree.
Shang JunLin had no idea what he''d missed. He mentioned something else: "The Hidden Dragon Guard sent word that the King of Yue is nning to meet privately with your shu brother. It''s set for three days after the vassal kings leave the capital."
"They haven''t broken contact yet." Shen Yu thought that after so many twists and turns, the two would develop differently than in his previous life.
"Your shu brother sent him a letter. It''s not clear what he wrote, but the King of Yue decided to risk staying a few more days to see him."
"Didn''t Your Majesty say the King of Yue concealed his identity in the capital and met with the children of a lot of officials? Including some young women from the ministers'' families." Shen Yu didn''t have to ask to know what the King of Yue was thinking. "Why don''t we send them all a letter too? After all, it''s theirst chance to see him before he goes. How can he favor one person over another?"
Shen Yu leaned against Shang JunLin''s shoulder and smiled. "It should make for an interesting scene."
The author has something to say:
The King of Yue: You two have taken all the bamboo shoots on the mountain
TL Notes:
Due to the holiday tomorrow I''m going to take a day off from posting to rest. TY~~
fatuous and self-indulgent ruler incapable ruler, foolish emperor
caged bird canary
If you have money, you can get a devil to turn a millstone An idiom. / fig. with money, you can get anything done / money talks
want money and don''t care about their lives AKA "get rich or die trying"
You two have taken all the bamboo shoots on the mountain A meme which basically means "you two are really bad" or "really powerful", as in "you snatched all the bamboo shoots on the mountain from all the other pandas (and now they''re going to starve)". It''s rted to a previous meme spawned by a vlogger about "snatching bamboo shoots" (), a near-homophone for "multiple losses" () (various, Google)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
younger uncle sh shu father''s younger brother
elder uncle b bo father''s elder brother
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Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Shang JunLin couldn''t help thinking about that image. He tried to suppress the rising corners of his mouth. "It will certainly give the King of Yue a headache." His voice still held a trace of a smile.
Shen Yu hinted with a look. "Your Majesty?"
Shang JunLin: "Doesn''t the noble monarch still have the token of the Hidden Dragon Guard? Just order them to do it."
Shen Yu hesitated. "Would it be inappropriate to ask Your Majesty''s Hidden Dragon Guard to do something like that?"
Shang JunLin didn''t care. "It''s just passing a few letters. It''s not a difficult task."
After ascertaining the time and ce the King of Yue and Shen QingRan had arranged to meet, Shen Yu told the Hidden Dragon Guard to deliver the messages.
To be honest, Shen Yu didn''t have anything in particr nned. He just wanted to inflict some unhappiness on the pair.
He was pretty sure he could guess what Shen QingRan wrote in his letter to the King of Yue. It would be the same sort of thing as in hisst life. Thanks to his knowledge of future generations, Shen QingRan was able to trick a lot of people. In that book, it said Shen QingRan was favored by the King of Yue because of his unique personality and endless array of original ideas.
Shen Yu leaned back against the soft couch and poked Shang JunLin''s leg. "Isn''t Your Majesty curious about what Shen QingRan wrote to the King of Yue?"
The man who was approving memorials paused slightly, and then his leg muscles tensed. He put down his pen and grabbed Shen Yu''s disorderly hand. "This emperor is only interested in what the noble monarch writes."
Shen Yu gazed up at Shang JunLin, and the corners of his mouth quirked. "Is Your Majesty hinting that I should write you letters?"
Shang JunLin simply put down the report and scooped Shen Yu into his arms. "This emperor thinks the noble monarch might as well help me read memorials for a while."
Shen Yu squirmed a little and refused. "Your Majesty has to learn to do things on your own. You should squeeze those ministers, not me."
"Noble monarch, don''t move around."
Shang JunLin''s voice suddenly became low and hoarse. Shen Yu''s body stiffened, pressed by a sudden, scorching hot presence. He didn''t dare to stimte Shang JunLin anymore.
After sitting for a while, the heat didn''t dissipate at all. Shen Yu couldn''t stand it. "Your Majesty, let go," he whispered.
It''s really hard to be poked constantly ah.
Shang JunLin wasn''t nning to do anything. He patted Shen Yu''s lower back and rxed his arms.
Shen Yu hurriedly stood up. He moved to the other side of the soft couch and looked at Shang JunLin carefully. "Your Majesty, why don''t I step outside for a while?"
"No need."
Shen Yu picked up a book and sat on the other side of the couch, flipping through it absentmindedly.
A quarter of an hourter, Shen Yu lifted his head from the book and nced at the man sitting perfectly upright on the other side.
The emperor''s robes were heavy. Shen Yu couldn''t tell whether Shang JunLin had extinguished the fire.
Shen Yu turned a few more pages of the book, and then he looked at Shang JunLin again. "Your Majesty?"
"Hmm?"
The voice was calm. It seemed like nothing was wrong.
The rm in Shen Yu''s mind died down. He rxed and slowly returned to Shang JunLin''s side. "Your Majesty, this isn''t good."
Shang JunLin didn''t look back. "And who should this emperor me for that?"
Shen Yu, who squirmed his way into the fire and did nothing to help to extinguish it, shut his mouth.
The room was quiet. For a time, there was only the rustling sound of the folded memorials and the soft sound of a writing brush against a page.
In order to take care of Shen Yu''s health, the room was kept at a high temperature. In such a warm environment it was easy for people to drift off to sleep.
Shen Yu blinked his eyes and felt a little tired.
Aware of his sleepiness, Shang JunLin handed over a memorial. "Look at this, noble monarch."
With some doubt, Shen Yu took the memorial and opened it.
"Eh? There''s progress already?"
The memorial had been submitted by Lin County. The excitement of the person who wrote the report could be read between the lines.
"After the noble monarch gave this emperor the booklet of water control methods, this emperor immediately ordered someone to go to Lin County. ording to the news they sent back, they''ve already seen results."
Lin County''s problems couldn''t be solved overnight, and Shang JunLin didn''t expect to see a clear oue immediately after trying the new methods. To his surprise, after less than two months there was already good news.
Shen Yu''s drowsiness immediately disappeared. He carefully read the memorial and sighed. "That''s good."
If they could prevent trouble ahead of time, the huge losses of his previous life would never happen.
Soon it was the date the vassal kings would depart. Unlike previous years, when some of them tried to dawdle and others refused to leave, this time the vassal kings packed up at dawn, gave their salutes, and rushed off without waiting for anyone to send them.
Meanwhile, the number of schrs heading to the capital for the examination continued to grow. A few woke up early and were able to watch the vassal kings depart.
Some of the schrs who''d just arrived in the capital were puzzled. "Why are they in such a hurry to leave? They''re not going to wait?"
"The scheduled time is today, or I''m afraid all the princes would have left even earlier."
"Why''s that?"
"Hahaha, didn''t you hear what happened? They''re probably afraid that if they stay they''ll end up like the King of Huaiyu and the King of Li."
After the vassal kings departed, the capital returned to calm.
The King of Yue''s carriage made a public show of leaving. No one noticed the real King of Yue had changed his clothes and gone to an establishment where examination candidates had gathered.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin also disguised themselves and left the pce.
In order to avoid being recognized, both of them camouged their faces a little, pretending to be schrs who''d traveled to the capital for the exam. They went to thergest restaurant and lodging house in the capital, Yingxing House.
The owner of this establishment was a clever businessman and knew the importance of reputation. During Spring Festival, he weed schrs who came to the capital for the exam and charged them low prices.
If they won schrly honor, not only would their food and amodations be free, they''d also receive lucky money. All they had to do in exchange was leave an example of their calligraphy.
A lot of candidates were willing to stay there for that reason. After all, Yingxing House had produced numerous sessful schrs, which made it auspicious as well.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin sat face to face by a window in an elegant private room. Shen Yu listened to the endless introduction of the waiter and gave a thumbs up in approval. "You have a skilled proprietor."
"That''s right." The waiter was obviously proud of his restaurant. "Aside from everything else, the taste of our dishes is unique. If you spend time here you''ll definitely think it''s worth the money!
The waiter didn''t forget to do business after giving the introduction. "What would the two of you like to order?"
"Bring some of your signature dishes." Shen Yu thought. "Do you have any good desserts or snacks here?"
"You asked the right person. Everyone who tries our light refreshments says they''re excellent. We have everything from sweet to savory. If I say so myself, there isn''t another restaurant in the capital with more styles of snacks than us."
"In that case, bring us something sweet. Whatever''s the most popr."
"Of course. Wait one moment and I''ll tell the kitchen to prepare them." The waiter took note of each item they ordered. "What about wine? What would you like to drink?"
This time, without waiting for Shen Yu to speak, Shang JunLin said, "No wine."
The waiter was startled. He probably didn''t meet many male customers who didn''t want alcohol. However, he adjusted quickly and his expression didn''t change. "I see."
"It''s because I''m not in good health and can''t drink," Shen Yu exined with a smile.
"Of course. Please wait here a moment."
Today the city felt different from theirst outing. Shen Yu hadn''t experienced such a lively atmosphere in a long time. He poured a cup of green tea for himself and Shang JunLin.
He handed the cup to Shang JunLin. "How does Your Majesty feel?"
There was a great deal of noise andmotion downstairs, including a lot of boisterous, incessant conversation. They were in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city, integrated with the glittering world outside the pce.
As he felt the cool breeze against his face, Shen Yu felt that he''d truly gone back to the past.
Shang JunLin took a sip from his tea cup. "If Ah Yu likes it, we cane more often."
"Then I''ll trouble Ah Lin to apany me a few times," Shen Yu said with a smile. "Without Ah Lin, it wouldn''t be fun by myself."
"You just want me to follow behind, pay for and carry things for you, right?" Shang JunLin mercilessly pierced Shen Yu''s lie.
"Ah Lin, aren''t you clear about that already?" Shen Yu rested his chin in both hands. "If I just wanted someone to carry things, any pce servant would do. Ah Lin is different."
After some coaxing, His Majesty was quick to pay for everything during the rest of the outing.
Yingxing House worked quickly. Even though there were a lot of guests, Shen Yu and Shang JunLin didn''t have to wait long. About a quarter of an hourter, the dishes began to arrive one after another.
They didn''t fail their reputation as the number one restaurant in the capital. Every dish was full of color, aroma, and vor.
Shen Yu paid close attention to Shang JunLin as he ate. Seeing his eyebrows rx, Shen Yu knew the man was satisfied with the meal.
One of the dishes was braised carp in sauce with a rich, beautiful brown color. Shen Yu nced at the dish several times but didn''t serve himself.
His eyes swept carelessly downstairs and then stopped. Shen Yu tugged Shang JunLin''s sleeve. "Ah Lin, do you think that''s the King of Yue?"
Not far downstairs, a man in white was standing with two young young men dressed as schrs. It wasn''t clear what they were talking about.
Shang JunLin followed Shen Yu''s finger. "It''s him."
Although the King of Yue was in disguise, Shen Yu had dealt with him so long in his previous life that it was impossible not to recognize him. Moreover, the King of Yue had initially approached him with the same appearance.
Shen Yu took a piece of food and put it in his mouth. "What is he doing here?"
"Maybe he''s hoping to meet people who will be officials at court in the future." Shang JunLin carefully picked out the bones from the fish and pushed the bowl in front of Shen Yu.
Surprised, Shen Yu looked at the bowl in front of him. "This is"
"I''ve seen you look at the carp several times without lifting your chopsticks. Are you thinking about bones? Don''t worry, I picked out all the bones in this bowl. You won''t choke on any."
Shang JunLin''s tone was as usual. He didn''t think he''d done much.
Shen Yu slowly took a piece of fish and put it in his mouth. His heart was aching and tender. He couldn''t have said what he was feeling.
As he slowly ate the fish in the bowl, Shen Yu didn''t spare any more thoughts for the King of Yue.
But some things don''t disappear even if you stop caring about them.
The two ate quietly for a while. Then a noise came from outside their room, and one of the voices belonged to none other than the King of Yue, whom they''d noticed not long ago.
Shen Yu didn''t intend to pay attention to him, and when he nced at Shang JunLin, he clearly had the same intention.
Then, from outside, the door suddenly mmed open. The waiter came in with an apologetic face. "I''m very sorry to disturb the two guests."
Shen Yu looked over and saw a woman in pink standing before the King of Yue, telling him something in a stern voice. Around them were several other women dressed in fine clothes.
Two young men dressed as schrs stood awkwardly to the side, looking like they wanted to persuade her but didn''t know what to say.
Shen Yu scanned the crowd. He wasn''t surprised to see Shen QingRan standing not far from the King of Yue.
Shen QingRan was dressed in light blue. His head was bowed and it wasn''t possible to see his expression.
Seeming not to notice that the door had just been knocked open, the woman in front of the King of Yue appeared to be annoyed by whatever he''d just said. She suddenly raised her voice.
"What do you mean by that? Feelings? Aren''t you just raising fish? Look at this." The woman pointed to all the people around her. "Red, pink, green, yellow, blue Are you nning to collect all the colors and open a dyeing workshop?"
TL Notes:
establishment, lodging house and restaurant, restaurant A traditional Chinese restaurant. These ces frequently offered amodations as well as food. They had two or three floors and could host multiple banquets at a time. Downstairs might be scattered tables, while upstairs were small private rooms. Some had multiple buildings connected by raised balconies (Baidu)
lucky money tips given on a happy asion (e.g. a wedding, birthday celebration, etc.), money given by family to celebrate a happy event
(an example of their) calligraphy ink treasure calligraphy, beautiful writing, valued piece of calligraphy or painting
light refreshments, snacks dessert; snack; light refreshments; pastry; dim sum
braised carp in sauce carp cooked with soy sauce and brown sugar
raising fish Inte meme from a TV show which means a person is raising their own "fish pond" of backup people to date. They''re emotionally unfaithful and ying around etc. (Baidu)
Are you nning to collect all the colors and open a dyeing workshop? An idiom for people with insatiable greed. Give them one, they want three more. Give them an inch, they want a mile, etc. There''s a simr version which means someone puffed up after a little praise or went to extremes ("gave you a little color and you opened a dyeing workshop") (Baidu)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Yingxing House
[ Project Page | Ko-Fi | Other trantions by Confectioner ]
Chapter 44
Chapter 44
"Pfft." Shen Yu couldn''t helpughing out loud. He covered his mouth, not wanting to interrupt such a big show.
Shen Yu drifted over to Shang JunLin and sat down beside him. In a low voice, Shen Yu said, "I''m surprised the King of Yue provoked such eloquent people. Open a dyeing workshop? Hahaha. He must be dying of anger."
Shen Yu wasughing so hard he almost toppled over. Shang JunLin had no choice but to hold his shoulders to prevent him from falling.
"What girl is that? So talented."
Shang JunLin wrapped his arms around the young man who fell against him,ughing. "She''s the only daughter of Minister Fang," he answered.
"Oh, she''s from Minister Fang''s family. Minister Fang really taught his daughter well," Shen Yu praised.
But the drama on that side wasn''t over, mainly because the girl in pink refused to give up.
The King of Yue was exasperated. All he wanted was to meet Shen QingRan in private. He wasn''t expecting to meet all these other people at the same time.
Recently the court had been in a state of flux, which made it impossible to approach the ministers. If not for that, he wouldn''t have needed to find another way and make advances to the children of officials.
People are always defenseless against their families, and the King of Yue had picked up a lot of useful information this way. After getting a taste of sess, the King of Yue made use of his usual tricks and befriended the children of several important people.
Shang JunLin told Shen Yu what the Hidden Dragon Guard had found out.
Shen Yu beckoned to the waiter to get a small dish of melon seeds. While nibbling, he said, "The King of Yue really spared no effort."
The man didn''t hesitate to go into battle personally to seduce people.
When he heard Shen Yu''s meaning, the corners of Shang JunLin''s mouth rose slightly.
"Ah Lin should eat too." Shen Yu grabbed a handful of melon seeds and gave them to Shang JunLin.
He continued to eat while enjoying the show.
Fortunately, they were located in a small room upstairs, and there weren''t many other guests there. Most of the people standing around the King of Yue had received letters from him.
None of them had any idea they''d run into such a scene when they came.
"I don''t want to listen to your excuses. I''ll say it here and now. You have to give us an exnation!" the woman in pink said bluntly.
The other women nodded in unison.
They were all pampered youngdies. When had they ever suffered such an indignity? If the King of Yue wouldn''t give them a satisfactory answer, they wouldn''t just let the matter drop.
The King of Yue''s headache was getting worse. When he contacted Minister Fang''s daughter, he liked her sassy personality, but it wasn''t nearly as fun when it was directed at him.
The moment he stepped through the door of the private room and saw the woman in pink, he knew it wouldn''t be good. And he was right. Before he could say a word, the woman bombarded him with questions that left him speechless.
If it was only the woman in pink, he could have found a way to appease her. But as it turned out, there were several other people in the room.
Before he had a chance to say anything, all he could do was retreat one step at a time.
Shen Yu nudged Shang JunLin with his elbow. "What do you think? How will the King of Yue resolve this crisis?"
Shang JunLin shook his head. Then he thought of something, and his hawk-like eyes stared at Shen Yu. "Do you know?"
Shen Yu froze for a moment, then he pulled his attention from the "battlefield" and pursed his lips. "I only have Ah Lin. How is it possible for me to enjoy the blessings'' of the King of Yue?"
Shang JunLin looked away and continued to peel melon seeds.
The King of Yue held back his impatience and tried to appease the woman in pink. "Why don''t we go inside and talk about it? I promise to give you an exnation!"
The woman disdained this kind of two-timing man. "No need. Let''s just stay here. Say it clearly and I''ll go."
Several other finely-dressed women nodded along. "The same goes for us."
When thesedies first learned the truth, they didn''t know what to think. Fortunately, the youngdy of the Fang family showed them the true face of this g man. There were thousands of men in the world. They all had good family backgrounds, and they didn''t need to waste themselves on a scumbag.
Right now, they only wanted justice.
There was a lot ofmotion. One by one, guests from other rooms came out to watch the excitement. Because of the uing event, most of the guests in Yingxing House were students who came to the capital from all over the empire to take the exam. The King of Yue had managed topletely ruin his image in the eyes of these schrs.
One of the new arrivals didn''t understand what was going on. "What just happened?" he asked doubtfully.
"It seems like this man cheated on several youngdies at the same time."
"Oh, so many?!"
"I think it''s not onlydies. There are also some handsome-looking young gentlemen over there."
Feeling the strange eyes sweeping towards them from time to time, the two young schrs standing by the King of Yue frowned in embarrassment and quietly backed away.
They don''t want to be sshed by muddy water.
The goodwill they felt for the King of Yue also sank to the bottom.
No amount of talent could cure a bad character.
The two looked at each other and silently removed the King of Yue from their list of acquaintances.
With so many gossipy eyes looking his way, Shen QingRan clenched his fists. He didn''t understand how such a thing happened. He thought that after today he''d be able to soar to great heights, but he''d only jumped from one abyss into another.
The number of people gathered around them increased more and more, and the arguing voices got louder and louder. The King of Yue''s forehead twitched. He was almost unable to maintain the expression on his face.
The cheated women surrounded the King of Yue and didn''t let him go. The woman in pink didn''t care about the outsiders who were watching. All she wanted was justice for herself and the other women this man had cheated.
Shen Yu watched with relish. In order to get a better view, he pulled Shang JunLin over to the door, where they mixed into the crowd.
The sound of Shen Yu crunching melon seeds attracted the attention of people nearby.
Shen Yu noticed their nces and generously held out his hand. "Would you like some?"
A schr dressed in green actually epted a small handful of melon seeds from Shen Yu.
Shang JunLin''s gaze fell on the student in green like a shadow.
No matter how much the student wanted to watch the show, it was impossible for him to just stand there enduring those eyes. In a low voice he asked Shen Yu, "I wonder how to address the two young masters?"
"My surname is Yu, and his surname is Lin." Shen Yu pointed to himself and then Shang JunLin.
"Young Master Yu. Young Master Lin." The student in green greeted them, then introduced himself. "My surname is Jiang. You can just call me HuaiQing."
Jiang HuaiQing.
Shen Yu quietly looked at the young man in front of him. He was full of energy and youthful spirit, not yet worn down by the trials and tribtions of life. He didn''t have that world-weary, pessimistic air.
His most powerful subordinate from his previous life was still a vibrant young man, untouched by wind and frost.
Shen Yu hooked the corners of his mouth. Compared to the mncholy subordinate he knew in his previous life, he preferred this Jiang HuaiQing who still had light in his eyes.
"Is HuaiQing staying here too?"
Jiang HuaiQing nodded and thought of something a little embarrassing. "Originally, some of mypanions said they wanted to introduce a friend to me today, but I didn''t expect"
Shen Yu understood. "The person they were going to introduce is the man currently surrounded by youngdies?"
Jiang HuaiQing nodded. "Now it''s impossible for me to befriend him no matter what."
A heavy gaze fell on his body, and Jiang HuaiQing felt a burst of cold intent. Under a sudden, fierce sense of crisis, his hair began to stand on end.
Jiang HuaiQing suspiciously looked around for the source of this gaze. When he saw it came from the man standing beside Shen Yu, he froze.
Looking at the man''s possessive posture towards Shen Yu, Jiang HuaiQing immediately made a certain guess and silently stood a little farther from Shen Yu.
Sure enough, after he intentionally tried to avoid suspicion, the temperature around his body rose.
Feeling a bit numb, Jiang HuaiQing once again turned his eyes to the crowd. He''d better continue to eat melons.
Shen Yu didn''t notice this small interaction. While paying attention to the King of Yue, he murmured quietly to Shang JunLin.
The King of Yue was in a sorry state. Minister Fang''s daughter was extremely hard to deal with. No matter what he said, she didn''t relent, and she easily saw through his lies. With her as the leader, the other women became even more difficult to handle.
The King of Yue really regretted what he''d done. If he''d known this would happen, he wouldn''t have tried to seduce Minister Fang''s daughter in an attempt to get information about the emperor. Not only did he not get any useful news, he also stirred up a storm.
"This woman is so powerful." Jiang HuaiQing couldn''t help but sigh. "With just a few words, she forced that man into a rout. I doubt most men could be so clear and logical."
Shen Yu nodded in agreement. The King of Yue had really kicked an iron te this time.
Shang JunLin approached slightly, leaned close to Shen Yu''s ear, and lowered his voice. Only the two of them could hear: "This daughter of Minister Fang''s family can really stand toe-to-toe with anyone."
His warm breath met Shen Yu''s sensitive earlobe. Shen Yu trembled a little, and his ear gradually flushed red.
As scarlet seeped into the pure white jade, the color of Shang JunLin''s eyes grew darker and deeper, and the tip of his teeth began to ache.
He couldn''t resist getting closer.
Shen Yu felt a sting of pain. Before he had time to think, he abruptly raised his hand to cover his ear and turned his head in dissatisfaction. "What are you doing?"
Shang JunLin didn''t feel the slightest trace of guilt. "Doesn''t Ah Yu think I''m right?"
Shen Yu''s ears were burning, and the feeling of being bitten lingered. He ground his teeth and wanted to bite Shang JunLin back.
Jiang HuaiQing, who happened to see this exchange, rigidly turned away and forgot what he was going to say to Shen Yu.
Under the increasing pressure of the woman in pink, the King of Yue was eventually forced to apologize. At that point, a woman who''d been standing silently in the corner stood up and said in a stern voice:
"This man is His Highness the King of Yue. Why should he apologize tomoners like you? You''re lucky he even looked at you!"
"Oh"
A single stone created thousands of waves.
"Is that man really the King of Yue?"
"Didn''t the King of Yue return to his fief like the other vassal kings?"
"She doesn''t look like she''s lying. It''s a serious crime to nder the imperial family."
"But don''t all the rumors say the King of Yue is gentle and refined and stays aloof from the world?"
"Like you said, it''s just a rumor. You can know a person or recognize their face, but you still don''t know their heart. Who knows what he''s like in private?"
The sound of discussion suddenly rose.
Shen Yu poked Shang JunLin''s arm. "Did you arrange this?"
Shang JunLin frowned. "No."
He told the Hidden Dragon Guard to deliver the letters, nothing else.
Shen Yu held his chin and thought. How interesting, who else had a big grudge against the King of Yue and wanted to reveal his identity at a time like this?
The King of Yue''s face changed in an instant, and his murderous gaze shot straight at the woman.
He''d intended to put an end to his current identity. Anyway, he was going back to his fief and wouldn''t be able to return to the capital for a while. It wasn''t a big deal to wait until the fuss died down ande back under a new identityter. But if his real name was exposed, all his previous efforts would be in vain!
"The King of Yue? Then he''s not raising fish, he''s choosing concubines," someone in the crowd said sarcastically. "No wonder his selections are all girls from leading families."
The woman in pink said with disdain, "Choosing concubines? Does he really think he''s worthy? His Majesty only needs one person in his harem, so why does the mere King of Yue want to catch every noblewoman in his?"
TL Notes:
melon seeds Like popcorn, amon food for people to eat while watching a show or enjoying drama they''re not personally involved in
eat melon An Inte term which refers to people who gossip about issues online that have no connection to themselves (Baidu), people who are just onlookers enjoying the show. In English we might say they''re eating popcorn. Eating melon seeds is a rted activity.
spared no effort willing to part with capital / experiences / abilities
two-timing do the splits, split legs AKA cheating
wind and frost wind and frost hardships of a journey or of one''s life
in a sorry state be scorched by the mes; badly battered; beat sb.''s head off; be bruised and battered; be scorched and burned; in a sorry plight; in a terrible fix; smash heads and scorch brows; utterly exhausted from overwork [anxiety]
stirred up a storm caused a fishy mess
can really stand toe-to-toe with anyone (idiom) topare favorably with men in terms of ability, bravery etc / to be a match for men / lit. not conceding to men (beard and eyebrows)
You can know a person or recognize their face, but you still don''t know their heart We may know a man''s exterior but not his heart; It is impossible to judge a man''s heart from his face; One may know a person for a long time without understanding his true nature; You know a man or you recognize him when you see him, but you don''t know his heart
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Young Master Yu
Young Master Lin
Jiang HuaiQing
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Chapter 45
Chapter 45
The woman in pink spoke with so much disgust that many of the people present couldn''t help butugh.
"When you think about it, it''s true that His Majesty didn''t select a single highborndy. The King of Yue is really goodhe went into battle personally and chose them for himself."
"The key isn''t that he chose them, but that he hid his identity and deceived innocent women. It''s really shameless."
Some of them had a good impression of the King of Yue and tried to excuse what he''d done.
"Did that woman speak up deliberately? She must have a grudge against the King of Yue and wants to smear him."
"The King of Yue is still a prince, no matter what kind of women he likes. It doesn''t make sense for him to conceal his identity and meet the daughters of so many eminent families from the capital, right?"
"You''re missing the point. There are men here too."
"When you put it that way, the King of Yue really doesn''tpare to His Majesty."
"That''s only natural. Otherwise, why would he still just be the King of Yue?"
The fact that Shang JunLin only wanted one person, Shen Yu, in his harem had left many courtiers dissatisfied, but it won him a particrly good response from themon people. Their emperor was affectionate and devoted and didn''t hesitate to confront his ministers for the sake of love, which immediately gave everyone a more human impression of him.
In the past, all they heard about the emperor was how cruel he was and how many people he''d killed. It was frightening to listen to, but this was different. After hearing about it, people felt that the emperor had a heart. He fought for his lover like an ordinary man. Like anyone else he had seven emotions and six desires, not just bloodlust.
During all this, Shen QingRan hid in the corner and didn''t dare to show his face. When he learned the true identity of the King of Yue, he was surprised, but only for a moment. He had no choice but to continue to watch the embarrassing situation in front of him.
At the same time, his jealousy of Shen Yu reached a peak. Why had Shen Yu met someone who was devoted solely to him, while the man he met was a master of fish farming?
Oh, nevermind, the King of Yue''s fish pond had overturned, and he only had himself to me.
Shen QingRan searched his memories, trying to understand how everything had gone so wrong. The King of Yue wouldn''t be so stupid as to ask everyone to meet at the ce.
It was a pity that no matter how much he thought about it, he never came up with an answer.
The King of Yue''s face turned red, then white, as he listened to the crowd''s chatter. The most unbearable thing was beingpared to Shang JunLin, especially when he himself was the negative example!
His eyes went to each of the people around him, seeing their mouths open and close, speaking the words he least wanted to hear. He wanted these people to shut up, but when he tried to speak it was like he''d lost his voice.
What was he going to say?!
What could he say?!
In the midst of his panic, he suddenly thought of something and stared in the direction of the woman who''d revealed his true identity just now.
She was wearing a long, light blue dress and a matching cinnabar hairpin. Her small face was pale and pitiful.
Wrong!
The fog in his mind dispersed as though with a de of light. The King of Yue calmed down and observed the woman carefully.
As if frightened by his gaze, she shrank back.
The woman in pink noticed this interaction and moved to block the King of Yue''s line of sight.
The King of Yue was about to get angry, but when he saw the woman in pink''s indignant expression, he held his tongue.
"Your Highness the King of Yue is so powerful. You don''t even care that you''ve been identified, and now you want to threaten our sisters?"
Facing the King of Yue, the woman in pink didn''t back down at all.
" I don''t." The King of Yue''s aura was reduced by half. "I''m just confused. I don''t even know that woman. Why is she here?"
Given the situation, not many people believed him.
"Still lying after all this? That''s too much even for a king, isn''t it?"
"She probably recognized him by ident, and now she''s dreaming of flying to a high branch and bing a phoenix."
Shen Yu watched this increasingly exciting drama with enormous interest. He discussed it with Shang JunLin in a low voice.
"I wonder if the King of Yue really doesn''t know that woman or if he''s just saying that."
"Either way, from now on everyone will think she''s one of his beauties."
Shen Yu was pleased to see the King of Yue so unlucky. "It will be difficult for him to argue his way out of it, won''t it?"
"It turns out that man really is the King of Yue." Jiang HuaiQing was almost speechless. "How could a king do something so disgraceful?"
Shen Yu: "A person''s character has nothing to do with his rank."
Jiang HuaiQing: "That''s true, but even if he''s a king, it doesn''t mean he can just cheat a youngdy."
"More than that, look over there." Shen Yu unobtrusively pointed to the side. "I think those people have something to do with him as well."
Jiang HuaiQing looked where Shen Yu was pointing and took a deep breath. "It turns out he didn''t just try to entrap those ministers'' daughters. He also didn''t spare their sons."
The confrontation between the King of Yue and the woman in pink continued. The King of Yue wanted to go over to the woman who identified him and demand the truth, but the woman in pink was worried he''d attack her and stopped him from getting too close.
When the other onlookers saw what was going on, they hurried to push the two apart, staring at the King of Yue with obvious condemnation.
The King of Yue choked on his own breath. He''d never been in such a wretched situation before.
In the crowd, a clear voice rang out.
"If that man really is the King of Yue, this matter can''t be settled lightly. The youngdies should think carefully. The King of Yue deliberately concealed his identity and approached you. What were his true intentions?"
Most of the people there weren''t fools. It only took a little thought to realize there was something wrong with the situation.
"Yes, exactly, there has to be a reason."
The woman in pink frowned. She was perceptive, and it only took a slight nudge to make her see what was at stake.
Not all of thesedies had stunning looks. Apart from family background, what else could make them worthy of the king''s attention? A little thought revealed that it could only be their senior family members at home who were officials.
They looked around at each other and realized that every one of them had a father or brother who was an official at court.
After the woman in pink figured this out, she felt even more incensed. She was usually extremely cautious not to say anything that shouldn''t be disclosed to outsiders. As for whether everyone else took the same care
She nced at the other women''s faces and saw that a few of them had slightly changed their expressions. It seemed that during their private time with the King of Yue they might have said some things they shouldn''t.
The woman in pink gazed coldly at the man who''d almost led her into a trap. "Well then, King of Yue, what do you have to say?"
Jiang HuaiQing looked at the King of Yue, who was unable to turn the situation around because of Shen Yu''s interjection, and he couldn''t help but give him a thumbs up. "Young Master Yu is powerful."
Shen Yu smiled in response to thepliment. "Too much praise, really."
"Did Young Master Yu have a conflict with the King of Yue in the past?" Jiang HuaiQing was extremely curious about this. Otherwise, why did the other man keep putting the King of Yue into a more difficult situation again and again?
"Oh? What involvement could amoner like myself have with the King of Yue?" Shen Yu''s face didn''t alter. "It''s just that I don''t like to see him bullying so many innocent women. I''m sure that HuaiQing would do the same if you had the chance."
Jiang HuaiQing thought for a moment and nodded. "That''s true. So what if he''s a king? He can''t be greater than His Majesty."
Feeling the hand that gripped his under his sleeve, Shen Yu hooked the man''s palm. Unsurprisingly, he felt the other man''s body stiffen.
Shen Yu pretended not to notice and stopped moving. "How is this rted to His Majesty?"
"Well, His Majesty rules over the four seas and wants for nothing. No matter how much the ministers pressured His Majesty to force him to ept another concubine, His Majesty still said no. He did what he wanted and forced the ministers to hold their noses and ept his decision."
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a man in a light gray robe approaching. Jiang HuaiQing waved. "ChengYu Xiong, over here."
After beckoning, he exined to Shen Yu, "I met ChengYu Xiong on the way to the capital, and we became friends."
A momentter, the man came over, and Jiang HuaiQing introduced them. "This is Young Master Yu and Young Master Lin. This is ChengYu Xiong. His surname is H."
"Young Master H."
Compared with Jiang HuaiQing, H ChengYu''s attitude was a little cold, but among the four of them, Shang JunLin was already extremely icy, so he wasn''t too out of ce.
ustomed to Shang JunLin''s silence, Jiang HuaiQing continued to chat with Shen Yu. asionally H ChengYu interjected a few words.
Before H ChengYu could ask, Jiang HuaiQing exined what just happened. "I never thought I''d see such a thing," hemented.
H ChengYu looked at the embarrassed man in the crowd. "Is that really the King of Yue?"
"I''d say eight or nine out of ten, it''s true. Even if he''s not, it''s not very good."
Shang JunLin protected Shen Yu from the crowd, and Shen Yu was clearly at ease being sheltered. H ChengYu quietly observed the two and concluded their identities weren''t simple.
Shen Yu noticed this and didn''t care. He continued whispering to Shang JunLin.
Shen Yu: "How does Ah Lin think this matter will be resolved?"
Shang JunLin: "What would Ah Yu like to see?"
Shen Yu: "I''d like the King of Yue to learn a lesson. But I don''t know the origin of the woman who revealed his identity."
Shang JunLin: "I''ll tell someone to look into her background and whoever''s behind her. No matter what their purpose is, if it''s rted to us, they''lle out of hiding eventually."
Shen Yu: "To thank him for causing so much trouble to the King of Yue, if he asks for something, Ah Lin might consider granting it if appropriate."
Hidden under the sleeves of his robe, two hands sped each other tightly. Shang JunLin rubbed the back of Shen Yu''s hand and said softly. "Very well."
Shen Yu gave him a meaningful nce. "The King of Yue must have brought some of his forces with him. He might even try to silence some of these people. We can''t let him go that easily."
"Don''t worry." Shang JunLin squeezed Shen Yu''s fingers. "Our people are below."
The King of Yue finally took action. Seeing that the situation was beyond repair, the King of Yue couldn''t help himself. He called for the attendants who were following him covertly, intending to force his way out.
Now that the King of Yue was surrounded by attendants, he spoke in a stern voice, "Since you know this king''s identity, quickly move aside! This king won''t pursue you for the crime of disrespect!"
He had to get away first. He could decide what to doter. As for these students The King of Yue was ruthless to the core. Since they''d seen this scene, he''d make sure they never spoke a word!
After his words fell, there was an uproar.
"The King of Yue is so domineering and powerful." Shen Yu pped his hands and walked out from the crowd. "Shouldn''t Your Highness give these women some justice before you leave?"
"Who are you?" The King of Yue looked at him warily. "Don''t meddle in this king''s business!"
"I''m just a bystander who saw injustice on the road." Shen Yu smiled lightly. "I hope the King of Yue doesn''t think that just because you''re a king you can oppress everyone. You should know you''re just a king. This is Da Huan, and it''s not Your Highness who''s in charge!"
"Well said!" In the crowd, Jiang HuaiQing responded loudly.
Others joined in also. They were all young people with high aspirations and ideals. Maybe in the future when they became officials their principles would be tarnished, but right now they loathed injustice like an enemy. They genuinely wanted to build a career serving the country and the people. What disgusted them most was seeing the strong oppress the weak with their power.
"That''s right, who do you think you are? You dare to oppress the people at the feet of the Son of Heaven?"
"There are so many of us, do you think we''re afraid? Don''t even think about leaving until you make things clear!"
"And shouldn''t the king have already left the capital? Why are you even here?"
The King of Yue''s behavior just now had aroused public anger. Now that his momentum was suppressed, he was inevitably beaten back.
Shen Yu lowered his eyes. Indeed, there would be consequences now.
"You''re" The King of Yue stared at Shen Yu in disbelief. Then he saw the man behind Shen Yu and froze.
The King of Yue ignored everyone else and stared sharply at Shen Yu and Shang JunLin. Even though they were somewhat disguised, he still recognized them.
The emperor and the noble monarch!
Why were they here?!!
Shen Yu put his index finger to his lips and gestured for silence.
The King of Yue stared in amazement.
Not long after, the imperial guard in formal uniforms appeared. They took away the King of Yue, who''dpletely lost his strength.
Shang JunLin asked the leader of the imperial guard to escort the youngdies home.
Before she left, the woman in pink gave Shen Yu a deep look.
After the incident, in order topensate Shen Yu and Shang JunLin for being disturbed, the proprietor of Yingxing House specially served them a new table of food. Jiang HuaiQing dragged H ChengYu over to enjoy it with them.
Shen Yu was hoping to make friends with Jiang HuaiQing, so he didn''t refuse.
Looking at the table full of dishes, Jiang HuaiQing sighed. "The boss of Yingxing House is so generous."
"It''s a good chance to get acquainted," Shen Yu said casually.
"I guess it''s true what they say, the boss of Yingxing House has a lot of connections." If the proprietor didn''t have an impressive background, he wouldn''t be able to afford the expenses of the spring exam season.
Although they''d just met, Jiang HuaiQing was friendly with Shen Yu and spoke from time to time to maintain a warm atmosphere. H ChengYu didn''t say much at first, but after the ice was broken, he began to talk more and more. As for Shang JunLin, he rarely said a word.
"I didn''t even eat all that fish before." Shen Yu regretted it intensely. That was the fish whose bones were removed by His Majesty himself!
As soon as the words left his mouth, a bowl of fish with all the bones removed was pushed before him.
Shen Yu lifted his eyes and looked at Shang JunLin. He didn''t miss the hint of tenderness in the man''s gaze.
"Ah Lin is very kind."
After saying so, he nonchntly dug into the fish.
After that, Jiang HuaiQing saw the man feeding all kinds of things to Shen Yu. In the end, he couldn''t help but ask, "What exactly is the rtionship between you two?"
Even if they were blood-rted brothers, there weren''t many older brothers who took care of their younger brothers like this, were there?
Shen Yu thought for a while. "Us? Ah, you could call it an arranged marriage."
TL Notes:
seven emotions and six desires the seven emotional states and six sensory pleasures. Different schools and religions (Buddhism, traditional Chinese medicine, the Book of Rites (), etc.) have slightly different versions
flying to a high branch and bing a phoenix Common idiom for a woman who wants to raise her status through marriage / a rtionship. The dragon and phoenix are a symbol of blissful rtions between husband and wife. Also, the dragon is associated with the emperor and the phoenix with the empress
rules over the four seas sits on the four seas the whole country, the whole world
loathed injustice like an enemy hate evil as one does one''s enemy; abhor evils as deadly foes; hate evil as if it were one''s enemy; hate evil as one''s enemy [as poison]; hate evildoers as (if they were personal) enemies; hate injustice like poison
after the ice was broken after talking; after the conversation started
arranged marriage forced marriage / arranged marriage (without the consent of the individuals)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
ChengYu Xiong Elder Brother ChengYu
xiong elder brother, a courteous form of address between men
Young Master H H gngz Not the same as the H family () mentioned in Ch 2 and elsewhere
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Chapter 46
Chapter 46
With a tter, Jiang HuaiQing''s chopsticks fell onto the table.
The young man''s mouth sagged open, and he uttered a meaningless syble.
Shang JunLin''s hand also paused.
Only H ChengYu, who''d already guessed the rtionship between the two, remained as usual.
Shen Yu looked at Jiang HuaiQing, who was obviously shocked to the core. "Why, are you surprised?"
"Not really." Jiang HuaiQing smiled awkwardly. "It''s just a little unexpected."
During the short time they spent together, the man''s possessiveness towards Shen Yu was unconcealed, and Shen Yu clearly indulged his every move. Jiang HuaiQing could see their rtionship wasn''t ordinary. What he didn''t expect was
"So you''re already married."
Shen Yu blinked. "There was no other way. Our families insisted."
Jiang HuaiQing was still stunned. "The two of you don''t seem like people who''d be at the mercy of your families."
Shen Yu smiled but didn''t say anything.
During the second half of the meal, Jiang HuaiQing ate without tasting his food.
After they finished, Jiang HuaiQing got up to leave with H ChengYu. He was still trying to digest what he''d heard.
Shen Yu didn''t try to keep him. There was no hurry to get acquainted.
Shang JunLin took a handkerchief and slowly wiped his hands. "Ah Yu seems to have a good impression of that Young Master Jiang."
"Is it that obvious?"
"You haven''t been like this to anyone else." Shang JunLin lightly pointed out the truth.
"Your Majesty doesn''t like me meeting this" Shen Yu deliberately paused. Seeing Shang JunLin''s body gradually tense, he said thest two words, "Young master?"
"It''s enough for the noble monarch to have this emperor." Shang JunLin concluded with a counterexample: "It wouldn''t be good to turn into the King of Yue."
"Hahahaha." Shen Yu cracked up. "Why, is Ah Linparing me to the King of Yue? Do you think I''ll be like him and collect one of every color?"
"I didn''t mean that." He didn''t want to see Shen Yu surrounded by Young Master Jiang and Young Master H for some reason.
"I know." Shen Yu wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. "Ah Lin can rest assured. I don''t have any interest in opening a dye workshop."
Speaking of dye workshops, Shen Yu remembered the woman dressed in pink who scolded the King of Yue so hard he couldn''t answer back.
"Does Your Majesty know anything about that youngdy of the Fang family?"
Shang JunLin was vignt. "What do you have in mind?"
"What does Your Majesty think?" Shen Yu was amused. "I just think it''s a shame she''s unable to contribute to Da Huan."
"But she''s a woman." Shang JunLin frowned. Although Da Huan was more open than other dynasties and had fewer restrictions on women, there was no precedent for a woman to be an official.
"Wouldn''t it just take a word from Your Majesty?" Shen Yu thought for a moment. "Of course, we''d have to ask this Young Lady Fang for her opinion first."
Shen Yu knew that in the era Shen QingRan came from, women were able to live independent lives. Since ancient times, there''d been more than a few women with immense talents. It was truly a waste to make them remain in the inner courtyard.
The idea of giving the court a batch of fresh blood was still on Shang JunLin''s mind, and he seriously pondered the feasibility of doing something along those lines.
Elsewhere, Young Lady Fang returned to the Fang family home under the escort of the imperial guard.
Minister Fang was startled when he saw the well-trained imperial guard enter the gate of his house.
"What''s going on?"
"Father, don''t worry. This daughter didn''t cause any trouble. They only escorted me back. Please help me receive them." After saying this, Young Lady Fang quickly ran back to her room.
"Youngdy, you''re finally back. Next time you go out, don''t leave this ve at home. This ve really can''t deal with the madam," her serving girl said.
"I know, I know," Young Lady Fang said to appease her. "Come on, get me a change of clothes. Not one of those fancy ones, either."
"But isn''t this pink dress beautiful? It suits the youngdy so well," the maid said.
Her youngdy was good at everything, but when it came to dressing up, she didn''t act much like a youngdy. Other girls liked beautiful dresses with bright colors, but not her youngdy. She chose colors and styles that weren''t suitable for a young woman her age.
Young Lady Fang wanted to return to her usual style. "Don''t show me that dress in the future."
The maid couldn''t argue with her, so she put away the pink dress.
"Why did you change into that gray thing again?" When Madam Fang heard her daughter was back, she hurried over. "Isn''t the pink one lovely? Why, it''s not good enough to meet people in?"
Madam Fang knew her daughter had dressed up specially to see someone off.
"Don''t say another word, Mother. That man is a scumbag. Besides me, he had an entire room full of young masters and youngdies. Skinny, plump, all types. If I hadn''t known better, I would have thought he was drafting concubines. I won''t meet him in the future, it''s tempting fate."
Madam Fang sighed. "As long as you''re sure."
After speaking with the imperial guard and learning what happened, Minister Fang hurried over also. He patted his daughter on the shoulder. "Everything is the King of Yue''s fault. His Majesty won''t look kindly on that man in the future."
Young Lady Fang thought of the only two people who dared to confront the King of Yue after his identity was exposed. "Can Father tell this daughter about His Majesty and the noble monarch?"
"Why are you asking about them?"
"I heard His Majesty is deeply in love with the noble monarch. Your daughter needs to hear some moving love stories to heal my wounded heart."
The corners of Minister Fang''s mouth twitched. He could tell that his daughter''s face was full of excitement, without the slightest trace of sorrow. However, this was about his daughter''s feelings. He felt distressed for her, so he didn''t refuse.
One by one he rted each thing he knew.
He didn''t notice his daughter''s thoughtful eyes.
"Young Lady Fang might have guessed who we are, Your Majesty." Shen Yu was walking behind Shang JunLin.
Shang JunLin stopped and waited for Shen Yu to catch up. He took the hand hanging in Shen Yu''s sleeve and said, "Hmm."
Shen Yu let the man lead him by the hand down an unfamiliar alley. "Where is Your Majesty taking me?"
"To the house we''re going to live in for a while."
It couldn''t be denied they had unique identities. Whether it was for safety reasons, peace of mind, or anything else, it was best they lived in their own residence.
Shang JunLin was worried this would make Shen Yu unhappy. He thought for a moment, and then added, "If Ah Yu likes Yingxing House, we can go back tomorrow."
The evening sunlight wasn''t harsh, but it had a warm and mellow feeling. Shen Yu squinted his eyes. "When did Your Majesty prepare this ce?"
Shang JunLin was relieved that Shen Yu didn''t express dissatisfaction with his arrangements. "I had some people prepare it after we watched fireworksst time."
"It seems that Your Majesty also wanted to leave the pce to have fun with me," Shen Yu teased.
"True, I want to be together with Ah Yu."
The two strolled down the bluestone alley. Green branches and leaves of various nts surrounded them, along with the faint sound of people''s voices. asionally, a few songbirds called out. Spring was in the air.
They crossed through the alley and eventually reached a vermilion gate.
Meng Gonggong, who''d been waiting inside for a while, opened the gate. "The two masters have returned. Everything at home is ready."
Shen Yu walked inside curiously.
The courtyard wasn''trge, but every detail of it was charming. A small path meandered like a ribbon through vibrant greenery.
Shen Yu looked around and was satisfied with their small temporary residence.
Later in the evening, Meng Gonggong brought in the official reports that Shang JunLin wanted to review.
Shen Yu sat opposite Shang JunLin with his cheek resting in his hand. "Does Your Majesty have to work on business even when you came here to have fun?"
Shang JunLin was distracted from talking with Shen Yu as he read through the memorials submitted by the ministers.
"If not, the pile will grow evenrger after we return to the pce, and some might be urgent." Shang JunLin picked up the next memorial and paused slightly. "This one is from Minister Fang."
"It''s not about the King of Yue, is it?" Considering what happened earlier that day, Shen Yu thought the timing was too much of a coincidence. "Your Majesty, take a look at it."
"Noble monarch,e over and read it with this emperor," Shang JunLin invited.
Shen Yu was really curious about the contents of the memorial. He epted Shang JunLin''s invitation and sat down next to him. "This couch isn''t asfortable as the one in the pce."
Due to space limitations, the couch was smaller than the one in the pce, too. Shen Yu had to move closer to Shang JunLin when he sat down.
The two were next to each other, close enough to feel each other''s body temperature through their clothes. After sitting there for a while, Shen Yu felt warm, which quickly changed his opinion of the couch.
Shang JunLin was quite satisfied with this distance. He secretly thought about the possibility of exchanging the soft couch in the pce for a smaller one.
Before Shen Yu''s arrival, all Shang JunLin said about the pce was to "make itfortable and please the noble monarch". Meng Gonggong supervised the actual arrangements. After Shen Yu moved in, he changed some things ording to his own preferences, transforming it into the Yuzhang Pce of today.
It had to be said that Shen Yu really knew how to live well. After Shang JunLin got used to Yuzhang Pce, he didn''t want to go back to his own bedchambers at all. Of course, he wouldn''t deny the primary reason was that Shen Yu was in Yuzhang Pce.
"After we return to the pce, would the noble monarch like to move into this emperor''s chambers?" After saying this, Shang JunLin felt more and more that it was an excellent idea. When he thought of enclosing Shen Yu in his own territory, a deep sense of satisfaction welled up inside him.
Shen Yu didn''t understand how the topic had suddenly jumped to this. "Why is Your Majesty suddenly mentioning this?"
"When the timees, the noble monarch can decorate the pce ording to your preferences. Is there anything about Yuzhang Pce the noble monarch is dissatisfied with?"
Shen Yu shook his head. He liked everything about Yuzhang Pce, not to mention
"The ministers have already criticized me. If I move into Your Majesty''s chambers, those people will probably make trouble again."
"The noble monarch doesn''t look like the type of person who''d back down because of something like that. Where the noble monarch and this emperor live is our own private affair. This emperor doesn''t think the ministers will make too manyments."
Shang JunLin''s eyes darkened. "Even if they do, this emperor will make sure they don''t dare to utter a word. When do they get to question this emperor''s decisions!"
Shen Yu knew Shang JunLin would do as he said, but Shen Yu had no intention of moving into Shang JunLin''s chambers at the moment. It was too close, far beyond anything he''d expected.
"Does Your Majesty dislike Yuzhang Pce?" Shen Yu leaned on Shang JunLin''s shoulder. He reached out to open the memorial and changed the subject. "Your Majesty, look at what Minister Fang wrote."
The first half of the memorial was about official business. After that, the style changed. Minister Fang began toin, castigating the King of Yue as a beast who''d cheated multiple women and made them shed tears over him.
The words were vivid and extraordinarily moving.
As Shen Yu read this denunciation of the King of Yue which didn''t contain a single obscene word, he felt refreshed. "Minister Fang is quite interesting."
Shen Yu thought that if Minister Fang had been present at Yingxing House, the King of Yue would have suffered a double blow. Now he understood why Young Lady Fang was able to speak so eloquently. It turned out that she''d grown up learning such things from childhood.
Shang JunLin didn''t care about the affairs of Minister Fang or his daughter. The only thing on his mind was packing up Shen Yu and bringing him into his own chambers when he returned to the pce.
He absentmindedly echoed a few words, then looped his arm around the lithe waist and rested his hand on Shen Yu''s abdomen.
The man''s palm was warm. Shen Yu felt cozy andfortable, and hezily let his entire body weight press against Shang JunLin.
Before he could say another word about Minister Fang''s daughter, he heard the man''s maic voice from above him.
"There''s a baby in here. Doesn''t the noble monarch think it''s time to give the baby''s father a name?"
Shen Yu""
I''m not going to get past this one, am I?
TL Notes:
ate without tasting his food lit. to eat without tasting the food / worried or downhearted (idiom)
cracked up be overwhelmed with joy; as pleased as Punch; be beside oneself with happiness; be in raptures over
Skinny, plump, all types Huan plump, Yan skinny Yang Yuhuan was plump while Zhao Feiyan was skinny Describes the different forms of women, each with its own beauty. Also refers to the different styles of works of art, each has its own strengths
a beast not being human
(give this baby''s father) a name a person''s status legitimacy, a formal role, formal recognition, etc.
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
daughter, this daughter n r
Young Lady Fang Fng xioji
Father fqn
Mother ning
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Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Shen Yu propped himself up against Shang JunLin''s shoulder and looked at him carefully. "What more does Your Majesty want?"
"Move in with this emperor."
"But don''t we already live together?" Shen Yu was puzzled. "Yuzhang Pce and the emperor''s chambers are both in the imperial pce. What difference does it make where we live?"
Shang JunLin looked at him expectantly.
Somehow, it was a little like a big dog trying to coax its owner.
Shen Yu coughed lightly, shook off of the strange image in his mind, and wrapped his arms around the man''s neck. "Your Majesty knows that a person who''s having a baby can''t just move to an unfamiliar ce, right?"
Shang JunLin obviously hadn''t expected this response, and his eyes widened.
"Hahaha." Shen Yu couldn''t helpughing.
Shang JunLin wasn''t able toe up with a reply. Shen Yu must have said it on purpose.
"Why don''t you want to move in?" Shang JunLin leaned forward, and the tip of his nose gently brushed Shen Yu''s cheek.
Shen Yu turned his head slightly. "Yuzhang Pce isfortable."
Shang JunLin was helpless. Not even the emperor could change Shen Yu''s mind. Sometimes he couldn''t help wondering what made Shen Yu agree to enter the pce in the first ce.
The Shen Yu he knew wasn''t the type of person who was ever at the mercy of others.
Shang JunLin decided to skip this topic and return to the memorial. He told Shen Yu what the Hidden Dragon Guard had found.
"Young Lady Fang is the only child of Minister Fang, and her temperament is simr to his. The King of Yue was her first love affair, but it was still in the early stages."
Shen Yu: "Fortunately she found out in time. I hope those women weren''t deeply in love, or it would be an even bigger crime."
Shang JunLin: "When they return home, the true face of the king of Yue will soon be made clear."
Shen Yu: "What is Your Majesty going to do with him?"
This question was the primary reason for Minister Fang''s petition. First he criticized the King of Yue''s behavior in the sharpest terms. Then he concluded with righteous indignation: The King of Yue must be severely punished!
Shen Yu agreed with him.
"This emperor intends to leave the matter entirely to Minister Fang," Shang JunLin replied indifferently.
Shen Yu couldn''t help but pat Shang JunLin on the shoulder and praise him. "Good idea, Your Majesty."
Since writing the petition, Minister Fang had been pacing around the courtyard. He knew that His Majesty wasn''t likely to cover up the King of Yue''s faults, but he was worried that His Majesty would hesitate and decide to handle it lightly because of the legacy of the previous emperor.
Young Lady Fang was bored and toyed with the fan she was holding. "Really, Father, can you stop walking in circles? You''re making me dizzy."
Minister Fang stopped like an angry puffer fish. "Can''t you tell who I''m worrying about?"
"This daughter knows Father is worried about me." Young Lady Fang quickly smoothed his fur. "Didn''t Father say that His Majesty wouldn''t let the King of Yue off?"
"What do you know!" More than that, however, Minister Fang refused to say.
Minister Fang had been working with His Majesty since before he ascended the throne, and he knew some insider stories from the early years. For example, certain things regarding the King of Yue.
Before his death, the previous emperor gave strict orders that Shang JunLin should not take the life of the King of Yue for any reason, unless hemitted the grave crime of coborating with the enemy and betraying the country. How else could the King of Yue have lived so freely despite all the things he''d done over the years?
The older courtiers who followed Shang JunLin knew the previous emperor had left many things to the King of Yue. Among them were a few that could shake the foundations of the empire. They already knew Shang JunLin wasn''t well-liked by his father, but after the previous emperor gave his order, they had an even deeper understanding of his opinion of Shang JunLin.
If it wasn''t for the fact that Shang JunLin controlled most of Da Huan''s army and had made great achievements in recovering its territory, the previous emperor never would have relented and passed the throne to Shang JunLin.
Even if the throne eventually passed into Shang JunLin''s hands, the previous emperor still used all avable methods to hinder Shang JunLin and his allies.
Over the years, Shang JunLin turned a blind eye to many things, not because he was ignorant of them, but because it wasn''t the right time to respond.
Afterwards, they continued to search for the secret forces left behind by the previous emperor. Unfortunately, those people hid too deeply, and they never found anything.
Minister Fang sat down opposite Young Lady Fang and sighed. "If you were a man, you''d be able to serve His Majesty too."
His biggest regret in life was that his daughter couldn''t work for His Majesty. His daughter was intelligent, resourceful, and brave. How was she any less capable than a man?
"Father shouldn''t worry. Who says that being a woman means I can''t serve His Majesty?"
"What are you going to do?" Minister Fang was instantly vignt. "I''m warning youdon''t think about anything you shouldn''t, let alone interfere with His Majesty''s feelings for the noble monarch!"
It wasn''t surprising that Minister Fang had such a strong reaction. Since ancient times, there were only a few ways for a woman to acquire power. The most convenient one was to enter the pce, use her beauty as bait, and make use of her position in the harem to influence the workings of the dynasty.
"Father, what are you thinking?" Young Lady Fang was stunned by her father''s brain malfunction. "Do you think I''m confused enough to want to enter the harem? What I mean is, since men can enter the court as officials, why not women?"
"But there''s no precedent."
"After me, there will be." Young Lady Fang calmly stated something that would have shocked everyone who heard it.
Minister Fang was speechless for a while.
Shang JunLin didn''t send anyone to Young Lady Fang. He knew if she was interested she''de to the door herself.
Aside from dealing with some memorials that needed to be handled, Shang JunLin apanied Shen Yu around the city the rest of the time.
Shen Yu had talked about going on a spring outing, which made it necessary to visit the most popr ces in the suburbs of the capital.
After leaving the pce, Shen Yu wasn''t in a hurry to go to the vige. When he and Shang JunLin went out, they didn''t bring Mu Xi and Meng Gonggong with them.
"Your Majesty, give Meng Gonggong and Mu Xi a holiday too. It''s not easy to find time to leave the pce. Let them enjoy themselves."
Shang JunLin nodded indifferently.
Shen Yu hooked his finger. "That way Your Majesty and I will have more time alone."
Shang JunLin immediately ordered them to go on vacation.
Shen Yu took Shang JunLin''s hand and slowly wandered out the door.
Leaving Mu Xi and Meng Gonggong to exchange nces with each other.
Meng Gonggong was a eunuch who closely served Shang JunLin. Under normal circumstances, he was never too far from the emperor. If his master wanted to be alone, Meng Gonggong would follow from a distance.
After Shang JunLin''s session to the throne, however, he was different from other emperors. In the first few years, Meng Gonggong hardly saw his master. It was only in recent years that Meng Gonggong spent more time with the emperor.
"Does Lady Mu Xi want to go somewhere in particr?"
Mu Xi nodded hesitantly. "I''d like to visit some sisters I used to know. I haven''t had a chance to see them after entering the pce."
Mu Xi went by herself to meet her friends in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. Along the way, she smoothly exchanged information with the people Shen Yu had outside the pce.
"Lady Mu Xi?"
A slightly hesitant voice rang out behind her. Startled, Mu Xi turned to look.
"It''s Gu, I mean, Dr. Gu."
"Did Lady Mu Xie out with Young Master Shen?" Imperial Physician Gu had some medicinal materials in one hand. The other was on the sleeve of a young man in ck beside him.
"Yes."
Imperial Physician Gu divided out a portion of the medicine he was carrying and handed it to Mu Xi. "Just in time. I prepared a new prescription. I''ll ask Lady Mu Xi to please take this to your young master."
Mu Xi epted it. "I see. And who is this with Dr. Gu?"
"It''s my didi, Gu Huai."
After Mu Xi left, Gu Huai looked at the people around them and asked, "Gege, was that Noble Monarch Shen''s maid?"
"Keep your voice down." Imperial Physician Gu covered Gu Huai''s mouth. "Yes, that''s the noble monarch''s maid. He must have left the pce too."
"Is that so?" Gu Huai lowered his gaze and suppressed the thoughtful look in his eyes.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin walked side by side down the street. Instead of going to Yingxing House again, they went to a small street that was specially opened for examinees.
Shen Yu dragged Shang JunLin around to stop and look at everything. He was constantly attracted by things in the street stalls.
The most popr items sold here were all kinds of books.
"Gentlemen,e and have a look. We have the study notes written by the top three Juren graduates. For this much" the vendor held out his hand to specify a number "You can choose five copies to read."
"Ah Lin, let''s go take a look." It was the first time Shen Yu had seen something like this. He went over with great interest.
The stall was doing good business, and there were a lot of people crowded in front of it. Shang JunLin put his arm around Shen Yu''s shoulders to protect him as they made their way over to the stall.
After they paid the money for two people, the stall owner smiled and came out with a pile of books. "Please, young masters, choose at will, choose at will."
Shen Yu picked one and opened it. The title page indicated that the book was the notes of so and so in a certain year. Shen Yu looked through several more. Without exception, there was a simrbel on the title page of all of the books.
When he saw a familiar name, Shen Yu picked up the book and asked, "Boss, are these really the notes of Minister Fang when he was preparing for the exam?"
Obviously, this wasn''t the first time the boss had encountered such doubts, and he wasfortable exining. "What do you mean? We''ve been in business for more than ten years. It''s absolutely authentic. Otherwise there wouldn''t be so many peopleing here to read them, right?"
"Don''t worry, young master. The books here are guaranteed. Before I went to the capital, my senior at the academy specifically told me toe here."
"The same for us."
Shen Yu looked at the people who''d just spoken and saw a group of young students. They were brimming over with wild energy, and their faces were unrestrained.
Shen Yu gave a schr''s salute. "I see. Thank you for rifying."
"Are the two young masters also here to take the exam?" When they saw Shen Yu and Shang JunLin''s extraordinary bearing, several of the young men pushed and hooted at each other and came over.
But Shang JunLin''s aura was so overwhelming that the young men didn''t dare to make randomments. They thought Shen Yu must have a high level of schrship, and they didn''t want to miss the opportunity to meet him.
Upon seeing the book in Shen Yu''s hand, one of the young men who was familiar with it spoke up: "That book was written by Minister Fang in his early years."
Shen Yu nodded. "Minister Fang hasn''t lost any of his skill since then."
"We think so too!" Several people nodded in unison. "Especially in the case of Imperial Censor Zhang. Minister Fang handled it beautifully."
Shen Yu looked at the young men as if they were children. "You heard about the case, too, then?"
A young man grabbed the book from hispanion''s hand and gave it to Shen Yu. "It''s written here."
Shen Yu flipped through it. The book discussed not only the case of Imperial Censor Zhang but also several others.
The more they pestered Shen Yu, the lower the air pressure around Shang JunLin grew.
Several of them tried to convince Shen Yu to talk with them longer, but they couldn''t endure the cold air surrounding Shang JunLin. Eventually they took their leave.
Shen Yu pulled the cold-faced Shang JunLin into a corner and boldly poked his icy face. "Your Majesty is a grown man. How are you still jealous of a few children?"
When Shen Yu thought of how Shang JunLin found secret ways to dere ownership just now, while the children didn''t even realize what was happening, he wanted tough.
Without a word, Shang JunLin pulled Shen Yu into his arms. Faced with that delicate skin, his eyes gradually deepened.
"Your Majesty, hah" Shen Yu felt a sting in his neck.
He was bitten.
The author has something to say:
His Majesty is too jealous and can''t stand to be provoked~~~
TL Notes:
turn a blind eye keep one eye open and one eye closed turn a blind eye to; Eyes Half Shut; Overlooking Purposely
shock everyone who heard it shock the four seats shock everyone north, south, east, and west surprise everyone in the audience (Baidu)
the top three Juren graduates from the top three Juren masters The proprietor seems to be referring to people who passed the uing metropolitan exam See the note below for Juren
Juren rmended man A schr who sessfully passed the triennial provincial exam. These are the candidates who are eligible to take the metropolitan exam (Chart)
low air pressure In meteorology, low pressure often means clouds and precipitation. Wind blows towards areas of low pressure. So this an idiom that means trouble is ahead~
jealous (of a few children) eating vinegar, jealous Usually I try to keep idioms, but "eating the vinegar of a few children" would have sounded strange. The origin of this idiom is supposedly from the Tang dynasty. ording to the story, the emperor sent several beautiful young concubines to a favored prime minister as a gift, but the prime minister didn''t dare to ept them. The prime ministers wife was known for her interfering and henpecking ways, so the emperor decided to test her. The court eunuchs brought the wife a pot of poisoned wine and told her that she must either ept the concubines or drink the poison. The woman drank the "poisoned wine" without any hesitation only to discover that, instead of poison, the cup was full of vinegar. Since then, eating vinegar and tasting sour things have be a metaphor for jealousy and envy. (Baidu)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
sisters (I used to know) xio jimi young female friends / sisters or siblings
Dr. Gu G xinshng
Dr. xinshng teacher / husband / doctor (dialect) / Mr. In the modern era, means "Mr." I went with "Dr." because of his profession
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Chapter 48
Chapter 48
The young schrs were reluctant to leave. As they walked away, one of them couldn''t help looking back. He was curious to know why a good-natured young master was hanging around such a big ice lump.
"! ! !"
The unexpected sight that met his eyes made him exim.
Hispanions were displeased. "What are you doing all of a sudden?"
"No, I, they" The young man was incoherent.
Their conversation drew the attention of the others, who came to a stop one after the other.
"What''s wrong?"
"What happened?"
The young man pointed behind them. "See for yourselves!"
When they saw the scene in the corner, their eyes widened.
Under the low wall, the young man in white was wrapped in the arms of the tall man in ck. From their point of view, all they could see was the man bending over the young man''s neck, while the young man revealed an expression beyond endurance.
Against a background of light and shadow, their ck and white clothes were mingled as if they were one.
After a long time, someone found his voice.
"Ah" It seemed that he''d discovered why they were so unpopr before.
"The two young masters have that kind of rtionship?"
"Don''t be rude, don''t be rude. Just pretend we didn''t see anything."
Dappled light and shadow fell from overhead. Shen Yu couldn''t help but squint his eyes. Maybe he was stimted by the light, or maybe it was from some other reason.
The delicate skin was crushed red, but Shang JunLin still refused to let go, and the tip of his teeth gently stabbed at him. Compared to simple pain, the feeling was even more indescribable.
A fire ignited under his skin, and the mes spread quickly, roaming everywhere. Shen Yu was being ground down little by little, and his strength drained away.
The arm that confined his waist was strong and steady, supporting him so he wouldn''t fall.
Shen Yu couldn''t help but reach out, borrowing the man''s strength to prevent himself from slipping.
They were in a secluded corner. Outsiders came and went, but hardly anyone spared this ce a nce.
But just because no one was paying attention didn''t mean he wasn''t affected.
Shen Yu heard sounds from time to time and footsteps walking back and forth. The tension of being discovered at any moment made it more and more difficult to control himself.
His neck was being marked bit by bit, as though the man was iming territory. Everywhere he touched, another gorgeous flower bloomed.
"Your Majesty, someone wille." Shen Yu struggled to find his voice. When he finally managed to speak he realized he was incredibly hoarse.
For Shang JunLin, the sound was like pouring oil on a fire.
In an instant the arms around Shen Yu''s waist tightened, and a tingling pain came from his neck.
Shen Yu barely pressed down the cry that was threatening to escape his lips, and he clenched his teeth. The fingers clutching the man''s ck outer robe slowly curled.
"Eh? Is someone over there?"
"It looks like it. Let''s go check it out."
The sudden voices and approaching footsteps woke Shen Yu from his daze. He grabbed a lock of hair that had fallen close to his hand and pulled it with force.
Shang JunLin wasn''t pleased at having to stop. He took off his cloak and wrapped up Shen Yu tightly.
Meanwhile, the speaker reached the corner of the alley.
"Huh? Someone''s really here."
Shen Yu was hidden by Shang JunLin''s body. When he heard the voice, it sounded familiar. He pulled down the cloak covering his face and peeked out from behind Shang JunLin.
It was Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu, whom they''d met before.
"Hey, it''s Young Master Yu and Young Master Lin." Jiang HuaiQing couldn''t help feeling that he knew Shen Yu. It was like he''d made an old friend at first sight. When he saw the two of them, he wanted to go over and catch up.
H ChengYu observed that the atmosphere between the two wasn''t right and tried to stop Jiang HuaiQing from interrupting. Unfortunately, he was toote and had no choice but to follow.
Shen Yu took a moment to catch his breath, and then he came out from behind Shang JunLin.
He was still draped in Shang JunLin''s ck cloak. A small corner of the fabric trailed on the ground, which made it a little hard to move. Shen Yu had to slightly lift the hem.
When Jiang HuaiQing saw Shen Yu, his eyes lit up. "Young Master Yu looks really good today."
Skin like snow, raven hair, a faint blush glowing on his cheeks. Against the background of the ck cloak, his skin looked even more pale than usual.
Shang JunLin gave the man a cold stare and put his arm around Shen Yu''s waist.
Jiang HuaiQing felt confused, and he whispered to hispanion, "Why does Young Master Lin seem so unhappy to see us? Did I somehow do something to displease him?"
When H ChengYu heard him, a vein throbbed in his temple.
How innocent did you have to be to not see something so obvious?
Clearly they''d interrupted some "good fun" between them, which was why one of the two people didn''t wee them.
Despite Shang JunLin''s displeasure, Shen Yu was d of Jiang HuaiQing''s arrival. Otherwise he really didn''t know what else his neck would have suffered.
Shen Yu could tell without looking that his neck probably wasn''t fit to be seen at the moment.
He hadn''t thought a jealous Shang JunLin could do something so irrational.
Shen Yu decided that he should ease up in the future. It was better not to be so bold in public. Facts had proven that a man who''d been over stimted didn''t have much sanity.
Shen Yu wanted to make friends with Jiang HuaiQing. After meeting the other two, they became a group of four.
When the book stall owner saw them, he gave them a warm greeting. "Aren''t you the two young masters from before? You didn''t finish reading your books. Do you want to continue? Or save the remaining books forter ande back another time?"
He recognized them at a nce, which wasn''t surprising. Compared with the crowd of young schrs around them, the temperament of the two men was too unique. The proprietor had traveled the world for many years and his eyesight wasn''tcking.
"Is it possible to do that?" Shen Yu asked. "How can the boss be sure the guests who came back are the same guests who didn''t finish reading before?"
"We have a special token." The boss took out a handful of cards made of a material that resembled white jade. "Before the guest leaves, take a token with you. When youe back, you can borrow the books you didn''t finishst time."
The token was the color of jade, about one finger long and two fingers wide. Shen Yu took one and weighed it in his hand. "It isn''t jade."
"It''s a jade-like stone. Its properties are simr to white jade," Shang JunLin exined. "Generally, women from less affluent families like to use this kind of stone for their hair ornaments."
The bookstall owner agreed. "The young master is right. This kind of stone is rarely seen in eminent families. However, it''s highly popr among themon people because of its appearance."
"Even so, the stone used by the proprietor is of very high quality. Usually this type of jade-like stone doesn''t have such a translucent effect," Shang JunLin concluded, touching the token in Shen Yu''s hand.
"The young master has keen eyes. This batch was specially customized and engraved with an anti-counterfeiting pattern. That means they''re very difficult to fake," the boss said.
Shen Yu picked up the token and held it to the sunlight. Sure enough, each of the four corners had different patterns.
"That''s a clever idea."
Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu had just arrived, and it was still early in the day. Shen Yu wasn''t in a hurry to leave and decided to stay a little longer.
Shang JunLin always let Shen Yu decide this kind of thing. Even if he wasn''t happy that their two-person world had been disturbed, he didn''t object.
Shen Yu was interested in the book about legal cases that one of the young schrs had shown him before. He asked the boss to find it for him and then read through it slowly.
After reading a few pages, Shen Yu realized the book didn''t contain the same material as the Court of Judicial Review file. This book was closer to a story. The case was described like a narrative, and many curious anecdotes were added.
Seeing that Shen Yu was interested in a less academic type of book, the boss took out a wooden case and hinted mysteriously, "Young master, would you like to see what''s in here? I guarantee you''ll like it."
Shen Yu was provoked by his surreptitious air. He leaned closer to the proprietor and murmured, "What is it?"
"Is the young master more interested in storybooks? This box is full of novels, and ah" The boss paused deliberately, full of mystery. "They''re all about two men."
Shen Yu didn''t understand. Why did the boss suddenly think he was interested in books with two men as the main characters?
"The young master and the young gentleman in ck are a couple, right?" The boss had a face that said "I know everything" and said, "It''s nothing. His Majesty likes men too. By the way, this case also contains short novels about His Majesty and the noble monarch. They outsell everything else!"
The boss could tell clearly that the man in ck was extremely protective of the young man in front of him. Aside from that kind of rtionship, who would protect a person of the same gender like that?
Shen Yu had no idea that one day he''d be marketed in a novel where himself and His Majesty were the protagonists. The idea made himugh, but he also couldn''t help feeling a little intrigued, and he asked His Majesty toe over. "Ah Lin,e here for a moment."
When Shen Yu was taken aside by the book stall owner, Shang JunLin felt a little unwilling, but he was also worried he''d done something bad earlier and didn''t insist on following. When he heard Shen Yu''s voice, he immediately put down the book he was holding and walked over.
Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu were paging through books not far away. When Jiang HuaiQing saw this, he moved over to H ChengYu. "ChengYu Xiong, do you think Young Master Lin is a little too obedient to Young Master Yu?"
H ChengYu didn''t look up. "They''re husbands," he reminded.
"That''s right, I almost forgot." Jiang HuaiQing scratched his hair and btedly thought of something. "Ah? Do you think we disturbed them just now?"
H ChengYu nced up from his book and studied his slow-to-reactpanion. "What do you think?"
"No wonder."
No wonder Young Master Lin gave him such a terrifying stare before.
Although he didn''t know exactly what he''d interrupted, keen intuition told Jiang HuaiQing that it was better not to know. "Should I go over and apologize?"
H ChengYu looked at the two people standing close together and gave his sincere opinion. "I think it''s better if you don''t disturb them."
Jiang HuaiQing thought about it and decided he agreed. He could find a time to apologize to Young Master Yuter. Inexplicably, he felt a little scared of Young Master Lin.
Shen Yu couldn''t resist the enthusiasm of the book stall owner. When Shang JunLin came over, Shen Yu already had several more books in his hands.
When Shang JunLin reached them, the boss enthusiastically handed several books to him too.
Shang JunLin opened them and flipped through a few pages, then silently turned his head to look at Shen Yu.
The books all used pseudonyms, but there were unmistakable references to certain events. It wasn''t hard to tell that the two main characters were himself and Shen Yu.
Shen Yu looked at the assorted books in the case with their garish covers. "Boss, your shop actually specializes in novels, doesn''t it?"
The boss smiled shyly. "The young master has good eyes. After all, I can only sell the other books once every three years, while these books sell every day. As for the ones you''re looking at now, there are a lot of people who buy them."
Shen Yu was speechless.
He looked at Shang JunLin, thinking he''d be angry. Unexpectedly, Shang JunLin not only didn''t appear upset, he seemed very interested in the books and discussed them with the boss.
In the end, Shang JunLin bought a copy of every novel based on them. The boss beamed with joy and gave Shang JunLin a pamphlet with a ck cover. He chuckled and said, "Here''s something maybe you can use~~~"
At that moment Shen Yu was looking at a novel. He didn''t see Shang JunLin quickly hide the booklet in his sleeve.
"Why did Your Majesty buy all these novels?"
Shang JunLin gave him a concise andprehensive answer: "To study and learn."
The author has something to say:
Shen Yu: One day I was actually hit on the head with my and His Majesty''s cp [shocked cat.jpg]
Quiz: What''s in the pamphlet~~~~~
TL Notes:
Don''t be rude look at nothing that is not consistent with propriety; not to look at things which do not conform to the rites; see no evil
"good fun" "" good action, deed, thing or work (also sarcastic, "a fine thing indeed") / charity / happy asion / Daoist or Buddhist ceremony for the souls of the dead
like a narrative from described in a spring and autumn way
CP couple, pairing, rtionship
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Chapter 49
Chapter 49
After buying the books, Shen Yu said goodbye to Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu.
Jiang HuaiQing still felt embarrassed by what happened before. He didn''t say much to keep them, but made an appointment to meet them againter in the suburbs of the capital. The two sides parted.
When they returned, Shang JunLin ced the books neatly on the desk. After oveing a moment of embarrassment, Shen Yu felt curious about the stories.
He picked up one at random, sat down on the soft couch, and opened it.
"Let''s see what Your Majesty hopes to learn from these stories."
Shang JunLin also took a book and sat beside Shen Yu. "Obviously, it''s to learn how the emperor in these stories seeds in inviting the noble monarch to share his bed night after night."
"Ahem." Shen Yu choked a little. Indeed, the books were full of outrageous spection. The romantic lives of the noble monarch and the emperor could be described as "rich and colorful". Shen Yu suspected the reason these stories sold so well had a lot to do with all of this "color".
Shang JunLin patted Shen Yu on the back. "Careful, noble monarch."
Shen Yu couldn''t sit still any longer. He grabbed the book from Shang JunLin and set it aside. "Your Majesty already knows everything in these books is fake."
Dangerous ideas are not allowed!
The room was warm. Shen Yu felt an itch on his neck and reached up to scratch it.
Shang JunLin suddenly grabbed Shen Yu''s hand. His eyes darkened.
"What''s the matter?"
"It''s bleeding."
The ce Shang JunLin had bitten was lower on his neck. When Shen Yu moved, his cor slipped down slightly, revealing a mottled area of skin.
Now that some time had passed, the redness had grown more and more appalling. Several obvious wounds were visible and blood was seeping out.
Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s hand, extended his other hand to Shen Yu''s neck and touched him gently. "Does it hurt?"
Shen Yu pretended to be angry and gave him a look. "See what Your Majesty did."
Shang JunLin took the initiative to admit his mistake. "It''s this emperor''s fault."
When he saw Shen Yu surrounded by those young men, smiling and talking to them casually, Shang JunLin couldn''t help feeling a burst of hostility. He wanted Shen Yu to smile only at him. He wanted to be the cause of everything Shen Yu felt.
All his nning andmand fell to pieces in front of Shen Yu, and the self-control he was so proud of copsed with a single blow.
"Your Majesty doesn''t have to apologize." Shen Yu saw Shang JunLin''s slightly irritated expression. "Your Majesty, please help me with the medicine."
The medicine was already prepared. Shang JunLin took the ointment Shen Yu frequently used and applied it to the injury a little at a time.
The cool ointment quickly soothed away the difort.
In fact, the injury on his neck only looked frightening. It didn''t hurt much. After the medicine was applied, Shen Yu hardly felt it.
After they spent all day enjoying themselves, the pce sent a new batch of official reports. Shang JunLin was busy with his work. Shen Yu didn''t want to disturb him and left the room.
Meng Gonggong remained inside the room. Shen Yu called Mu Xi.
"How did it go?"
"Don''t worry, young master. It''s done." Mu Xi had been instructed to contact the estate and ry Shen Yu''s orders to the people there. She also made arrangements for a visit to the manor.
Mu Xi remembered something else. "By the way, young master, this ve met Imperial Physician Gu in the street today. He asked me to bring you his newly prepared medicine."
Imperial Physician Gu lived outside the pce, so it wasn''t strange to run into him. Shen Yu didn''t think anything of it.
After Imperial Physician Gu returned home with Gu Huai, he briefly tidied up the courtyard.
"Gege, what kind of person is Noble Monarch Shen?" Gu Huai suddenly asked.
Imperial Physician Gu watered some herbs that were growing vigorously. "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious." Gu Huai squatted beside Imperial Physician Gu. "Gege is always busy with Noble Monarch Shen''s affairs. He must be a good person."
"Yes, he really is. I''ll take you to meet himter when I have the chance."
Later that night.
Gu Huai quietly left the house. A man dressed in ck, who''d been waiting outside, knelt down. "Master."
Gu Huai: "What happened with the matter I asked you to investigate?"
Man in ck: "Replying to the master, this subordinate received specific information that His Majesty and the noble monarch are outside the pce right now. Your subordinates are ipetent. We weren''t able to identify exactly where they''re staying."
Gu Huai: "I don''t me any of you. If you could discover it that easily, he wouldn''t be Shang JunLin."
Man in ck: "This subordinate found out something else. Recently there''s been some movement on a mountain near the outskirts of the capital."
Gu Huai: "Tell me the exact location."
Man in ck: "Cangqi Mountain."
Cangqi Mountain? Gu Huai lowered his eyes in contemtion. Whether those two people went to Cangqi Mountain or not, he had to go there and take a look.
Shang JunLin finished working on government affairs for the day. As for the matter of the King of Yue, it was given to Minister Fang to oversee.
The moment he received the edict, Minister Fang was stunned. He just wanted His Majesty to teach the King of Yue a lesson. He never thought the case would fall to himself.
"Isn''t it good news?" Young Lady Fang asked while eating melon seeds. "His Majesty handed it over to you, which means that as far as His Majesty is concerned, the King of Yue isn''t important at all. You can do as you see fit."
Minister Fang still felt worried. "But"
"His Majesty doesn''t care, so why is Father so concerned? If there really was something to worry about, His Majesty wouldn''t have given it to Father to deal with."
"Your father understands what you''re saying. I''m just amazed." If there really was a problem, His Majesty would have told him so. Since the matter was entrusted to him, he had to make sure everything was handled correctly.
Full of energy, Minister Fang went to deal with the King of Yue''s affairs.
Young Lady Fang was hoping to meet the two young masters who helped her at Yingxing House that day, so she went in search of Jiang HuaiQing. Meanwhile, Jiang HuaiQing was still hoping to apologize to Shen Yu. When they realized they had the same goal, they decided to meet Shen Yu together.
Fortunately, before they parted, Shen Yu gave Jiang HuaiQing a way to contact him. It didn''t take long to get in touch with him.
When Mu Xi told Shen Yu about it, he felt slightly surprised.
Shen Yu put down his writing brush. "How did they end up working together?"
"It''s probably because Young Lady Fang couldn''t find a way to contact us. She must have found Jiang HuaiQing at Yingxing House," Shang JunLin said.
It wouldn''t have taken much effort to find out they''d dined together that day.
"Your Majesty, do you want to go see them?"
Shang JunLin left it up to Shen Yu. "If Ah Yu wants to, we can go."
"Then let''s meet." Shen Yu still had some interest in the youngdy of the Fang family.
They arranged to meet at Yingxing House again. Because they were meeting to talk about something, they chose a private room where they wouldn''t be disturbed.
When Shen Yu and Shang JunLin arrived, Jiang HuaiQing had been talking with Young Lady Fang for a while.
For convenience, Young Lady Fang was wearing a rtively in gown today, and her makeup was different fromst time. She had a clean, refreshing look.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin sat down together. Jiang HuaiQing was about to say something but swallowed it back silently.
Better wait untilter.
Young Lady Fang took the lead. "I took the liberty of inviting the two young masters here to thank you for helping with the situationst time. I hope you won''t think I''m rude."
"There''s no need to thank us." Shen Yu said.
After serving the food, the waiter quietly withdrew, and Jiang HuaiQing introduced Young Lady Fang to the two young masters. Since he knew she had something to say to them, he didn''t intend to stay much longer.
"Young Master Yu, I wonder if I can say a quick word to you?"
Shang JunLin''s eyes swept towards Jiang HuaiQing.
When Jiang HuaiQing felt that icy gazend on him, he wanted to cry but couldn''t. He really didn''t mean to interrupt themst time. He only wanted to apologize!
Amused, Shen Yu patted Shang JunLin on the arm. Then he stood up and walked to the side with Jiang HuaiQing.
"The reason I came to see you wasn''t only because of Young Lady Fang. I also wanted to apologize to Young Master Yu. Last time I didn''t know you two were Ahem I''m really sorry for disturbing you."
As that unfriendly gaze pressed on him like a physical thing, Jiang HuaiQing spoke with difficulty.
Shen Yu thought to himself: It''s lucky you two interrupted. Otherwise I don''t know how long Shang JunLin was nning to continue.
What he said was: "So that''s what you wanted to say. It''s our fault for not paying attention. You didn''t have to apologize to me like this."
Jiang HuaiQing didn''t think Shen Yu would be so calm about such a thing. He couldn''t stop his face from turning red. "Well, it was our mistake, after all. I wish you two a happy marriage into old age, uh"
As he spoke, Jiang HuaiQing identally saw the red marks on the side of Shen Yu''s neck. Even if he''d never eaten pork, he''d seen pigs run, and he suddenly stumbled over his words.
After hastily saying a few more auspicious things, Jiang HuaiQing fled the scene like a crime suspect.
Shen Yu had never seen Jiang HuaiQing so animated before, and he couldn''t help but chuckle.
Shen Yu returned to Shang JunLin and sat down. Shang JunLin''s attention had remained on him the entire time. He wanted to know what Jiang HuaiQing said to make Shen Yuugh. However, Young Lady Fang was present, so he didn''t ask.
"Thismoner Fang JiaYi greets Your Majesty and the noble monarch."
"No need to be polite."
Shen Yu was curious. "How did you guess who we are?"
"There are very few people who feel no dread of the nobility and royalty. The two of you didn''t have the slightest fear of the King of Yue despite his status. For that reason, it seemed clear that your identity wasn''t lower than his. When thismoner considered the close rtionship between the two of you, it was possible to roughly guess your identity." Fang JiaYi spoke with neither servility nor arrogance.
"Oh?" Shen Yu lifted his eyes with great interest. "If it was a guess, how did Young Lady Fang confirm our identities in the end?"
"It''s because His Majesty gave the King of Yue''s case to my father to handle."
"Young Lady Fang, the reason you approached His Majesty and myself wasn''t just to thank us, right?"
"Thismoner would like to ask for a chance." Fang JiaYi knelt down. "Thismoner wants to have a chance topete fairly with men."
Shang JunLin squeezed Shen Yu''s wrist and didn''t speak.
In the silence, Fang JiaYi spoke again: "Thismoner knows my request might be a little outrageous, but thismoner believes there are many women like me who aspire to live in the world, instead of resigning themselves to the inner courtyard."
"Do you know that achieving this will be difficult?" Shang JunLin said slowly.
"Thismoner knows, but I still want to fight for my destiny and for the many women in the world who share the same ambition as me!" When she said this, Fang JiaYi''s face was determined, and a dazzling light shed in her eyes.
Shen Yu poked Shang JunLin. Shang JunLin said, "This emperor can give you an opportunity. Whether you''re able to seize it depends on you."
"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"
After they returned to the small courtyard, Shen Yu asked, "Your Majesty, what do you think Fang JiaYi will do now?"
"The noble monarch will know if you think about it."
"The first hurdle will probably be Minister Fang. I wonder how Minister Fang will react when he finds out his daughter approached Your Majesty."
"That''s something for the Fang family to worry about." Shang JunLin obviously cared more about something else. He embraced the young man from behind and lightly rubbed the tip of his nose against the side of Shen Yu''s neck. "Noble monarch, tell this emperor what Jiang HuaiQing said to you."
Shen Yu had noticed that Shang JunLin was obsessed with his necktely. He wanted to leave a mark on it at every turn.
"What does Your Majesty think he might have said?"
Shen Yu ducked to the side but was caught by the man.
"What did he say to make the noble monarchugh so happily, hmm?"
The author has something to say:
A few words about the pamphlet
I saw people in thement section say that His Majesty already has a lot of theoretical knowledge, but! Can mere theory be as delicious as the plot of a novel?! Especially when the protagonists of the plot are His Majesty and the noble monarch, tsk tsk tsk~ How stimting~
TL Notes:
All his nning andmand map out a strategy; devise strategies within amand tent; have the situation well in hand; make artifices in the general''s tent
clean, refreshing heroic / valiant, sassy
wanted to cry but couldn''t tried to weep, but failed to shed a tear; felt like weeping but had no tears; One wanted to cry but had no tears; too deep for tears
a happy marriage into old age conjugal love/loving affection (with) gray hair A way to convey well-wishes to a couple, hoping they''ll grow old together happily
Even if he''d never eaten pork, he''d seen pigs run Verymon idiom which means that even if you don''t have personal experience of something, you''re still familiar enough with it to recognize it or draw inferences
neither servility nor arrogance be neither humble nor pushy; neither cringing nor arrogant; neither haughty nor humble; neither humble nor pert In other words, the person is speaking in a calm and dignified way that''s appropriate to the situation
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Cangqi Mountain
Fang JiaYi
thismoner woman from an ordinary family
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Chapter 50
Chapter 50
"Of course" Shen Yu paused deliberately. "He wished Your Majesty and I a hundred years of happy marriage. What did Your Majesty think it could be?"
Shen Yu''s voice was full of teasing. When Shang JunLin heard it, he immediately felt the tip of his teeth itch.
The wound on Shen Yu''s neck wasn''t healed. Shang JunLin just rubbed it gently.
"The noble monarch says such nice things."
"Oh, right, there was something else too. He wanted to apologize to me," Shen Yu added.
"Apologize? Did Jiang HuaiQing offend Ah Yu?"
Shang JunLin put his head on Shen Yu''s shoulder. As he spoke, his warm breath caressed Shen Yu''s neck.
"It was for what happenedst time. Or did Your Majesty forget about that secluded alley"
"This emperor remembers," Shang JunLin interrupted. When he thought of what happened that day, a light flush appeared on his face. "It''s fitting that he apologized."
"It only happened because Your Majesty disregarded the proper time and ce. Why should someone else apologize for that?"
"Because he interrupted this emperor''s private time with the noble monarch," Shang JunLin said in a low voice.
Shen Yu turned around in Shang JunLin''s arms,ing face-to-face with him. His index finger nudged the man''s shoulder. "Your Majesty doesn''t think you crossed the line?"
Shang JunLin frowned. "How so?"
"Doesn''t Your Majesty care a little too much about my affairs?" Shen Yu rified.
Shang JunLin tightened his arm around Shen Yu''s waist. "Ah Yu is this emperor''s noble monarch. We have a marriage contract. What''s wrong with this emperor caring about Ah Yu?"
Shen Yu was speechless.
At first nce, there was nothing wrong with anything Shang JunLin said, but when Shen Yu thought about it more carefully, it wasn''t quite right.
Shang JunLin didn''t give Shen Yu more time to ponder. "Or does the noble monarch think what this emperor said is wrong?"
Shen Yu opened his mouth to speak, then stopped, and finally gave up. "There''s nothing wrong with what Your Majesty said."
Shang JunLin knew to quit when he was ahead. After getting the answer he wanted, he changed the subject. "Minister Fang made some progress. Would the noble monarch like to see it?"
Shen Yu was surprised. "Minister Fang moved already?"
It had only been a few days since Shang JunLin handed over the King of Yue''s case to Minister Fang. Obviously the man really loved his daughter.
"It''s not only Minister Fang. The families of the otherdies intervened as well." Shang JunLin lifted Shen Yu into his arms.
Shen Yu''s feet were off the ground. "Your Majesty" he eximed.
"Don''t worry. This emperor won''t let you fall." Shang JunLin carried Shen Yu to the soft couch and set him down.
"Next time can Your Majesty tell me when you''re going to do that?"
"This emperor will try." Shang JunLin sat down beside Shen Yu.
Shen Yu crossed his legs and leaned against Shang JunLin''s shoulder. "Your Majesty said some of the other families intervened. What happened? Which families?"
"Aristocratic families attach great importance to face. In doing what he did, the King of Yue vited their cardinal rules. They''ll spare no effort to move against him, whether it''s for the sake of their family''s reputation or to show their loyalty to this emperor." Shang JunLin adjusted his posture to make Shen Yu morefortable.
Shen Yu let Shang JunLin settle himself. "It''s true that most of the people who confronted the King of Yue that day were from eminent families."
The King of Yue''s original intention was to gain ess to the families behind those women. If they were ordinary people, the King of Yue would never have bothered to befriend them personally.
"What about thosedies?" Shen Yu asked.
Shang JunLin didn''t follow. "What do you mean?"
"I just thought of something. Aristocratic families value face. In their eyes, the behavior of those women certainly brought disgrace on them. If that happened in a family that''s a bit more merciless, I''m afraid those youngdies won''t end well."
"The noble monarch shouldn''t worry. This emperor beat them down a little by asking the imperial guard to send the women back."
When he ordered the imperial guard to escort the women home, Shang JunLin''s attitude had been made clear. No one who thought about it a little would take action against his daughter in that situation.
"Your Majesty is so thoughtful." Shen Yu stroked Shang JunLin''s shoulder. "It won''t be easy for the King of Yue to escape this time."
Shen Yu never concealed his disgust for the King of Yue. He seldom hid any of his feelings from Shang JunLin. The more open he was, the deeper Shang JunLin''s fondness for him grew.
The person Shang JunLin liked wasn''t the elegant di son of the Zhenbei Marquis, the gentle, mild, and polite gentleman known to the outside world, but the Shen Yu who revealed his true nature in front of him.
"This emperor can''t kill the King of Yue for the time being, but after this it will be hard for him to return to his fief in one piece." Shang JunLin yed with Shen Yu''s fingers, as if he was talking about something unimportant.
Shen Yu didn''t ask for more details. Just as he had secrets he couldn''t tell Shang JunLin, Shang JunLin would also have things he couldn''t say openly. "He won''t have it easy with Minister Fang and Young Lady Fang around."
"Indeed. Thanks to the cooperation of the noble families, Minister Fang found a lot of interesting things." Shang JunLin took out a memorial and unfolded it for Shen Yu to read.
Shen Yu leanedzily against Shang JunLin and listened to him as he read the contents of the memorial.
"The King of Yue made a lot of small moves in recent years and nted several moles in the capital. Minister Fang and his people removed those moles. Families who were close to the King of Yue abandoned their intention to protect him when they saw the situation. They cut off contact unterally."
"It seems the King of Yue lost years of hard work." Shen Yu sighed.
"This emperor doesn''t care what he wants. In this empire, he has to abide by this emperor''s rules!"
Minister Fang''s work progressed smoothly, so smoothly that it was almost like someone was secretly feeding him clues step by step.
In fact, Minister Fang began to worry that it might be part of a trap. After investigating carefully, he didn''t find anything wrong, but he made a note of his suspicions.
The King of Yue was jailed in the dark prison and lost all contact with the outside world. He had no way of knowing that Minister Fang was about to wipe away years of his arrangements in the capital.
The more Minister Fang uncovered, the more shocked he felt. In the end, he couldn''t sit still any longer and asked to see Shang JunLin in person.
Minister Fang came to the small courtyard in the afternoon. Shen Yu was taking a nap. To avoid disturbing him, Shang JunLin chose to meet Minister Fang outside.
Minister Fang reported his progress, then put forward his doubts. "I think there may be a force that''s secretly handing me clues."
Shang JunLin tapped the table with his knuckles. "You haven''t found the source?"
Minister Fang bowed his head in shame. "The official is ipetent."
"Tell this emperor more."
"This official tried to trace the clues to track down that party, but they were too well-hidden. There was no trace of them at all. This official even began to wonder if I was overthinking it.
"But it''s impossible for so many coincidences to exist. The King of Yue operated in the capital for years, and he had the assistance of thete emperor back then. For it to be so easy to discover all this, something really has to be wrong."
Shang JunLin agreed, and his action of tapping on the table slowed down. "Have they made any other moves aside from this?"
"No."
When Shen Yu woke up from his nap, he heard the conversation between Shang JunLin and Minister Fang outside, and the corners of his mouth curved up.
No one in the world knew the abilities of the King of Yue better than Shen Yu. In order to help the King of Yue in his previous life, he''d learned more about the King of Yue''s forces than the king himself.
"Mu Xi."
Hearing him speak, Mu Xi came in from outside. "Young master, are you awake?"
Shen Yu dressed and got out of bed. "Tomorrow I''ll ask His Majesty toe to the manor for a day of fun."
Mu Xi understood the meaning of Shen Yu''s words. "This ve will go in advance to prepare."
Before leaving the pce, Shen Yu ordered Mu Xi to handle some things and gave her some letters. He told her to find an opportunity to send the letters to his people in the manor without causing anyone''s suspicion.
After leaving the pce, Shen Yu made excuses to be alone with Shang JunLin. They didn''t take their servants with them when they went out to enjoy themselves. Mu Xi left many times, saying that she was shopping or going to see her friends. She was just one of Shen Yu''s maids, and the Hidden Dragon Guard wouldn''t pay too much attention to her movements. After confirming several times that everything was fine, she rxed her vignce and quietly passed on the letters.
There was nothing too important in the letters. Shen Yu''s true n was deployed long before he entered the pce. However, Minister Fang''s thorough investigation of the King of Yue was the perfect opportunity for Shen Yu.
In the hands of Minister Fang, the King of Yue''s resources were dug up ahead of time. Except for the fact everything went a little too smoothly, there were no suspicions. Shen Yu''s people didn''t really participate in it from beginning to end. All they did was make a few clues a bit more obvious.
It now seemed that his n was going well.
Shen Yu wiped the expression from his face. "Well, remember to prepare the dessert you told me aboutst time. I''ll take His Majesty to try it."
Shang JunLin heard Shen Yu''s voice and walked into the room. "Is the noble monarch awake?"
"Did Your Majesty finish dealing with political affairs? Is that minister still outside?" Shen Yu nced at the door.
"It was Minister Fang. He finished and went back on his own."
Minister Fang, who was in the middle of speaking to the emperor when His Majesty abruptly turned around and left, was standing in the courtyard with a nk face.
Meng Gonggong came forward with a smile. "Minister Fang is excused."
After thinking about it, Minister Fang decided that he''d said everything necessary for the time being. There really was no need to stay, so he went back.
"Your Majesty, where are we going today?" Shen Yu asked excitedly.
"To Cangqi Mountain."
Cangqi Mountain was located in the northern suburbs of the capital, and the scenery was beautiful. Every year, people invited rtives and friends to go there on spring outings to enjoy the view.
Cangqi Mountain wasn''t far from their temporary residence. After half an hour, the carriage stopped.
This time they brought several pce attendants with them to arrange a resting ce. Shen Yu and Shang JunLin strolled along together.
The sun was bright and the breeze was warm. As far as the eye could see, the greenndscape was dotted with flowers of all colors. asionally, pretty young women walked by, enjoying themselves. The people were even more charming and delicate than the flowers.
By the river, schrs had gathered to drink wine and write poems. Shen Yu saw Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu among them. Considering Shang JunLin''s mood, Shen Yu didn''t suggest going over.
The two walked through the crowd side by side, listening to theughter around them. Their mood was rxed and happy.
Shen Yu sighed. "If every day could be this pleasant, how wonderful it would be."
"If Ah Yu likes it, we''lle againter."
"Isn''t it too much trouble?" After all, Shang JunLin was the emperor. Something that was easy for ordinary people was more than a little troublesome for them.
If Shen Yu liked it, who cared about a little trouble? Shang JunLin thought to himself as he looked at the smile on Shen Yu''s face.
"Watch out!"
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through. Shang JunLin had no time to think. He grabbed Shen Yu in his arms and turned around.
"Ah" There were exmations all around.
Past Shang JunLin''s shoulder, Shen Yu saw a man in gray sh by.
For some reason Shen Yu''s heart leaped in his chest. Without conscious thought, his hand tightened on Shang JunLin''s arm.
"Your Majesty"
Thinking Shen Yu was frightened, Shang JunLin gently stroked his back andforted him. "Don''t be afraid."
Shen Yu calmed down, but he couldn''t ignore the palpitations in his heart.
Who was that man? Why did hee here?
TL Notes:
cardinal rules big taboo
(return to his fief) in one piece full beard and full tail The family property is intact or the body is free from disease and disaster
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Chapter 51
Chapter 51
The man came out of nowhere. After inspiring panic in the crowd, he disappeared.
Shen Yu paused for a moment, but he could barely suppress the palpitations in his chest. He stepped back from Shang JunLin''s arms.
"Your face isn''t good. Let''s go back," Shang JunLin said with distress, looking at Shen Yu''s pale face.
Shen Yu had been carefully nurtured in the pce. He hadn''t looked so unwell in a long time. The only other time Shang JunLin remembered was the night Shen Yu entered Yuzhang Pce, when he fainted.
Shen Yu leaned against Shang JunLin. His brows were knitted tightly. "Your Majesty, I don''t feel well."
Before saying anything else, Shang JunLin bundled Shen Yu into his arms and carried him. "We''ll head back."
Shen Yu nestled against Shang JunLin''s body and didn''t speak. He had an indistinct feeling that he couldn''t breathe, and he gradually realized there might really be something physically wrong with him.
Shang JunLin moved quickly, carrying Shen Yu all the way to the carriage. When they were about to leave, Imperial Physician Gu emerged from the crowd.
Meng Gonggong had sharp eyes and pulled Imperial Physician Gu over. "Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Gu is here."
Imperial Physician Gu was apanied by a young man. but Shen Yu couldn''t pay any attention to anything else. His vision was dark and his heart felt like it was being squeezed by a hand.
He hadn''t been this ill for a long time. Shen Yu had almost forgotten how it felt.
Shang JunLin sat down with Shen Yu in his arms. Imperial Physician Gu didn''t dare to dy. He immediately came forward to check Shen Yu''s pulse.
After a long time, Imperial Physician Gu released his hand and frowned. "Someone triggered the noble monarch''s illness."
Shang JunLin''s eyes were cold and deep. He remembered that the night Shen Yu entered Yuzhang Pce he''d fainted for the same reason.
Afterwards, Shang JunLin thoroughly checked everything in Yuzhang Pce. He thought there would be no more simr incidents. It now seemed that he was too lenient.
Imperial Physician Gu quickly wrote out a prescription. "Your Majesty shouldn''t worry too much. The noble monarch has been in good health recently. There won''t be serious harm. This official brought some medicine with me, but a few more items are needed. Your Majesty should send someone to fetch them quickly."
Shang JunLin ordered the Hidden Dragon Guard to bring the medicine.
Under the orders of Imperial Physician Gu, the pce servants set up a tent where they could take shelter from the wind. Shang JunLin walked inside with Shen Yu in his arms, and Imperial Physician Gu followed closely behind.
The young man who was following Imperial Physician Gu wanted to enter the tent with him, but Meng Gonggong stopped him. "Young master"
"That''s my didi. He might be able to assist me. Meng Gonggong shouldn''t worry," Imperial Physician Gu exined.
Only then did Meng Gonggong allow the person to enter.
Shen Yu could vaguely sense things happening around him, as well as the worry and fear of Shang JunLin. He wanted to tell His Majesty that he was fine and not to worry, but when he opened his mouth, not a syble came out.
"Don''t worry, it will be fine." Shang JunLin brushed a lock of hair back from Shen Yu''s face, but he didn''t know if he was reassuring Shen Yu or himself.
"Your Majesty, this official needs to apply needles to the noble monarch." Imperial Physician Gu looked to the side and said, "Xiao Huai, get the silver needles from the bottom right of the medicine chest."
Gu Huai found the silver needles and came over.
Shang JunLin put Shen Yu on the makeshift bed. "Everyone but Imperial Physician Gu should go."
"Yes."
Meng Gonggong escorted the attendants out. Along the way he physically dragged a young man who didn''t want to leave.
Under Meng Gonggong''s urging, Gu Huai went outside. "But my gege is in there," he murmured.
Meng Gonggong took the young man aside. "His Majesty is keeping an extremely close watch on the noble monarch. Your gege is the one applying the needles, or he would have left with us too."
"May heaven preserve the noble monarch. I hope he''ll be all right."
Mu Xi couldn''t control her anxiety. "How could this happen to the young master again He''s been well for such a long time. This ve strictly followed the instructions of Imperial Physician Gu and urged the young master to rest. How could this still"
Meng Gonggong felt troubled also. His Majesty''s concern for the noble monarch was increasing day by day. If something happened to him
No, no, no, nothing would happen. The noble monarch was worthy, and heaven would certainly help him.
Outside, people felt anxious. Inside, Shang JunLin could hardly control his emotions.
He couldn''t bear it. The person who''d been talking to him with a smile a moment ago was suddenly lying on the bed with a pale face. His eyes were tightly closed, frowning from the pain even after he fell unconscious.
A silver needle was pushed in, and Shen Yu''s fingers curled up in pain. Shang JunLin sat to the side holding Shen Yu''s hand.
"Is the trigger the same asst time?" Shang JunLin''s voice was cold. He was truly angry.
Imperial Physician Gu answered affirmatively.
Shang JunLin''s other hand was squeezed into a deadly fist. When he found out who was behind this, he would make that person''s life worse than death!
Shen Yu''s suffering must be repaid a hundred thousand times!
The purpose of the needles was to stabilize Shen Yu''s physical condition. After an incense stick of time, Imperial Physician Gu removed the needles and said, "The weather has been rtively cooltely. Your Majesty should be careful not to let the noble monarch suffer from cold. After this episode, his body may be weak for a while. This official will adjust the prescription again and supplement it with a medicinal diet. This will help the noble monarch recover his strength as quickly as possible."
An illness could greatly damage the vitality of a healthy person, much less a person who was already weak. If Shen Yu wasn''t carefully tended for two or three months, he might never recover to the state of health he was in before today.
Shang JunLin straightened Shen Yu''s clothes and picked him up into his arms again.
Feeling the sudden warmth, Shen Yu instinctively leaned towards the source. Being approached by Shen Yu would normally have been a happy thing for Shang JunLin, but right now he didn''t feel happy at all.
Shang JunLin''s arms tightened, and he bowed his head and kissed Shen Yu''s forehead.
Imperial Physician Gu put away the silver needles and didn''t disturb them further. "This official will go and see to the medicine."
Soon after he came out, the Hidden Dragon Guard arrived on fast horses with the medicinal ingredients. Mu Xi assisted Imperial Physician Gu to prepare the medicine.
In a fit of rage, Shang JunLin hadmanded the Hidden Dragon Guard to cordon off all of Cangqi Mountain. Until the man in gray was found, no one was allowed to leave.
Some people were dissatisfied, but Shang JunLin was in no mood just then to listen toints. Those who tried to disobey were arrested, and the more quarrelsome were punished. After that, the rest were too afraid to say anything.
The imperial guard soon arrived. After they showed up, everyone knew how serious the matter was and didn''t dare to make trouble.
The wilderness wasn''t a good ce to recuperate. Shang JunLin intended to take Shen Yu back to the pce.
Mu Xi came in with the boiled medicine, followed by Imperial Physician Gu and a strong young man carrying a medicine box.
When Imperial Physician Gu heard Shang JunLin wanted to return to the pce, he gave him a suggestion. "Your Majesty should choose somewhere closer. It would be better to wait a day or two before returning to the pce. Let the noble monarch recuperate first.
"It''s best to avoid bumping and jolting the noble monarch''s body."
It was half a day''s journey from Cangqi Mountain to the pce. Out of caution, they wouldn''t be able to travel too quickly, which meant it would take even longer.
Shang JunLin took Imperial Physician Gu''s rmendation to heart and instructed Meng Gonggong, "Find an estate nearby. This emperor will take the noble monarch to stay there for a few days."
When Mu Xi came in with the medicine, Shang JunLin reached out to take it. "Give this emperor the medicine."
Thinking of Shen Yu''s n, Mu Xi said boldly, "Your Majesty, the manor where the young master used to live isn''t far. Why doesn''t Your Majesty take the young master there? The young master always wanted to show Your Majesty his favorite ces."
"How far is it?" Shang JunLin recalled that before leaving the pce, Shen Yu told him about the interesting things he did in the vige when he was young. The ink in his eyes deepened.
They''d intended to go there in a few days.
"It will take less than an hour to get there."
That really wasn''t far. Instead of finding apletely unfamiliar ce, it made sense to go to Shen Yu''s manor.
Shang JunLin took the medicine and fed it to Shen Yu. When the spoon reached his mouth, the unconscious young man pouted his lips and turned his head to the side.
After several more attempts, Shen Yu still didn''t cooperate. Thest time, the medicine actually spilled on Shang JunLin''s clothes.
Mu Xi trembled with fear as she watched this from the side. She wanted to offer several times to do it herself, but when she saw Shang JunLin''s eyes, she swallowed her words.
"The medicine may be more bitter this time," Imperial Physician Gu exined.
"Everyone can go," Shang JunLin ordered in a low voice.
After all the people left, Shang JunLin picked up the medicine bowl and sipped it without changing expression. Then he leaned over and took Shen Yu''s lips, passing him the concoction little by little.
Shen Yu was firmly imprisoned in Shang JunLin''s arms. There was no escape. All he could do was reluctantly swallow the bitter-tasting medicine.
Thanks to the powerful insistence of Shang JunLin, the bowl of medicine was soon finished.
Shen Yu''s mouth tasted so bitter that his entire face wrinkled up. Shang JunLin smoothed the creases on his forehead andughed softly. "Even when you''re asleep you still make so much trouble."
Cangqi Mountain was left to the Hidden Dragon Guard and themander of the Imperial Guard to handle. Shang JunLin took Shen Yu and a group of pce attendants to the manor.
Imperial Physician Gu came with them.
Because there were two extra people, Imperial Physician Gu and Meng Gonggong sat in the same carriage.
On the way, Meng Gonggong asked curiously, "Why did Imperial Physician Gue to Cangqi Mountain today?"
"It''s Xiao Huai who wanted to go. I haven''t been busytely, so I decided to join him and see if there were any herbs I needed." Imperial Physician Gu pointed at the medicine box to one side. "I found a lot of useful medicines."
Meng Gonggong nced at the young man who was seated close to Imperial Physician Gu. The young man was sitting calmly, but one could vaguely tell how much he depended on Imperial Physician Gu.
At the moment, Gu Huai was at a loss. He really had nned to see Shang JunLin, but he never thought it would happen like this.
He had no intention of involving Imperial Physician Gu. The moment Imperial Physician Gu decided toe with him to Cangqi Mountain, he gave up any idea of meeting Shang JunLin there. He could find another opportunity. There was only one Imperial Physician Gu. Even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance of something going wrong, Gu Huai didn''t want to put Imperial Physician Gu in any danger.
He instructed his people not to do anything. He didn''t know who injured Noble Monarch Shen. At the same time, Gu Huai was d he hadn''t been in a hurry to try anything. Given Shen Yu''s importance to Shang JunLin, the moment he got involved, even if it was just to seek an opportunity to speak with Shang JunLin face to face, he would have no choice but to oppose the emperor of Da Huan in the future.
The estate knew Shen Yu intended to visit, so everything was prepared. Shang JunLin carried Shen Yu the entire way into the bedroom and set him down beforeing out to deal with everything else.
"Your Majesty, it''s a coincidence that Imperial Physician Gu was at Cangqi Mountain." While in the carriage, Meng Gonggong obliquely asked Imperial Physician Gu some questions.
"Hmm. As soon as there''s progress,e and inform this emperor."
In the evening, Mu Xi brought in the freshly boiled medicine. Shang JunLin took the bowl and walked into the bedroom. Mu Xi knew better than to disturb him.
Shen Yu was still unconscious. Shang JunLin scooped up a spoonful of medicine and held it to Shen Yu''s mouth. Not surprisingly, the young man ducked away.
After several more attempts failed, Shang JunLin took a mouthful of medicine and put the bowl to one side. He had no other choice but to restrain the young man with one hand, slightly part the tightly-closed mouth with his other hand, and bend down.
That was how Shen Yu was fed the medicine throughout the night.
Shang JunLin left the room with the medicine bowl and changed his clothes.
When Shen Yu woke up, the first thing he noticed was the bitterness. His mouth was full of a lingering bitter taste, his body felt heavy, and waves of chills swept over him. It was like he''d returned to his previous life.
The man sitting by the bed pulled him back to reality.
When he saw Shang JunLin staring at his mouth, Shen Yu licked his lips. "Why is Your Majesty looking at me like that? Or did Your Majesty do something bad behind my back?"
TL Notes:
apply needles e.g. Acupuncture, aponent of traditional Chinese medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the body. In novels, it''s sometimes used to treat a wide variety of conditions. In the real world, it''s a pseudoscience used most often for pain relief (from Wikipedia)
May heaven preserve May Heaven preserve us!, God bless and keep you
(The noble monarch was) worthy, and heaven would (certainly) help him Heaven stands by the good man.; Heaven helps the worthy (idiom)
an incense stick of time An old timey way to describe a period of time. ording to Baidu, it''s about thirty minutes. Other sources say half a shichen, which is one modern hour. See also "the amount of time it takes to drink a cup of tea" previously mentioned in Ch 18
the more quarrelsome from thorn head, prickly head A person who is difficult to deal with and at odds with others, a person who is arrogant and causes trouble
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Xiao Huai A nickname for Gu Huai
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Chapter 52
Chapter 52
After being fed the medicine, Shen Yu''s lips looked a little more redpared to his pale face. It made him even more attractive, like a field of white snow marked with a stroke of vermilion.
Shang JunLin still remembered the touch of those lips.
The bitterness of the medicine couldn''t hide the sweetness of that feeling.
The tip of a red tongue emerged from Shen Yu''s mouth and swept across his ruddy lips. Shang JunLin''s eyes darkened.
Shang JunLin put down the things in his hands and reached out, touching Shen Yu''s forehead to test his body temperature. He didn''t feel as cold as before.
Shang JunLin gradually rxed.
Imperial Physician Gu had said that as long as Shen Yu woke up, there was no serious injury.
Shen Yu was confused by Shang JunLin''s actions. "Your Majesty, did something happen?"
"Everything is fine."
"Is Your Majesty hiding something from me?" Shen Yu narrowed his eyes. The man in gray had obviously done something to induce this sudden illness.
Shang JunLin knew that Shen Yu wasn''t easy to fool. He reluctantly told him what happened on Cangqi Mountain. "This emperor sent the Hidden Dragon Guard and imperial guard to find that person. There will be results soon."
Shen Yu had been lying in bed for most of the day and was beginning to feel ufortable, especially his mouth, which had an inescapable bitterness. The taste didn''t match any medicine he could remember.
He tried to sit up in bed. When Shang JunLin saw it, he helped Shen Yu sit up and stuffed a cushion behind his back. "How does the noble monarch feel now?"
"Fine, but my mouth tastes extremely bitter." Shen Yu frowned,ining, "What kind of medicine did they use this time? It tastes terrible."
Shang JunLin got up and brought him a cup of water. "Drink a little."
Shen Yu was so eager to get rid of the bitterness in his mouth that he took arge mouthful from the cup.
Huh?
It was sweet.
He pursed his lips and took another sip.
When Shang JunLin saw his face rx, he said, "Imperial Physician Gu prepared a new prescription. In order to maximize the effect, he didn''t add anything to improve the taste."
"No wonder I tasted it even in my sleep." Shen Yu understood. "Is this honey water? It tastes sweet."
"Yes." Shang JunLin nodded. "This emperor was worried you''d awaken with a bitter taste in your mouth and prepared it in advance."
After drinking the entire ss, Shen Yu instructed Shang JunLin to bring him some fruit preserves. After eating sweet-tasting foods for a while, the bitterness in his mouth was finally ovee.
By now Shen Yu was curious enough to delve into other issues, such as
"Your Majesty, how did I manage to drink such bitter medicine?" Shen Yu knew exactly how willful he was when it came to this subject. If no one indulged him, it was fine, but otherwise it was impossible to get him to drink something so vile-tasting, especially when he was unconscious.
In his previous life, he fetose multiple times due to illness. Every time it happened, his subordinates and doctors were helpless to do anything. He could only take medicine after he awakened.
The doctors who treated Shen Yu told him more than once that whenever he was asleep, they worried Shen Yu would never wake up. They hoped Shen Yu would have a change of heart and stop resisting taking his medicine when he was unconscious. After all, he drank it easily when he was awake.
Shen Yu thought to himself: I don''t want to take it when I''m awake either. I can barely drink it down without changing expression. It''s something I can help. When I''m asleep, my body is controlled by instinct. It simply reflects my innate dislike of bitter medicine.
Shen Yu recalled the bitter taste in his mouth when he woke up a little while ago. The taste was worse than anything in his previous life. He knew his sleeping self would never drink something like that, and he felt even more curious
After asking about it, Shen Yu looked at Shang JunLin.
Shang JunLin''s expression didn''t flicker. "If the noble monarch is curious, this emperor will feed you againter, and the noble monarch will find out."
Shen Yu thought about it for a moment, then put the question aside and asked about something more important. "I remember I had an attack after encountering the man in gray. Was he the cause?"
Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s wrist and caressed it. "It''s probable, but it''s necessary to rule out other factors."
It was precisely for this reason that Shang JunLin ordered the Hidden Dragon Guard and imperial guard to surround Cangqi Mountain. From the time they left the carriage until they met the man in gray, anyone they encountered in between was a suspect.
After lying in bed all afternoon, Shen Yu couldn''t sleep. "Your Majesty, I want to go out for a walk."
Shang JunLin brought him some clothes and helped Shen Yu dress. Shen Yu was already ustomed to being fussed over by the ruler of the nation. He stretched out his arms to let Shang JunLin help him with his outer robe and cloak.
His pale face hidden behind the white cor was whiter than snow. Shang JunLin tidied Shen Yu''s hair, put an arm around his waist, and led him from the room.
The illness had consumed most of Shen Yu''s energy. When his feet touched the ground, he constantly felt like he was swaying. Shen Yu didn''t have any strength. He simply leaned on Shang JunLin and let the man support him.
After one or two steps, Shang JunLin noticed the heavy weight against his body. He looked over at the young man who was brazenly borrowing his strength to walk and felt amused. "Where does the noble monarch want to go? This emperor will carry you."
Shen Yu shook his head. He was determined to walk by himself.
Shang JunLin wasn''t annoyed by the rejection. He supported most of Shen Yu''s weight and took him for a slow turn around the courtyard.
The sky wasn''tpletely dark yet. The lingering sunlight shone down, tinting most of the sky red.
Shen Yu looked up and gave a sigh. "It''s a beautiful sunset, but it''s a pity that it''s almost gone."
"If you can''t see it today, you can see it tomorrow. It''s not a pity." Shang JunLin interrupted the mncholy that Shen Yu was just beginning to brew.
"Your Majesty is right." Shen Yu obediently changed the subject. "Your Majesty mentioned Imperial Physician Gu just now. How did he happen to run into us?"
"He took his didi to Cangqi Mountain to collect medicinal herbs. There was a lot ofmotion after you fainted. He saw us in the crowd and came over."
"Where''s Imperial Physician Gu now?"
"He''s also staying in the manor, of course." As if he knew what Shen Yu was going to ask next, Shang JunLin added, "His didi is here as well."
After walking for a while, Shen Yu realized they were in the ce he''d always wanted to bring Shang JunLin. He felt surprised. "Why did Your Majesty decide toe here?"
"The situation was urgent, and your maid said this ce was close, so this emperor chose it."
Shang JunLin had a selfish desire to see where Shen Yu used to live, and he knew Shen Yu wanted toe here. He thought Shen Yu might be disappointed if he missed it this time, so he pushed the boat along the current and agreed to Mu Xi''s suggestion.
Shen Yu was more than a little surprised. Before he passed out, he was worried they wouldn''t make it to the estate. He didn''t expect that when he woke up he''d be there already..
Now that Shen Yu was awake, Shang JunLin still felt worried. He told Meng Gonggong to send for Imperial Physician Gu.
Arge part of the reason for bringing Imperial Physician Gu to the estate was to make it easier to care for Shen Yu the moment his condition changed.
After Imperial Physician Gu received the message, he came immediately. Gu Huai followed with a medicine box.
Shen Yu walked around for a while and felt a little weak. Shang JunLin helped him sit down in the pavilion.
The manor upied arge area, and Shen Yu hadn''t returned in many years. Faded memories came flooding back to him as he looked around.
"Your Majesty, look over there." Shen Yu pointed to a big tree not far away. "When I was a child, I had someone make a little swing for me there. One year the rope broke in a rainstorm. I felt sad for a long time."
Shang JunLin looked in the direction Shen Yu was pointing. The tree was extremelyrge. As a rough estimate, it would take more than three people to link hands around it. A sturdy branch extended horizontally outward. The faint traces of a rope could still be seen.
Shang JunLin could almost picture a small cute child sitting under the tree, swinging. Sunlight shone through the gaps in the leaves, and the mottled light and shadow fell on a little pink and jade dumpling. A light breeze swept his loose hair. Then the dumpling grew up little by little and became a teenager, the blurry shape gradually became clearer, and he eventually turned into Shen Yu''s current appearance.
"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Gu is here."
After receiving permission, Imperial Physician Gu checked Shen Yu''s pulse, and then he lowered his hand and breathed a sigh of relief. "The noble monarch is no longer in danger. Now it''s only necessary to look after the noble monarch''s health."
Shang JunLin let out a sigh of relief as well.
Shen Yu felt the hand clutching his wrist rx, and heforted Shang JunLin with a smile. "It''s nothing, Your Majesty. Don''t worry."
He lived with this body for more than a decade in his previous life. There was no reason to think he''d have fewer years in this life if he took care of himself.
After reassuring Shang JunLin, Shen Yu looked at the young man standing behind Imperial Physician Gu.
When he met the young man''s eyes, Shen Yu was taken aback.
Although those eyes were slightly immature, it wasn''t difficult to catch a glimpse of this master''s ferocity. No matter how well he disguised himself, he couldn''t change his bloodthirsty nature.
Shen Yu put away theplex thoughts running through his mind and pretended to be curious. "Is this Imperial Physician Gu''s didi?"
"Yes, his name is Gu Huai." Imperial Physician Gu prodded the young man to lower himself. "This is Noble Monarch Shen, the gentleman I told you about before, and this is His Majesty."
It was the first time Gu Huai met the two. Both the emperor and the noble monarch were very different from what he''d imagined. He concealed the distraction in his eyes and respectfully saluted.
Shen Yu calmly looked at the young man for a while and asked, "Is it the Huai of wistful''?"
"It''s the Huai'' of Oranges grown in Huainan''," Gu Huai exined.
Shen Yu nodded.
Gu Huai.
So that was his name.
Shen Yu thought of the person in his previous life and couldn''t help but have mixed feelings. It turned out that in front of the person he cared about, this mad wolf could show such a docile side. If nothing happened to Imperial Physician Gu in this life, what road would this young man take?
"So distracted. What are you thinking about?"
Shen Yu sat in a daze on the bed until his face was poked.
Shen Yu rubbed his cheek. "Just thinking. Imperial Physician Gu and Gu Huai don''t look alike. Are they blood brothers?"
"Has the noble monarch been wondering about this sincest night?" Shang JunLin lowered his eyes and sat down on the edge of the bed. "The noble monarch seems to pay extra attention to certain outsiders. Why is that?"
"Isn''t Your Majesty curious?" Shen Yu seemed not to notice Shang JunLin''s displeasure. "That Gu Huai isn''t as simple as he appears."
"This emperor knows that he intervened in the matter of Fei Meng'' before. The Hidden Dragon Guard observed that he also seemed to be searching for the person responsible, so they didn''t spend much time on him." Shang JunLin touched Shen Yu''s forehead to check his temperature.
Shang JunLin''s hand was quite warm, and Shen Yu automatically rubbed against the man''s palm. "Why would he care about Fei Meng''?"
Shen Yu recalled that he met Gu Huai several years from now in his previous life. At the time, it had been a while since the "Fei Meng" tragedy. Shen Yu wasn''t sure if Gu Huai participated in that incident before they met.
If so, what role did he y?
"If the noble monarch wants to know, it''s possible to ask him." After confirming that Gu Huai wasn''t rted to the "Fei Meng" incident in the pce, Shang JunLin no longer cared about him. There were very few people in this world that Shang JunLin cared about at all, but now there was Shen Yu.
To put it another way, for him there was only Shen Yu from beginning to end.
"It''s better not to scare him. If he really cares about the existence of "Fei Meng" as His Majesty said, he''ll take the initiative toe to us."
Tap tap. There was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
Mu Xi arrived with the medicine. Before she took more than a few steps, Shen Yu could already smell that unpleasant bitter aroma. He really had no idea how he managed to drink it when he was unconscious.
Shang JunLin took the medicine from her, and Mu Xi was wise enough to withdraw.
Shen Yu clutched the quilt and said quietly, "Your Majesty, I''m awake now, so there''s no need for me to take this medicine, right?"
"Why is the noble monarch still afraid of medicine at such an age?" Shang JunLin went over to the bed and sat down.
Shen Yu''s previous medicine was improved by Imperial Physician Gu and wasn''t that bad, but this medicine was different. Shen Yu could tell from the smell exactly how bitter it was. In his previous life, he took so much medicine that he got used to it over time. Right now, with Shang JunLin here, Shen Yu really didn''t want to drink the awful stuff.
Shang JunLin held Shen Yu''s shoulder so he couldn''t shrink away. He held the medicine steadily in one hand and coaxed him in a low voice, "Be good. This emperor will feed you."
Shen Yu was wary. "Feed me how?"
Shang JunLin took a mouthful of the medicine, leaned over, and physically demonstrated to Shen Yu exactly how he fed the medicinest time!
TL Notes:
fussed over (coll.) to doll up / to spruce up / to zhoosh up
pushed the boat along the current push the boat along with the current make use of an opportunity to achieve one''s end; make use of the favorable current situation to push matters through with little effort
Is it the Huai of wistful'' Shen Yu is asking how to write Gu Huai''s name
oranges grown in Huainan This seems to be a line from Annals of Master Yan (), an ancient text dating to the Warring States period (475-221 BC). It contains a collection of stories, speeches, and aphorisms attributed to Yan Ying (), a politician from the State of Qi. The full line says, "Oranges grown in Huainan are (mandarin) oranges, oranges grown in Huaibei are Chinese bitter oranges" () (Baidu, Wikipedia)
the "Fei Ming" tragedy from the "Fei Ming" case for rity
After confirming that Gu Huai wasn''t rted to the "Fei Meng" incident in the pce from The original just said Gu Huai had nothing to do with "the person behind the curtain" which is pretty vague
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Huainan A prefecture-level city in Anhui province
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Chapter 53
Chapter 53
First Shen Yu felt the heat against his lips, then the bitter and astringent-tasting medicine poured in.
"Mmn" Shen Yu resisted, pushing at the man who was half on top of him.
Unfortunately, his resistance was in vain.
The tip of the man''s tongue pried the pearl white teeth apart. The man''s purpose was to feed him medicinehe didn''t press deeper. Shen Yu''s hands on the man''s clothes instinctively tightened.
The medicine he couldn''t swallow in time slipped from the corner of his mouth and dampened his cor at the neckline.
Shen Yu couldn''t reject it. On one side was the man''s powerful tongue, and on the other was the medicine that was constantly flowing into his mouth. All he could do wasply with the man''s wishes and swallow the medicine a little at a time.
After finishing the medicine in his mouth, Shen Yu felt something scrape gently against his lower teeth. When he looked up, he saw the man get up like nothing happened. He intended to continue feeding him.
Shen Yu, disregarding all other considerations, snatched up the medicine bowl and gulped it down without hesitation.
He finally understood how Shang JunLin managed to feed him medicine when he was unconscious. Shen Yu thought it would have been better to remain ignorant.
After Shen Yu obediently finished the medicine, a sh of regret crossed Shang JunLin''s eyes. He brought over the candied fruit which had been prepared.
After eating some, Shen Yu finally felt like his mouth wasn''t as bitter. "Will Your Majesty have some?"
Without waiting for an answer, Shen Yu picked up a piece and fed it to Shang JunLin''s mouth. "Anyway, Your Majesty tasted bitterness because you fed me, so Your Majesty should taste the sweetness, too."
Shang JunLin lowered his eyes and ate the candied fruit from Shen Yu''s hand.
"Is it sweet?" Shen Yu tilted his head and looked at Shang JunLin''s face.
"It''s sweet." The candied fruit was sweet, but candied fruit fed by Shen Yu was even sweeter.
After taking his medicine, Shen Yu''s clothes were a little stained. He didn''t feel like going back to bed, so it was just as well. He instructed Shang JunLin, "Your Majesty soiled my clothes. Bring over some clean ones."
Shang JunLin did as Shen Yu wished and brought him something clean to wear.
Shen Yu had soiled his underclothes. Before changing, he nced at Shang JunLin. "Shouldn''t Your Majesty avoid impropriety?"
He signaled Shang JunLin to hurry up and go.
Shang JunLin was unmoved. "Is there any part of the noble monarch''s body this emperor hasn''t seen?"
Shen Yu just looked at him without speaking. In the end, Shang JunLin was defeated. "What if this emperor turns around and doesn''t look?"
With that, Shang JunLin turned his back.
Seeing that he really had no intention of leaving, Shen Yu quickly changed his clothes, then picked up his outer robe and put it on. "All set."
Shang JunLin turned back and came over to straighten Shen Yu''s disheveled outer robe.
Their breakfast had been prepared. Knowing that the two masters were already up, Meng Gonggong told the servants to bring in the meal.
Shen Yu sat opposite Shang JunLin and pointed to a few dishes he didn''t recognize. "Is this a new recipe developed by the estate?"
"It''s part of the medicinal diet that was prepared especially for you."
The medicinal dishes Shen Yu had eaten before, without exception, all had a faint scent of medicine. This time, although the food was directly in front of him, he didn''t smell the slightest trace of medicine.
Shen Yu took his chopsticks and lifted the food to his mouth. The meat was fresh and tender. It was true that it didn''t taste like ordinary food, but it also didn''t taste anything like the medicinal diet Shen Yu expected.
As if sensing Shen Yu''s doubts, Shang JunLin exined, "Since you don''t like the taste of medicine, these dishes were prepared with methods that suppress medicinal vors."
After finishing the meal, Shen Yu thought of the strange man from before. "Has the man in gray been found yet?"
He was almost certain he didn''t know the man. Why would that person seek him out? To make it even more puzzling, how was he able to trigger Shen Yu''s sickness just by brushing past him?
Shen Yu had been ill since childhood. Every doctor who treated him said his illness was induced in his mother''s womb. Shen Yu had never doubted them, but now it seemed there was a secret behind it.
As they were talking, themander of the imperial guard arrived outside and requested an audience. The topic was rted to Shen Yu. Instead of avoiding anything, Shang JunLin asked the man toe in and speak.
Themander of the imperial guard saluted Shen Yu and Shang JunLin before stating his business.
"This subordinate ordered my men to search the mountain throughout the night. They seeded in catching several people with evil intentions and sent them to the prison for interrogation. The man Your Majesty spoke of has also been caught, but this subordinate''s men didn''t capture him. He was found by other people."
"Who?"
"This subordinate brought them here."
These new visitors were dressed in identical ck clothing. ording to themander of the imperial guard, they had also been roaming Cangqi Mountain. The man in gray almost managed to slip the. If these people hadn''t found him, he might really have escaped.
The man in gray seemed familiar with the imperial guard''s usual methods. He avoided all of their scouts and made use of certain techniques to evade the Hidden Dragon Guard. After throwing dust in their eyes several times, he escaped the searchers and almost managed to disappear from Cangqi Mountain without a trace.
"Many thanks to both of you. If there''s anything you need, please don''t hesitate to mention it," Shen Yu said.
"We were just following our master''s orders. There''s no need to thank us," one of the men in ck replied.
Shen Yu wasn''t surprised by the answer. The two men appeared to be well-trained dark guards. He just didn''t know what family in the capital was capable of training a team like that.
After themander and the others left, Shen Yu shared his doubts with Shang JunLin.
Shang JunLin thought for a moment. "As far as this emperor knows, the existing noble families in the capital don''t have the ability to cultivate such a group."
Shen Yu: "No matter whose people they are, they did us a favor. We should thank them properly."
Shang JunLin: "What the noble monarch said is right."
Shen Yu: "Does Your Majesty think these people might be the same ones who were investigating Fei Meng''?"
Shang JunLin: "You mean, they''re Gu Huai''s men?"
Shen Yu nodded. "But I''m notpletely sure."
Shen Yu remembered that in his previous life, Gu Huai had been followed by a group of utterly loyal people. Shen Yu had witnessed their strength. If he was forced to give an opinion, he thought they were probably equal to the men in ck he''d just seen.
The man in gray was sent to the dark prison to be interrogated by specialists. Shang JunLin and Shen Yu only had to wait for the results.
Shen Yu noticed that Shang JunLin liked to stick even closer to him now, except for the time he spent approving memorials every day. If not for how incredibly bored Shen Yu got while sitting there, Shang JunLin would have tried to spend that time with him too.
"Your Majesty, you can''t do this." Shen Yu looked helplessly at Shang JunLin, who''d hooked onto the hem of his clothes. "I''m just going out for a walk."
Shang JunLin didn''t let go. "The noble monarch can wait until this emperor finishes business."
Shen Yu argued: "Your Majesty, we''re separate people and we need space to be apart. Even ordinary couples don''t stick together at all times."
After a lot of persuading, Shen Yu finally managed to get some private time.
"Noble monarch."
Shen Yu turned around and saw a young man in a short dark blue top walking towards him.
"Young Master Gu."
"I wonder if I can speak to the noble monarch alone?" Gu Huai nced at Mu Xi, who was beside Shen Yu. He added, "It''s about Fei Meng''."
"Of course." Shen Yu turned to Mu Xi. "You can go."
The fish bit the hook.
Normally, after confirming Shen Yu''s health was no longer in danger, Imperial Physician Gu would have been allowed to go. But Shen Yu wanted to confirm something, so he asked Shang JunLin to keep Imperial Physician Gu around. Gu Huai, who was Imperial Physician Gu''s brother, remained as well.
The next step was to create an opportunity for Gu Huai to meet him alone.
Shen Yu wasn''t worried that Gu Huai would do anything to him. The entire estate was filled with Shen Yu''s people, and there were Hidden Dragon Guards watching from the shadows. As long as Gu Huai was smart, he wouldn''t try to move against Shen Yu in those circumstances. If he really did try something, he would be dealt with immediately, and there was no need to say the rest.
"The noble monarch was expecting me?" Without outsiders present, Gu Huai no longer concealed himself.
His facial features are still immature, but his aura matched the man Shen Yu knew in his previous life, especially his eyes. They were like a bottomless abyss, overflowing with hostility.
"It was only a guess." Shen Yu slowly poured himself a cup of tea. "Would you like some? It''s good Yuwu silver needle''."
In the man''s previous life, before going on a mission, he told Shen Yu that if he had the chance, he''d invite Shen Yu to drink "Yuwu silver needle" with him next time. Unfortunately, what came instead was the tragic news that the man had died together with the enemy.
Shen Yu had returned with those memories. In a way, he was fulfilling the appointment he made in his previous life.
Without waiting for Gu Huai to answer, Shen Yu poured him a cup.
"Are you this self-assured with His Majesty too?" Gu Huai picked up the cup and took a sip.
"Children shouldn''t pry into the affairs of adults." Shen Yu slowly sipped his tea. "You should cherish this opportunity. Next time you want to drink this tea, you''ll have to make it for yourself."
Gu Huai was speechless. After a long time, he said, "You''re not that much older than me."
"True," Shen Yu admitted, "but I''m married. Haven''t you heard? After you get married, you''re an adult."
Gu Huai took a deep breath and decided to get down to business. "I want to know if the pce was involved in the Fei Meng'' incident."
ording to the clues he found, the pce was inextricably linked with "Fei Meng".
Shen Yu''s face turned serious. "I can''t make promises for others, but I''m certain His Majesty has never been involved with it. I''m the one who asked him to investigate."
"I believe you." Gu Huai gave Shen Yu a deep look. He took a confidential letter from his sleeve and pushed it over to Shen Yu. "These are the clues my people found. You might already know some of it."
Instead of taking the letter, Shen Yu asked about something else. "Was it your people who caught the man in gray?"
Gu Huai: "Yes. Before attempting to cooperate, I thought I should show you a little sincerity. I also arranged for the person who shouted out the name of the King of Yue in public."
Shen Yu: "What do you want?"
"I want to find the person who created Fei Meng'' and avenge the death of my family!" Gu Huai didn''t speak in circles. When he said these words, his tone was eerily cold.
"Before the matter of Fei Meng'' ispletely resolved, that''s all I can say." Gu Huai rxed his clenched fists. "If something happens, I hope the noble monarch will protect my gege. You don''t have to worry about me."
"Imperial Physician Gu certainly wouldn''t agree to that." Shen Yu shook his head. In his previous life, Imperial Physician Gu was involved in such a major case, yet Gu Huai survived. If not for Imperial Physician Gu, how could that have happened?
It was in his previous life and it was impossible to verify. Fortunately, he''d already changed Imperial Physician Gu''s fate.
When Shang JunLin finished his official business and returned, Gu Huai had already left. Shen Yu was staring at an empty cup.
"What did Gu Huai say to you?"
Shen Yu wasn''t surprised that Shang JunLin knew he met Gu Huai in private. He''d spoken to Shang JunLin before. He handed the unopened letter to him. "He talked about Fei Meng''."
Shang JunLin epted the confidential letter and put it aside, apparently thoughtful. "Why didn''t Gu Huaie to this emperor directly?"
"If he really is the surviving child of his family, maybe there''s a knot in his heart." If Shen Yu was in the same position, and believed his family had died as a result of the imperial family''s weakness and ipetence, he wouldn''t have looked kindly on them either.
Assuming, of course, that his whole family wasn''t like the Zhenbei Marquis.
Otherwise he was better off without them.
After returning to the room, Shen Yu noticed the man hadn''t opened the confidential letter. "Your Majesty, aren''t you going to read what''s inside?"
"Noble monarch,e and look at it with this emperor."
Shen Yu walked over and was caught off-guard. The man pulled him into hisp and tightly wrapped his arms around Shen Yu''s waist.
Shen Yu struggled, but the man didn''t move. This position was too dangerous. Shen Yu didn''t dare to squirm too much, so he epted his fate and snuggled into the man''s arms.
Shang JunLin opened the secret letter, and Shen Yu looked over.
It was true, as Gu Huai said, that they already knew some of the things in the letter, but there were also many things they hadn''t found. For example, "Fei Meng" wasn''t originally from Da Huan. Rather, it was brought to Da Huan by a woman offered as tribute by a foreign vassal.
Shen Yu didn''t understand. "Why didn''t the pce record something so important?"
"Someone must have deliberately erased it."
After reading the confidential letter, Shen Yu nned to get up. "Now that we''ve read it, Your Majesty should let me go."
Shen Yu suddenly shut his mouth and turned to look at Shang JunLin.
"Today the noble monarch neglected this emperor for the sake of someone else. Shouldn''t youpensate me a little?" The man murmured unhappily, "The noble monarch even poured him tea."
TL Notes:
Mmn w My least favorite nonverbal. idk how to make it not sound weird in English. Woo? Ooh? Uh? ( ) I picture more of a nasal sound in this case
avoid impropriety look at nothing that is not consistent with propriety; not to look at things which do not conform to the rites; see no evil
short (dark blue) top dun shn short Chinese-style unlined garment; short gown
Yuwu silver needle rain and mist silver needle Presumably a fancy kind of tea. There''s a RL variety of actual white tea called "yunwu" "clouds and mist"
a knot in his heart heart knot a matter that gnaws at one''s mind / preupation / sore point / rancor
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Chapter 54
Chapter 54
From the side of Shen Yu''s neck came the sensation of being nibbled. After thest experience, Shang JunLin didn''t dare to use too much force. With the tip of his teeth he nipped a small piece of skin, grinding it lightly.
The feeling, without a doubt, was more unbearable than actual pain.
The man had tightened his arms around Shen Yu in advance. Unable to move, he could only let the man do what he wanted.
"Didn''t Your Majesty agree to it?" Shen Yu asked in an unsteady voice.
Before Shen Yu met Gu Huai alone, he mentioned to Shang JunLin that it might happen. However, he thought it was more likely that Gu Huai would talk to Shang JunLin directly. After all, the Gu Huai he remembered had always been a ruthless and decisive person. To achieve his goals, he put everything else aside.
It was also possible that, because Imperial Physician Gu was still in his life, the crazy wolf had willingly chained himself.
"What''s the noble monarch thinking about?" Aware of Shen Yu''s distraction, Shang JunLin increased his force as if to punish him.
In an instant, Shen Yu had no time for anyone else.
"I think Your Majesty just finds random reasons to bite me," Shen Yu grumbled.
"How can the noble monarch think like that? If the noble monarch was willing to take the initiative, this emperor wouldn''t have toe to you myself."
The moist feeling wandered along the side of Shen Yu''s neck, roaming all the way up, past the exquisite jawline and delicate chin, finally falling on the corner of his lips.
Shang JunLin stared at the soft lips that were so close, and his eyes were as dark as an abyss. He''d kissed those lips when the young man was unconscious. Despite the bitterness of the medicine, he couldn''t forget how it felt the moment he touched them.
So soft.
With the warmth of the young man''s body, just touching him could arouse an indescribable trembling feeling.
At the time, he was in a hurry to feed medicine to the young man, and he forced himself to ignore everything else. It was only when he recalled itter that the feelings he''d pushed aside emerged from the depths of his memory.
Deeply rooted in his mind.
Sensing the man''s breath getting closer and closer to his lips, Shen Yu tilted his head, and the kiss that would have fallen on his lipsnded on the corner of his mouth.
The strength of the man''s movements decreased a little after this withdrawal. Shen Yu stubbornly looked away and refused to let Shang JunLin''s lips meet his.
"Why doesn''t Ah Yu want to?" Shang JunLin didn''t force it. He continued to nibble and peck at Shen Yu''s face, leaving a tingling sensation.
Shen Yu himself couldn''t have said the reason. At the same time, he couldn''t help feeling a surge of grievance. "You let go of me."
Shang JunLinpromised.
He kissed Shen Yu on the forehead soothingly and let him go.
Shen Yu slipped down from Shang JunLin''sp and sat to the side with a somewhat dazed expression.
"Why do you feel so wronged?" Shang JunLin got up and squatted in front of Shen Yu. "Ah Yu, you and I are husbands. It''s normal for us to do intimate things like this. I know you may not be used to it for the time being. I''ll wait for you to adapt."
Giving him leeway, but firm enough not to be refused.
Shen Yu touched his own face in confusion. "Am I that obvious?"
"Ah Yu looked unhappy enough to p this emperor''s face." Shang JunLin held Shen Yu''s hand and gently squeezed it. "You and I are husbands, and it''s OK for us to do all kinds of intimate things."
Shen Yu didn''t understand what he felt. He didn''t resist being intimate with Shang JunLin. He even liked it somewhat. But he didn''t want to break through thest line. It was like something in the darkness was there, warning himonce you break past this point, something will happen that you don''t want to see.
"I know," Shen Yu whispered after a moment of silence. "I will"
Shang JunLin covered Shen Yu''s mouth with his hand, interrupting him before he could speak further. "It''s this emperor''s fault for making Ah Yu feel uneasy. Ah Yu doesn''t have to force yourself to cater to me."
What Shang JunLin wanted was a willing Shen Yu. He could sense that Shen Yu had a knot in his heart. Although he didn''t know what the knot was from, he''d find a way to untie it.
"Your Majesty, hold me." It wasn''t in Shen Yu''s nature to be sad, and he pushed away those confusing thoughts, telling himself: Just let nature take its course. Whatever happened, he had faith in his ability to deal with it.
Shang JunLin got up, leaned over and took Shen Yu firmly into his arms.
The man''s cold fragrance gradually filled the space around him. Surrounded by that familiar scent, Shen Yu''s heart calmed down little by little.
Shen Yu wrapped his arms around the man''s waist and buried his face in the man''s shoulder, rubbing against him. "When we return to the pce, I''ll make tea for Your Majesty. What does Your Majesty like to drink?"
"This emperor will like anything made by Ah Yu."
The events on Cangqi Mountain caused a lot ofmotion. Despite the secrecy that was enforced, some of the ministers heard about the assassination attempt on His Majesty and the noble monarch. At the same time, they learned that Shang JunLin had taken Shen Yu out of the pce.
Admonitions flew in like snowkes. Explicitly or implicitly, they all told Shang JunLin that he should stay in the imperial pce and not fool around.
It was lucky that nothing happened this time, but who could guarantee nothing would happen next time, or the next? What if?
Shen Yu randomly turned over several memorials that were piled on the low table. Every one of them said the same thing, persuading Shang JunLin to return to the pce.
Shen Yu felt a little speechless. "That''s all they''re writing about?"
"There are also some serious ones." Shang JunLin pointed to a small pile of memorials in front of him.
Shen Yu put down the memorials in his hand and sat down next to Shang JunLin. "Your Majesty should leave the unimportant ones to your ministers. It''s a waste of time for Your Majesty to look at them personally."
"What the noble monarch said is reasonable. Why don''t you help this emperor sort through them?"
"And by the way, give the unimportant ones to Your Majesty to dispose of?" Shen Yu nudged Shang JunLin.
"The noble monarch truly shares this emperor''s mind." After saying this, Shang JunLin pushed some of the memorials over to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu saw Minister Fang''s name on one, took it out of its envelope and set it in front of Shang JunLin. "Has the King of Yue''s case been resolved?"
Shang JunLin opened the memorial and saw that it contained some of the information found by Minister Fang. The details would be presented in the form of a case file after everything was reviewed.
"We''ll have to wait a little longer." Shang JunLin wanted to use this opportunity to test what forces the previous emperor had left the King of Yue.
In the dark prison:
The King of Yue thought he''d be released quickly, but after a few days went by, he couldn''t help but start to panic.
No one came to interrogate him. Aside from the prison guards who delivered meals twice a day, he hardly saw anyone else. It was like Shang JunLin had forgotten him.
Waiting is always torturous, and there was no one else to talk to. The King of Yue found it harder and harder to endure.
He couldn''t help thinking: Why didn''t Shang JunLin interrogate him? Where were his people? Why was there no movement at all? What was going on outside right now? Shang JunLin had actually dared to move against him. Was he really going to ignore thete emperor?
The King of Yue''s strongest assets were the things the previous emperor left him. It was also because of these things that he had so much determination. Clearly, he was the emperor''s favorite prince. If not, why would the emperor give him all those things?
Human ambition is easily fostered, not to mention the ambition of a prince who was indoctrinated from birth topete for power.
As each day passed, the King of Yue became more and more anxious. Finally, when a jailer came to deliver food, he couldn''t help calling out, "I want to see His Majesty!"
The jailer knew this man''s identity, but he''d also been told to keep the man locked up and do nothing else. He didn''t know what his superiors had in mind. The jailer didn''t dare to hide anything, so he reported what happened to his boss.
In the twinkling of an eye, Shang JunLin received the news from the dark prison.
"Is Your Majesty going to see him?" Shen Yu sat by the window. He held his sleeve in one hand and a teapot in the other and slowly poured out the steaming tea.
A beauty sat before a window, preparing tea with freely flowing movements. No matter how you looked at it, it was a feast for the eyes.
By this time they''d already returned to the pce. With so many ministers insisting that His Majestye back, and the improvement in Shen Yu''s health, it was more convenient to return than stay outside. After discussing it, the two decided to end their outing ahead of schedule.
After they returned to the pce, the ministers calmed down. Finally, Shen Yu didn''t have to sort through a pile of memorials to find all the ones advising the emperor to go back. He felt relieved.
Shang JunLin walked over to Shen Yu and sat down opposite, admiring the young man''s movements. "There''s no need to see him."
He''d rather stay in Yuzhang Pce with Shen Yu than meet the King of Yue. It felt good to be here even if he was doing nothing.
Shen Yu soon finished and ced the brewed tea in front of Shang JunLin. "Will Your Majesty have a taste?"
Shang JunLin took a small sip. The delicate aroma lingered in his mouth for a long time. "Ah Yu is a good craftsman," he praised.
"I happened to learn in my spare time. As long as Your Majesty likes it." Shen Yu also poured himself a cup. He learned how to make tea in his previous life when he went to the King of Yue''s fiefdom. It was part of a n to help the King of Yue win over a learned but reclusive schr. Later, it became a hobby.
Because of his health, there were many things Shen Yu couldn''t do. When he made tea, his mind calmed down and he stopped thinking about all those schemes and conflicts. Over time, it became a habit.
"I wonder if Young Master Jiang and Young Master H guessed our identity," Shen Yu said over his teacup. "I hope they both seed in the exam."
Shen Yu wasn''t sure about H ChengYu because he never encountered him in his previous life, but he knew that as long as Jiang HuaiQing wasn''t implicated in anything, he''d rise up quickly.
"Is Ah Yu optimistic about those two?" Shang JunLin rubbed the cup in his hand. "Ah Yu really has good eyes. H ChengYu is the most outstanding person in the younger generation of the H family of Jiangnan. His family hasn''t served since the reign of the previous emperor. This emperor doesn''t know why they''re willing to allow their best junior to be an official."
"Maybe they think Your Majesty is someone they can be loyal to. Why should Your Majesty wonder about it? If H ChengYu is as good as the rumors say, isn''t serving his country the best way for him to disy his strength?"
Otherwise why would there be the saying, "Learn civil and military arts, and contribute to the imperial family".
"Ah Yu is really" Shang JunLin shook his head. "This emperor sees that Ah Yu has been paying close attention to Jiang HuaiQing. Is he really that outstanding?"
"How should I put it? Why don''t I make a bet with Your Majesty? If the top scorer is Jiang HuaiQing, will Your Majesty grant me a request?"
"If Ah Yu loses, will you take the initiative to give this emperor a kiss?" Shang JunLin pointed to his lips. "A kiss here."
Shen Yu thought about it and agreed.
Meng Gonggong walked in with his head bowed. "What Your Majesty ordered has been done."
Shang JunLin put down the tea cup and got up. "Ah Yu,e with this emperor. I''ll show you something."
"Show me what?"
Shang JunLin walked over to Shen Yu and helped him up. They went out side by side.
Meng Gonggong followed behind them, eyes on his nose, nose on his chest, and thought to himself: His Majesty was truly paying more and more attention to the noble monarch. When they were together now, they didn''t even observe much imperial etiquette.
As they passed through the walkway, they could see a century-old tree with strong branches. Beneath it was a quietly hanging swing.
"This emperor can''t restore your original swing to you, so I asked them to make a new one ording to your preferences. Do you like it?" Shang JunLin looked at the young man''s profile, and his eyes were filled with tenderness.
TL Notes:
(It was never in Shen Yu''s) nature to be sad from sad spring sad autumn Sadness caused by the changes of season and scenery, sentimental (Baidu)
freely flowing (movements) floating clouds and flowing water freely flowing style of writing; like floating clouds and flowing water natural and smooth
Learn civil and military arts, contribute to the imperial family A saying that it''s worthwhile to learn literary or martial arts, but the ultimate goal is to contribute (or "offer goods" ) to the emperor or the court (Baidu)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Jiangnan south of Changjiang River or Yangtze River / south of the lower reaches of Changjiang / often refers to south Jiangsu, south Anhui and north Zhejiang provinces / a province during Qing times / in literature, refers to the sunny south
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Chapter 55
Chapter 55
Shen Yu didn''t return to his senses for a long time.
He only mentioned the swing to Shang JunLin once. He had no idea that in the blink of an eye, Shang JunLin would build a swing for him in Yuzhang Pce.
The swing wasn''t important. What was rare was that as an emperor, Shang JunLin kept him in his thoughts.
"I like it a lot." Shen Yu turned around and met the man''s eyes, which were full of tenderness. He repeated, "I really like it very much, Your Majesty."
"Go and have a look." Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s hand and walked to the swing.
The man''s hand was warm and strong. Shen Yu''s fingers curled gently in the man''s palm, like a tired bird finding shelter from the wind and rain.
Shen Yu surveyed the swing that had appeared so suddenly. The rope was two fingers thick, wrapped in green vines that were decorated with white flowers. The seat underneath was wide enough for him and Shang JunLin to sit together.
Shen Yu walked around the swing and felt a tingling in his heart.
"Your Majesty, I''ll sit down, and you can push me." Shen Yu took his ce on the swing.
To make it morefortable, the seat was covered with a thick, plush nket to add warmth and reduce the hardness of the surface.
Shang JunLin walked behind Shen Yu and slowly pushed on the rope.
Shen Yu sat there, swaying as the swing rose and fell. A light breeze brushed his cheeks, and his hair streamed behind him.
Every time he fell, Shen Yu''s hair followed the wind and fluttered against Shang JunLin''s chest and hands.
His eyes narrowed with contentment. After swinging for a while, Shen Yu realized it wasn''t good to make Shang JunLin keep pushing him. The next time he returned to the ground, he tugged Shang JunLin''s sleeve.
"What''s the matter?" Shang JunLin grasped the rope of the swing and stopped it.
Shen Yu turned his head and looked up at him. "I''d like Your Majesty to apany me."
Shang JunLin paused for a moment, but in the end he couldn''t resist the idea of joining Shen Yu on the swing. He went over and sat down beside him.
Instead of making the pce servants push the swing for them, they let it sway slowly. Shen Yu leaned on Shang JunLin''s shoulder and talked about his childhood.
"Back then, Shen QingRan loved to run over and show off in front of me. The Zhenbei Marquis made a swing for him in the courtyard. He liked it so much he dragged me to see it." Shen Yu''s gaze drifted away. "He wanted me to watch him y."
Many years had passed, and Shen Yu had forgotten most of these things. Today, as he sat on the swing, the long-lost memories returned.
"He wasughing so loudly, and I was standing not far away. I wanted to try it too, to see what it felt like to fly up into the air, but I knew Shen QingRan wouldn''t let me. He was always like that. Whenever he got something good, he had to show off to me."
After saying this, Shen Yu chuckled. "At the time, I still had illusions about the Zhenbei Marquis. I actually went to him and navely asked for the same thing. You can imagine the result."
Shang JunLin stroked Shen Yu''s hair. "It''s the Zhenbei Marquis'' fault."
"Later, I gradually learned that I couldn''t rely on the Zhenbei Marquis. No matter how much I wanted something, I wouldn''t ask him."
But could the things a child wanted truly be that valuable? Under those requests was a simple desire for affection. Unfortunately, the Zhenbei Marquis never gave him even the slightest bit of warmth.
"Forget about the Zhenbei Marquis. Back to the swing. Later, when I grew up a little more, someone came to me with a property deed, saying he had some things left to me by my mother. The estate was one of them. When I went there, I asked someone to make a swing and tried it. It was totally different from what I imagined."
"That won''t happen in the future." Shang JunLin tightened his arms around Shen Yu.
Shen Yu was surprised. "Hmm?"
"In the future, there won''t be anything Ah Yu wants but can''t have."
Shang JunLin couldn''t change Shen Yu''s past. It was toote. All he could do was, little by little, make up for the unhappiness Shen Yu experienced in the past. Now that Shang JunLin was here, he could guarantee Shen Yu wouldn''t feel the same unhappiness in the future!
"I''m not a child anymore. If I really want something, I''ll get it myself." Shen Yu looked up at the sky. "Things are good now. I have Your Majesty, and I''m already satisfied."
This life was a gift he hadn''t asked for, and his fate was in his own hands. He could live his life as he wished.
After returning to the pce, their days gradually returned to normal. The new medicine tasted bitter, but aside from that, Shen Yu didn''t have anything to be discontented about.
"Is it really impossible to make Imperial Physician Gu change the prescription?" Shen Yu took the bowl and drank the medicine down. Then he immediately grabbed a handful of preserved fruit and put it in his mouth.
"Ah Yu will have to endure it a few more days. After this course of treatment, the prescription will change."
Shen Yu looked suspiciously at the man who spoke so glibly about things he didn''t have to do himself. "Your Majesty told me the same thing yesterday."
"Imperial Physician Gu said that adding things to suppress the bitterness will dilute the effects of the medicine. For the sake of your health, Ah Yu will have to bear it." Shang JunLin didn''t want to see Shen Yu suffer either, but he''d already asked Imperial Physician Gu about it. The medicine would be unpleasant for a while, but he hoped Shen Yu would recover faster.
In just a few days, the little bit of flesh that had been gained with so much effort was gone. Shen Yu''s face was visibly thinner than before he fell ill.
Shen Yu knew the medicine was for his own good. He just couldn''t helpining to Shang JunLin. Thinking about the reason for his illness, Shen Yu asked, "What about the man in gray? Who really did this to me?"
"We haven''t found the person behind it. The man refuses to speak no matter how much he''s tortured. If not for the fact he was captured in time, he would have already taken poison and killed himself." Shang JunLin wanted to know who was responsible even more than Shen Yu did, but theck of clues meant it was impossible to find out.
Last time there was an ident in Yuzhang Pce, he reced most of the attendants, but he didn''t find the mastermind. He estimated it would be just as difficult this time.
"The man in gray must be a dead soldier. He knew our movements, and he understands the usual methods of the Hidden Dragon Guard and imperial guard." Shen Yu pondered. "Putting the rest aside, there probably aren''t many people in all of Da Huan who know the methods of the Hidden Dragon Guard."
The Hidden Dragon Guard were simr in nature to dead soldiers. Usually they only operated in the dark. Many of the ministers knew such a force existed and was in Shang JunLin''s hands, but nothing more. As for what the Hidden Dragon Guard looked like and how they operated, it wasn''t clear at all.
Shen Yu: "In that case, we probably won''t be able to learn anything about the man in gray. When the other party decided to act, they must have made ns in case of failure."
Shang JunLin: "This emperor agrees."
The man in gray had given the interrogators a real headache. They reached a near-consensus that, as a dead soldier, the man would never say anything. However, His Majesty didn''t relent, and they were forced to keep trying.
When the man had been tormented to hisst breath, His Majesty finally sent an order: No need to ask anything else, just continue the methods.
The men who received the order looked at each other with nk faces. "What does His Majesty mean by this?"
"His Majesty is venting his anger for the noble monarch. Just don''t go easy on him," someone responded.
Another man sighed. "His Majesty really cares about the noble monarch."
"Stop talking and get back to work. We can also get our revenge for what we''ve suffered the past few days."
On the other side of the dark prison, listening to the muffled screamsing from a distance, the King of Yue shrank into a corner.
He didn''t know whether those people did it intentionally, but every time they interrogated prisoners, it wasn''t far from him. If it was only once or twice it would have been fine, but after so many times, not even an immortal could endure the screams that continually pierced his ears.
In addition to the screaming, there were all sorts of torture sounds that were creepy to listen to: the "zizi" sound of a hot soldering iron meeting skin, the "crunch" that made one''s teeth ache, the sound of a whipnding on flesh, the sound of someone being beaten.
After a few days, the King of Yue was exhausted, and his dreams were filled with simr noises.
He couldn''t stay here any longer! He had to get out!
The King of Yue could no longer abide by the instructions of thete emperor, who told him to never use those forces until he had to. He just wanted to get out of this dark ce and escape from the never-ending sound of torture!
Themander of the Hidden Dragon Guard kneeled respectfully. "Your Majesty, there''s been some movement."
"Don''t beat the grass and startle the snake. This emperor wants to catch the big fish behind the King of Yue at the same time." Shang JunLin sat on the throne with his head propped in his hand. His tone was t.
"Yes."
The King of Yue used a secretive method to initiate contact. Afterwards he felt relieved. When he heard the screams next door, they weren''t as difficult to endure.
The screams in the next cell continued, and low conversation could be heard asionally. It was all about how much His Majesty doted on Noble Monarch Shen. The King of Yue sat by the wall and couldn''t help recalling that elegant young man in blue.
Shen Yu.
What exactly had gone wrong and made Shen Yu change his attitude towards him overnight? The King of Yue still didn''t understand.
When Shen Yu heard about the King of Yue from Shang JunLin, he didn''t understand. "Why did he suddenly lose his nerve?"
With the King of Yue''s caution, he should have been able to endure a few days in prison.
"This emperor asked them to interrogate the man in gray near the King of Yue''s cell," Shang JunLin said calmly.
"Pfft." Shen Yu couldn''t helpughing. "How did Your Majesty think of such a method?"
Shen Yu could imagine exactly how much the King of Yue had suffered. The King of Yue was the type of person who couldn''t stand noise. With those kinds of sounds lingering in his ears every day, it was amazing he waited so long to make a move.
"The noble monarch taught this emperor well."
Shen Yu: "? ? ?"
"What did I teach Your Majesty?"
Shang JunLin reminded him: "The noble monarch asked this emperor to send letters summoning all of the King of Yue''s beauties."
Shen Yu spluttered, but when he thought of how much misery the King of Yue must have been in, he decided to let it be.
Speaking of the dark prison, Shen Yu thought of someone else who was imprisoned there. "Your Majesty, did you hear anything about the He family?"
"Yes," said Shang JunLin, frowning slightly. "They secretly traveled to the capital."
When they arrived, Shang JunLin took no action to avoid startling them. He just told his people to watch their every move. For the time being, there was no other action.
The He family, the unknown forces behind them, and the King of Yue. Shen Yu considered the three together, and a new thought urred to him. Maybe Young Master He was a cover for something else? If the King of Yue had the help of a mysterious force, maybe it wasn''t because he rescued Little Young Master He.
Noin that case, there was no need for the King of Yue to go to such great lengths to break Young Master He out of the dark prison. The King of Yue wasn''t the type to do anything unless it profited him. If he didn''t have a big enough stake in the oue, he wouldn''t have taken such a big risk to free someone who was deep inside the dark prison.
"Your Majesty, please keep an eye on what''s going on with Young Master He," Shen Yu reminded him.
"This emperor will pay attention." Shang JunLin finished, put down the memorial he was holding, and approached Shen Yu who was standing on the other side.
"Does the noble monarch remember our bet? The spring exams will begin soon." Shang JunLin picked up Shen Yu and carried him over to the soft couch. He gently set the young man down and immediately leaned over
Shen Yu twisted around and escaped from Shang JunLin''s shackles. "Victory or defeat haven''t been decided. Why is Your Majesty in such a hurry?"
The author has something to say:
Today when I wrote about the swing, I couldn''t help but imagine the scene after the two confess their feelings and Ah Yu is pressed against the swing and so forth, so here''s a small theater:
The white fingers clung tightly to the rope as the swing kept swaying in time with the man''s movements. Shen Yu clutched the man''s clothes with his other hand, and his voice was heard intermittently:
"Your Majesty, mmm Stop"
"Don''t be afraid, hold this emperor tight."
Shang JunLin embraced him tightly. Their clothes were still intact, and the ck and white intertwined,yer uponyer. With the swaying of the swing, they gradually merged into one.
TL Notes:
This life was a gift he hadn''t asked for from This life was originally picked up free of charge
spoke so glibly about things he didn''t have to do himself it''s all very well to talk, but getting things done is another matter (idiom) / to be an armchair expert / to bber on; easier said than done
dead soldier men of sacrifice; person willing to sacrifice his life (for a good cause) Anothermon trope in CN historical webnovels. Highly trained, secretive soldiers who are willing to give their lives toplete their mission
beat the grass and startle the snake beat the grass and frighten away the snake act rashly and alert the enemy; beat emptily upon the grass, and the snake will be frightened
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
He family This is the family from Ch 2 whose young master was the target of a jail break attempt
Little Young Master He Indicates he''s the youngest in the family. To avoid wordiness I sometimes just call him Young Master''
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Chapter 56
Chapter 56
Shang JunLin propped himself on the soft couch with one hand and looked sideways at Shen Yu. "This emperor can wait, but the noble monarch shouldn''t make excuses not to fulfill your promise when the timees."
Shen Yu sat down on the side of the couch. "Why is Your Majesty so sure I''ll lose? What if Your Majesty loses?"
"Of course this emperor will keep my promise." Shang JunLin slowly sat down.
The couch was the same one that was there before. Shang JunLin looked at the distance between himself and Shen Yu and said, "This emperor will tell someone to change the couch."
"Why do you suddenly want to do that? This one isfortable." Shen Yu thought about it. The couch wasrge and luxuriously soft. Sometimes he liked to lie there on Shang JunLin''sp.
Shang JunLin pursed his lips and said nothing. It wasn''t thefort level of the couch that was the problem. He just wanted a smaller one. When the two of them sat in it he couldn''t quite reach Shen Yu on the other side.
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu moved closer to Shang JunLin. "What don''t you like about it?"
"The noble monarch was too far away from this emperor just now," Shang JunLin answered evasively.
Doctor Shen Yu didn''t understand how the two things were rted until something urred to him. He poked Shang JunLin''s arm and asked teasingly, "Does Your Majesty think the couch is too big?"
"What does the noble monarch think?" Shang JunLin took Shen Yu by the waist and dragged him into his arms. Then he felt content.
After confirming his theory, Shen Yu was amused. He chuckled and leaned against Shang JunLin''s shoulder. "Your Majesty, you''re too cute."
Shen Yu remembered that when they were outside the pce, Shang JunLin had a special liking for the couch in their residence. He liked to drag Shen Yu to sit there with him. Even when he was dealing with official business, he wanted Shen Yu to sit beside him. So that''s why he was so determined.
"If Your Majesty wants me to sit closer, just say so. Why bother changing the couch? Besides, its size has advantages. When you''re tired of sitting you can just lie down. What does Your Majesty think?"
Shang JunLin wasn''t going to insist. "If the noble monarch doesn''t want to change it, don''t change it."
Shen Yu rested his head against Shang JunLin and half-closed his eyes. The truth was that after his loss of health, Shen Yu had been sleepy recently. After a while, he fell asleep.
His shoulders slipped down. Shang JunLin gazed at the young man who was leaning against him, asleep, and the light in his eyes became softer and softer.
He took the nket and draped it over the young man. Shang JunLin held Shen Yu in one hand and wrote with the other. In the quiet afternoon, the only sound was the asional rustle of memorials.
With the approach of the spring exam, the students stopped going out as much. They remained in their temporary lodgings and concentrated on preparing for the exam.
The closer the exam got, the less Jiang HuaiQing was able to sit still. He rapped on the door of the next room.
"ChengYu Xiong, are you busy?"
After a while, the door opened and a man in a dark blue robe appeared. "Come in."
Jiang HuaiQing walked inside with a book in his arms.
"I haven''t seen Young Master Lin and Young Master Yu for several days. Aren''t they going to take the exam? Why haven''t I seen them?" Jiang HuaiQing was familiar with the room and casually set his book next to H ChengYu.
"Are you looking for them?" H ChengYu poured them each a cup of tea.
"I thought we could get together. I don''t know if we''ll be able to meet after the exam." Jiang HuaiQing took a sip from his tea cup and said, "It''s good tea."
"If we pass the exam, we''ll work together as officials for Da Huan, and we''ll see each other often." H ChengYu looked down at the tea leaves floating in his cup. Those two looked to be in high positions. It wasn''t likely they were exam candidates.
"Is ChengYu Xiong trying to say we''ll meet again if we''re destined? At any rate, I ran into something and I stopped by to see if ChengYu Xiong can help me." Jiang HuaiQing opened his book and pointed at several ces. "Here, here, and here. I thought about it for a few days, but I still don''t understand."
H ChengYu took a closer look and began to discuss his thoughts.
The two talked for a while, and Jiang HuaiQing suddenly realized, "So that''s it. It turns out I misunderstood."
"HuaiQing''s interpretation is unique. I wonder if it''s possible to ask who you studied under?"
The two had met on the way to the capital. One was from a noble family, and the other was from a humble family, but they unexpectedly shared the same interests. When they found out they were headed to the same destination, they decided to travel together.
Jiang HuaiQing wasn''t guarded against people, and it didn''t take long before H ChengYu learned basic information about him. In return, H ChengYu told Jiang HuaiQing some things about himself.
The more time they spent together, the more H ChengYu was taken aback by the level of Jiang HuaiQing''s learning. By no means was this young man inferior to himself. H ChengYu understood his own situation. He was trained by his family, but Jiang HuaiQing was just an ordinary student from a poor family. The only person who could have helped Jiang HuaiQing break through the barriers of his background was the one who taught him.
"My teacher" Jiang HuaiQing suddenly fell silent.
For an instant, Jiang HuaiQing''s expression changed dramatically. Then he quickly reverted back to the familiar person H ChengYu knew.
"Just an ordinary old man. If Teacher hadn''t picked me up from the ice and snow, I probably wouldn''t be able to stand here now."
H ChengYu felt stunned. He had no idea it involved such a painful story. "Sorry, I didn''t know."
"It''s all right." Jiang HuaiQing waved his hand carelessly. "I never mentioned it. ChengYu Xiong, don''t me me for not saying anything before."
A little distracted, Jiang HuaiQing picked up his book and said goodbye.
H ChengYu watched him go back to his room, then slowly lowered his eyes. He shouldn''t have been so rude today.
Jiang HuaiQing closed the doors and windows of his room and sat on the bed. After a long time, he rubbed his face. The most important thing was the exam. Otherwise, he wouldn''t be able to do anything for Teacher.
To give the schrs the best environment to prepare for the exam, Yingxing House, which had a lot of exam candidates staying there, suspended entertainment activities.
As the date approached, the streets and alleys weren''t as lively as before.
The chill of early spring had passed, and the weather gradually warmed. Shen Yu still wore heavyyers. Every day his room was kept warm.
Mu Xi and Meng Gonggong, who served them closely, had switched to lighter clothes. So did Shang JunLin.
"Does Your Majesty think it''s too hot inside?" Shen Yu saw that Shang JunLin was wearing light outer clothes, as were the pce servants waiting in the room. It was only himself who was still dressed in thick winter robes.
"No." Shang JunLin put down his pen and stretched out his hand. "Ah Yu,e here."
Shen Yu walked over and put his hand on the man''s palm. The sky spun for a moment, and suddenly he was sitting on the man''sp.
Shang JunLin touched Shen Yu''s forehead. "How do you feel? Are you cold?"
Shen Yu nodded honestly. "A little."
If not for his drastic loss in health from the second attack of illness, Shen Yu wouldn''t be suffering like this.
Shang JunLin passed his arm around Shen Yu''s waist and gathered both of Shen Yu''s hands in his.
The man''s palm was hot. The moment he took Shen Yu''s hand, the warmth spread upward along Shen Yu''s fingertips.
Shang JunLin leaned into Shen Yu''s ear and whispered, "I''ll warm Ah Yu up."
"Doesn''t Your Majesty need to review memorials?" Shen Yu nced at the low desk with the stacks of reports.
"No hurry."
With Shen Yu in his arms, the anger Shang JunLin felt because of the memorials instantly died down. "None of it''s important."
As he spoke, his warm breath exhaled against Shen Yu''s neck. Shen Yu felt a little itchy and rested his head against Shang JunLin.
"Your Majesty, it tickles."
Shang JunLin turned his head a little. "What about this?"
Shen Yu stopped moving.
Shang JunLin couldn''t helpughing. "The noble monarch can''t get too close, but also can''t stay far away."
Shen Yu would never admit that he was so difficult to please. "Why can''t I stay far away?"
Shang JunLin felt a little helpless. "Because this emperor can''t stand being far away from you, understand?"
"So that''s it," Shen Yu muttered, turning his head. "Your Majesty seemed a little unhappy just now. Did something happen?"
"It''s about the examination officials and the screening that urs before the candidates enter the examination hall." Shang JunLin attached immense importance to each session of the imperial examinations. Some of these young students would be the pirs of Da Huan in the future. The empire was in desperate need of fresh blood.
"Which officials did Your Majesty appoint to take charge of it?" Shen Yu thought of the high-profile imperial examination fraud case in his previous life. He couldn''t let the same thing happen again in this life.
Shang JunLin toyed with Shen Yu''s warmed up fingers. "They''re from the Ministry of Rites. Zheng Yuan is in charge."
Zheng Yuan.
Shen Yu reviewed his memories of the imperial examination. After the fraud was exposed, the entire empire was shocked. Shen Yu heard the news when he was staying in the King of Yue''s fief. He was deeply impressed by it because it was how heter recruited his important confidant, Jiang HuaiQing.
Jiang HuaiQing was innocent, but he was implicated anyway. He only escaped after numerous brushes with disaster. Several yearster, he came to work for Shen Yu. He only said a few words about the events of that year. Shen Yu wasn''t interested in poking people''s wounds, so he didn''t ask for details.
The chief examiner, Zheng Yuan, was dismissed the day the incident was revealed. Later it was determined that the fraud was not his fault, but he was still charged with inadequate supervision. In the end, he was executed by the enraged emperor of Da Huan.
It was after this incident that Shang JunLin''s reputation for ruthless violence began to spread among the people. With the umtion of one case after another, this idea was scored even more deeply into their minds.
Later, whenever people spoke of Shang JunLin, the first thing that came to mind was not that he recovered the empire''s territory and built a prosperous era, but his numerous atrocities.
Too many officials were executed that year for Shen Yu to remember which ones were ultimately responsible. "Who else is assisting?"
"Several people," Shang JunLin said. He read a list of names. "Why is Shen Yu suddenly interested in this?"
"I want to know who displeased Your Majesty. Since they made Your Majesty unhappy, you should just rece them. Does Your Majesty have a shortage of people who can do the work?"
Shang JunLin rubbed his face against Shen Yu''s. "All they do is quarrel, and it''s extremely annoying. Ah Yu is kind and considerate."
It was impossible for Shen Yu to intervene directly. If he wanted to take care of this in advance, he had to think of other ways.
At morning court the next day, Shang JunLin made a decision about the officials in charge of the imperial examination. Departing from the usual practice, this time a group of new officials was added.
Shang JunLin''s attitude was firm. When the ministers saw there was no room for negotiation, they quieted down.
Shang JunLin stroked Shen Yu''s hair when he told Shen Yu about the new arrangement. "What is Ah Yu worried about?"
Shen Yu shook his head.
Shang JunLin was about to say something when Mu Xi walked in with a letter.
"Young master, this is a letter from Young Master Jiang. The person who delivered it said we should give it to you as soon as possible."
Shang JunLin rubbed against Shen Yu''s shoulder like a big dog. "Why does he write letters to Ah Yu so often?"
"It''s not that often. If you include this time, I can count the letters he sent on one hand." Shen Yu asked Mu Xi to bring the letter over.
Without looking left or right, Mu Xi presented it.
Shang JunLin took the letter one step ahead of Shen Yu. "What did he write this time?"
Shen Yu took the letter from Shang JunLin. Without avoiding Shang JunLin at all, he opened it, and the two read it together.
The opening of the letter was simr to the previous ones. But towards the end, the wording suddenly changed and the writer mentioned something strange he''d just encountered.
Recently, someone approached him and hinted there was a way for him to win first ce on the exam.
TL Notes:
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Doctor Shen Yu Shn Y xinshng Alternatively: Mr. Shen Yu, Teacher Shen Yu
Teacher losh
Zheng Yuan
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Chapter 57
Chapter 57
The corners of Shen Yu''s mouth slowly straightened. He didn''t know if this happened in his previous life and caused Jiang HuaiQing to be implicated in the cheating scandal. At any rate, in this life, those people decided to target Jiang HuaiQing.
Jiang HuaiQing wrote about it in a joking tone. Obviously he didn''t take it seriously.
Shen Yu nced at Shang JunLin. The man''s face was terrifyingly grim.
"Your Majesty?"
"This emperor didn''t know there were people with the courage to do such a thing! No wonder, no wonder they fought so hard over the examination procedures."
"Your Majesty, don''t be angry. We don''t know for certain if it''s true yet. Have the Hidden Dragon Guard investigate it first, and then we''ll know," Shen Yu said soothingly.
"Investigate! Yes, it must be thoroughly investigated!"
"Send someone to Jiang HuaiQing. Maybe we can catch those people in the act." Shen Yu turned around,ing face-to-face with Shang JunLin. "Since they''ve done this, they must be targeting more than just Jiang HuaiQing, like other schrs who are simr to him. You should send people to keep an eye on them."
"Just as Ah Yu says." Shang JunLin held Shen Yu''s wrist. There was a bloodthirsty chill in his eyes.
"I''ll write back to Jiang HuaiQing and tell him not to do anything rash." Shen Yu flexed the letter in his hand. "I wonder if anyone else has read this."
Shang JunLin considered it. "There are no doubts about the people on our side. It depends on whether Jiang HuaiQing''s messenger is trustworthy."
"There''s no need to be too concerned. We met Jiang HuaiQing under different identities. Even if other people saw us, they won''t expect this letter to fall into our hands," Shen Yu said.
"Yes, this time it''s really thanks to Ah Yu. If Ah Yu hadn''t be acquainted with Jiang HuaiQing, he wouldn''t have told us about this. Perhaps this emperor will soon learn exactly how brave those people are."
Shang JunLin printed a kiss on Shen Yu''s forehead. "Ah Yu is my lucky star."
Seeing that Shang JunLin had calmed down, Shen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. "It''s also thanks to Your Majesty for bringing me out of the pce.
"Actually, I think we should thank the King of Yue as well." Shen Yu deliberately adjusted the atmosphere. "If not for all the noise he made, we wouldn''t have met Jiang HuaiQing."
"Then it''s all the more reason to thank Ah Yu. If Ah Yu hadn''t suggested sending letters to the King of Yue''s beauties, the events at Yingxing House wouldn''t have happened." Thinking of this, Shang JunLin smiled gently.
Shen Yu lifted the corners of his lips. "True."
Every step was a matter of fate. Without each of those things, they wouldn''t have reached the current result.
After writing the letter, Shen Yu showed it to Shang JunLin. Then he gave it to the Hidden Dragon Guard to be delivered to Jiang HuaiQing.
Elsewhere in the city, Jiang HuaiQing was talking to H ChengYu.
"You have no idea how odd that man was. He stopped me and said I was the chosen one, saying that if I listen to them, I''ll get the top score with no trouble at all. How could I be that stupid? Unless he''s the Emperor himselfoh, wait, not even His Majesty controls the oue of the exam."
In order to ensure absolute fairness and impartiality, the officials who graded the examination papers weren''t permitted to see the names of the examinees. Only after the marking waspleted would they see everyone''s score.
After Jiang HuaiQing said this, H ChengYu''s expression became serious. "When did you meet that man?"
Startled by H ChengYu''s attitude, Jiang HuaiQing said hesitantly, "Isn''t he just a liar?"
When H ChengYu saw that he didn''t understand, he patiently exined, "Think about it. Why would a simple liar talk about cheating at such a sensitive time? Since he dared to say it, maybe he really has some contacts."
Jiang HuaiQing was confused. "Huh?"
But a momentter, his eyes opened wide with disbelief. "You, you mean, he''s asking me to cheat?!!"
"Keep your voice down." H ChengYu got up and covered his mouth. "Even walls have ears."
Jiang HuaiQing nodded, signaling that he wouldn''t say anything. H ChengYu let him go.
Jiang HuaiQing was bbergasted. "What should I do now?"
If any of this was exposed, as someone who''d been in contact with cheaters, his exam score would certainly be canceled.
"Don''t be anxious. I''ll think of something." H ChengYu lowered his eyes and thought about what forces the H family could use to deal with this.
H ChengYu knew how important the exam was to Jiang HuaiQing, and he knew that with Jiang HuaiQing''s strength, if nothing interfered, he''d certainly do well. But then something like this happened
Jiang HuaiQing stood up excitedly. "I also told Young Master Yu. Is he in trouble too?"
Da Huan had always been strict about investigating exam fraud. After Shang JunLin took office, there was zero tolerance for cheating. If anything really happened, there would be no escape. Now Young Master Yu was involved as well.
"I knew I shouldn''t have written a letter"
H ChengYu stood up abruptly. "What did you say?"
Jiang HuaiQing was startled. He said quietly, "I said I shouldn''t have written"
H ChengYu cut him off. "Not that."
Jiang HuaiQing didn''t understand why H ChengYu reacted so strongly, but he repeated what he said before: "I said that I wrote a letter to Young Master Yu about it. I don''t know if he and the other young master will be implicated."
H ChengYu breathed a sigh of relief. "It''s OK. They''ll be fine."
Jiang HuaiQing was puzzled. "Why?"
Because the identities of those two weren''t simple. It was likely that they were His Majesty and the noble monarch, H ChengYu thought to himself.
After the two sides befriended each other, H ChengYu searched the capital with the resources of the H family. He never found anything about their origins. It was like they appeared out of thin air.
Together with the events at Yingxing House and Cangqi Mountain, H ChengYu reached a rough conclusion about their identities. If what he guessed was true, all the irregrities suddenly made sense.
Knock knock.
A sudden rap on the door interrupted their thoughts.
Jiang HuaiQing got up and answered it.
Standing at the door was a man he didn''t know. Before Jiang HuaiQing could say anything, the man took out a letter and handed it to him. "Young Master Yu said you''ll understand after you read this."
It turned out to be a reply. Jiang HuaiQing calmed down a little and took the letter into the room.
"Young Master Yu already wrote back. I hope ChengYu Xiong won''t mind if I open it now."
H ChengYu shook his head.
Jiang HuaiQing opened the envelope and took out the letter. The more he read, the more serious his face was.
After a while, he put away the letter. "Young Master Yu said the same things as ChengYu Xiong. He told me to be careful and not to beat the grass to startle the snake. He also said that I should concentrate on preparing for the exam and not worry about anything else. He said special people would take care of it."
"Since Young Master Yu said so, just do as he says. That man you spoke to must have targeted more people than just you. Let''s keep our eyes open for a while."
"I will."
The next few days were calm and uneventful. Maybe because he had a hint of forewarning, Jiang HuaiQing had the feeling that it was the stillness before a storm.
The Hidden Dragon Guard quietly infiltrated various ces where students gathered. They gradually identified several targets.
Shang JunLin received reports from the Hidden Dragon Guard every day. The investigation proceeded in an orderly manner.
The King of Yue''s people also made some moves.
In morning court, some ministers came forward and asked that the King of Yue''s matter be resolved quickly.
"Your Majesty, in any case, the King of Yue is also an imperial descendant. He must not be locked up in the dark prison forever."
Because the King of Yue''s case involved so many youngdies, for the sake of the reputation of those women, it wasn''t directly stated what the king did. He was detained for a different reason.
In addition, the things Minister Fang found weren''t made public. Aside from some people who were unusually well informed or whose daughters were involved, arge number of officials didn''t know what the King of Yue had done.
Minister Ma, who came forward to speak, was one of these.
Not long ago, someone sent him a batch of rewards, saying that he only needed to mention the matter in court. Even if it wasn''t sessful, the reward would remain the same.
Minister Ma told himself it was just a matter of a sentence or two. He was an official, and his duty was to advise the emperor. It didn''t matter if he said a word for the King of Yue.
"Oh? Then what does Minister Ma think this emperor should do?" Shang JunLin propped his chin in one hand and looked down at the officials from on high.
"That is" Minister Ma was at a loss for words. He absolutely didn''t dare to ask Shang JunLin to release the person.
"Did Your Majesty forget your promise to the previous emperor?" An old minister stood up. "Or did His Highness the King of Yuemit the great crimes of coborating with the enemy or treason?"
As soon as the old minister finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
Shang JunLin tapped on the armrest of the dragon throne. The expression on his face was unreadable.
"Do the rest of you also think this emperor should release the King of Yue?"
Some officials who took officeter didn''t know anything about this, so they exchanged nces and didn''t dare to speak.
Several old ministers who served during thete emperor''s reign looked at each other and came forward. "Your Majesty''s words are like gold and jade and shouldn''t be changed easily."
Even though he''d expected this, Shang JunLin was still furious. Why did he ce such importance on the imperial examinations? It was to train new officials as fast as possible and rece these stubborn old ministers!
Shang JunLin''s eyes swept over the people one by one. Then he stood up and said, "You should know that this emperor is now the master of Da Huan. This emperor has my own opinions about the King of Yue, and you ministers need not worry about it!
"Dismissed."
After speaking, he flicked his sleeves and left.
The ministers were left behind to look at each other.
After a moment of silence, someone couldn''t help but ask, "Ah What in the world was that?"
"What exactly was the King of Yue thinking ? Couldn''t he have gone away peacefully? He just had to stay in the capital."
"His Majesty is really less and less willing to listen to advice."
"He was always like that, otherwise he wouldn''t have" The speaker abruptly shut his mouth. "Minister Ma, why did you mention the King of Yue so suddenly?"
As if they''d found amon point of attack, the ministers surrounded Minister Ma.
Minister Ma wanted to cry but had no tears. He didn''t know there would be such a big reaction either.
Shang JunLin returned to the rear of the hall. When he saw the young man by the window, he was taken aback for a moment.
The young man was dressed in white, cloaked in ayer of pale blue tulle. His long hair was unbound and fell softly behind him. An elegant gentleman, carved from jade.
"Why is Ah Yu here?"
Shen Yu''s range of activities in the imperial pce were basically confined to Yuzhang Pce. This was the first time Shang JunLin had seen hime to the main hall of the court to find him.
When he heard the voice, Shen Yu turned to him. "I came to see if Your Majesty has been bullied."
Shen Yu arrived early. From his vantage point in the rear, he heard themotion in the front hall, the minister pressuring Shang JunLin with the words of the previous emperor, and Shang JunLin''s voice raised in anger.
But he also knew that all of this was part of Shang JunLin''s n to lure out the forces the previous emperor left for the King of Yue.
The beauty smiled, like flowers blooming in the clouds. Shang JunLin no longer had a thought to spare about the ministers. He strode over to Shen Yu. "If someone bullied this emperor, what would Ah Yu do?"
"What would Your Majesty like me to do? Go to the front hall and scold them?" Shen Yu lifted his eyebrows.
"No, no, how can Ah Yu''s mouth be used to scold anyone? Isn''t it wasted on them?" Shang JunLin leaned closer and said, with different emphasis, "Ah Yu only needs to console andfort this emperor."
TL Notes:
Every step was a matter of fate Every bite and every sip is preordained; live in conformity to nature and be leisurely and carefree; One cannot get what is denied him by destiny, no matter how hard he tries
like gold and jade valuable advice; good advice; oracr words; precious words Originally referred to things said by the emperor
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Minister Ma
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Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Shen Yu""
"How does Your Majesty want me tofort you?"
Shang JunLin leaned in close. "How does Ah Yu think?"
Shen Yu patted Shang JunLin''s lowered head. "There, there, Your Majesty. Don''t feel bad. Are those people worth Your Majesty''s anger?"
With this, Shen Yu gracefully withdrew his hand. "Does Your Majesty feelforted?"
Shang JunLinughed in spite of himself. "Ah Yu knows very well this emperor meant something else."
Shen Yu widened his eyes and yed innocent. "If Your Majesty doesn''t tell me, I won''t know what kind offort Your Majesty wants."
"You can pretend to be confused about this. The spring exams will conclude soon, and then we''ll see what excuses youe up with to stall this emperor." Shang JunLin straightened up and walked to the side with his hands behind his back.
Shen Yu didn''t understand. "Why is Your Majesty so certain you''ll win?"
Shang JunLin looked at him with a smile. "Has Ah Yu forgotten who decides the final score in the pce exam?"
Shen Yu naturally hadn''t thought about it. When he heard Shang JunLin say this, he widened his eyes in disbelief. "Surely Your Majesty won''t abuse power for personal gain'' in order to win?"
Shang JunLin lifted his eyebrows. "If it means Ah Yu will take the initiative to approach this emperor, why not abuse my power?"
Shen Yu came closer, carefully observed the man''s face, and didn''t see any trace of humor, as if Shang JunLin really meant it. Shen Yu was speechless for a moment.
"What about Your Majesty?" Shen Yu walked around him. "If Your Majesty doesn''t win me over, you can''t expect me to be willing."
Shang JunLinughed. "I wasn''t serious." He grabbed the young man walking to his side and picked him up. "How could this emperor really do something so foolish? If Ah Yu is really worried, this emperor will have someone arrange a screen, and you can read the examination papers with me."
Caught off guard and lifted into the air, Shen Yu put his hands on the man''s shoulders. Shang JunLin picked him up like he was holding a child. Shen Yu''s head was a little higher than Shang JunLin''s.
From a superior height, Shen Yu looked down at the man. "Your Majesty, were you nning this from the beginning? To let me apany Your Majesty as you score the exam?"
Shang JunLin patted Shen Yu''s lower back and didn''t deny it. "Does Ah Yu agree?"
"I''ll think about it." Shen Yu didn''t say no. A moment ago Shang JunLin truly didn''t sound like he was joking. If there wasn''t a big difference in Jiang HuaiQing''s and H ChengYu''s scores, Shang JunLin might decide to y favorites and award H ChengYu the zhuangyuan position.
If not for the bet, it really didn''t matter to Shang JunLin who ranked first or second.
But when it came to this particr subject, Shang JunLin was inclined to act like an intemperate tyrant. It was fine if Shang JunLin became a tyrant for his own reasons, but Shen Yu would never allow Shang JunLin to be an intemperate tyrant because of himself!
"You don''te here often. This emperor will show you around," Shang JunLin said and began to walk away.
Shen Yu patted him on the shoulder. "First put me down."
Shang JunLin thought about it. Shen Yu was probably unwilling to be held like this in public. With some regret, Shang JunLin gave up the idea of carrying Shen Yu everywhere and put him down.
Shen Yu breathed a sigh of relief when his feet touched the ground. He was worried Shang JunLin would carry him regardless.
Before his feet were firmly nted, there was already an arm around his waist.
Shen Yu looked down at the arm that firmly wrapped around him and paused. In the end he didn''t say anything.
"Does Ah Yu want to see the main hall?" Although it was a question, Shang JunLin had already turned in that direction.
Shen Yu gave him a sidelong nce. "If Your Majesty has already decided, why ask me?"
After morning court was over, the ministers left one after another. The main hall was nowpletely empty.
The ce where Da Huan held court was called Jinluan Hall. The ceiling was supported by nine golden dragon pirs. Except for the throne which overlooked everything else, the rest of the room was empty.
When court was in session, the ministers stood below, and the emperor sat on the throne with a panoramic view.
Shang JunLin led Shen Yu inside, and they walked through the side door into the main hall.
Shen Yu was no stranger to this ce. Before his rebirth he was the most important confidant of the King of Yue, and he often apanied the king to and from this hall.
In two different lives he stood in the same ce, but his mindset waspletely different.
The man''s powerful arms supported him, and the warmth of his body continually washed over him. Shen Yu turned to look at the man''s handsome profile.
He was wearing ck imperial court robes on which a lifelike five-taloned golden dragon was embroidered in gleaming thread. Together with the gold piping on the rest of the garment, it demonstrated the emperor''s majesty.
Strong, powerful, and decisive, Shang JunLin controlled life and death throughout Da Huan. Such a man was born to stand at the top. As emperor, Shang JunLin was fully qualified. Shen Yu couldn''t understand ithow had he managed to seize the throne from this man in his previous life with just the King of Yue to rely on?
The more he learned, the more Shen Yu understood how powerful Shang JunLin was. He fought his way to the throne in an incredibly hostile environment. After sitting on the throne for decades, how could he be pulled down so easily by a few miscreants?
Unfortunately, the book that Shen Yu read after his death didn''t give any details, and the events of his past life could no longer be investigated. Those things were now secrets that would probably remain buried forever.
It was a past that only Shen Yu knew.
Noticing his gaze, Shang JunLin stopped. "What is it?"
"I was thinking about how Your Majesty must feel to sit there every day." Shen Yu turned to look at the majestic dragon throne.
"Ah Yu will find out if you try it." Seeing Shen Yu''s interest, Shang JunLin led him towards the throne.
When Shen Yu reached the base of the steps he refused to move any further. "I''m just curious. I don''t need to experience it myself."
"Ah Yu needn''t worry. What part of this pce is forbidden to Ah Yu?" Despite Shen Yu''s protest, Shang JunLin picked him up by the waist and walked up the stairs.
Shen Yu silently nestled in Shang JunLin''s arms. In the end, he couldn''t help being curious. He looked over his shoulder.
With each step up, his field of vision opened wider. After the ninth step, Shen Yu suddenly had the illusion that people were bowing down below.
Shang JunLin bent down, set Shen Yu on the dragon throne, and stood below him. "How does Ah Yu feel?"
Shen Yu was silent for a moment before he answered honestly, "It feels a little hard."
The dragon throne was gorgeous, but it was true that it was ufortable to sit on. The back of the throne was just a decoration. If you tried to recline, you''d be scratched by the dragon that was carved on it. The armrests on both sides were far apart, and there was no way to lean on them.
Not to mention the ce where you sat. There was no cushion. You could only sit up straight. It might be fine for a little while, but if time stretched on, Shen Yu didn''t think he could stand it.
"Who in this world doesn''t want to sit on this chair? It''s only Ah Yu who dislikes it for being ufortable." Shang JunLin lifted his sleeves and sat beside him.
The dragon throne was more than wide enough for two people. When Shang JunLin sat down, Shen Yu smoothly leaned against him. "Even if everyone else in the world wants it, no one else is more suitable for this chair than Your Majesty."
Standing below them, Meng Gonggong was more shocked than anything. He knew His Majesty thought highly of Shen Yu, almost spoiling him to the sky, but he never thought that if Shen Yu was a little curious, the emperor would personally carry him up there.
Sitting in that ce, what one felt was not just the power, but the weight of taking responsibility for all of Da Huan, as well as the boundless loneliness.
After a while, Shen Yu didn''t want to continue sitting there, and Shang JunLin didn''t stop him. They walked down the steps together.
Shen Yu was curious. "Your Majesty isn''t afraid I''ll have thoughts about that position too?"
If power over the entire world was within reach, how many people could resist temptation?
"If Ah Yu wants it, what''s the harm in giving it to Ah Yu?" Shang JunLin stroked the hair on Shen Yu''s forehead. "But Ah Yu, if you want the throne, you must also ept this emperor, the man whoes with the throne. There can''t be anyone else."
The man''s eyes grew darker and darker. "This emperor can put Ah Yu in that position, but this emperor can also stop Ah Yu from ever reaching it."
"The throne isn''t as good as Your Majesty. I''ll let Your Majesty worry about the affairs of the world. I only need to have Your Majesty," Shen Yu lifted his eyes to meet Shang JunLin''s gaze. "The world belongs to Your Majesty, and Your Majesty belongs to me."
He couldn''t decipher his feelings for Shang JunLin, but he knew he didn''t want to change the current situation.
Shang JunLin was satisfied and took Shen Yu into his arms. "Ah Yu will always belong to me as well."
Not the "me" who was the emperor, but the "me" who was Shang JunLin.
The spring exam approached day by day, and the old forces at court grew more and more restless because of the King of Yue.
They couldn''t figure out Shang JunLin''s attitude. Their various attempts had done nothing but anger the emperor, and they failed to achieve anything they wanted.
The King of Yue''s release was both a goal and a pretext. At the heart of the conflict was a sh between the old and new factions at court.
Shang JunLin sat firmly in his fishing spot, waiting for the people who were buried the deepest to make their move.
Several ministers gathered privately to discuss the emperor''s intentions.
"What exactly is His Majesty trying to do?"
"When have we ever been able to guess His Majesty''s mind? In the past, His Majesty always tolerated the vassal kings. I don''t know what changed this time. Has he decided to discard all concern for family affection and blood?"
"You''re mistaken there. When did His Majesty ever care about such things? We all know how His Majesty ascended to the throne back then. Or did you forget because he hasn''t done anything like it in recent years?"
"Does that mean His Majesty really intends to put the King of Yue to death?"
"I recently heard some gossip. All of you know about that noble gentleman'' who''s been so poprtely? They say that before he entered the pce, he had a rtionship with the King of Yue." The speaker gave them all a "you know what I mean" look. "Given how highly that person is favored, His Majesty''s treatment of the King of Yue is hardly excessive."
"Ho" The person who heard this sucked in a breath. "Then His Majesty is deliberately targeting the King of Yue?"
In an inconspicuous corner, someone quietly got up and left. The person who revealed the "truth" nced over calmly and continued to talk.
Things outside didn''t affect life inside the pce. Shen Yu lived his days in leisure. Eventually, he no longer had to drink the medicine that was so bitter, and his mood was more and more rxed.
Because of the previous incident, Jiang HuaiQing sent letters more frequently. asionally there were also messages from H ChengYu, all of which concerned thetest things they''d found out. Shen Yu simply chose a member of the Hidden Dragon Guard to take charge of the investigation.
With the cooperation of both sides, they''d already found many valuable clues. As soon as they identified the person responsible, they could arrest them immediately.
Shen Yu rolled over, half-lying on Shang JunLin''s chest. "I hope none of this will affect the exam."
Shang JunLin caught the strands of Shen Yu''s hair which had fallen. "When the investigation concludes, everyone who''s been in close contact with those people will be judged, and it will be decided whether they can participate in the exam."
Shen Yu lowered his eyes. "To be honest, it would save a lot of trouble if you didn''t let any of them enter the examination hall."
"Then wouldn''t Ah Yu lose without a doubt?" Shang JunLin chuckled. "Or does Ah Yu mean you don''t mind losing to this emperor? This emperor truly wees it."
TL Notes:
()*:
pce exam dinsh The highest tier in the imperial examination system. Immediately after the triennial metropolitan exam (AKA the spring exam, see note in Ch 39), the pce exam takes ce in the emperor''s presence. The exact procedure probably varied by dynasty. In novels, it typically involves the emperor personally asking questions of the top sixty or so metropolitan exam schrs. The top three scorers were considered particrly distinguished. In novels it isn''t unusual for the highest scorer to marry a princess (Wikipedia) (Chart)
intemperate tyrant incapable ruler, fatuous and self-indulgent ruler, foolish emperor
five-taloned golden dragon The symbol of the emperor, a golden dragon with five wed toes on each of its feet. Other royal family members had to settle for the "four-taloned dragon", otherwise known as a python (). ording to tradition, pythons were depicted simrly to dragons except for this difference (Baidu)
Not the "me" who was the emperor SJL uses the normal first person pronoun () instead of the imperial one
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
zhuangyuan "top thesis author" Today this term is used for the top scorers of China''s college entrance exam, but it goes way back to the imperial era where it was used to recognize the man with the highest score in the pce exam
Jinluan Hall throne room, emperor''s audience hall
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Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Shen Yu nudged his head against Shang JunLin. "I''m talking to Your Majesty about serious things."
"This emperor knows." Shang JunLin touched Shen Yu''s forehead. "It was discovered early, which means it''s not as difficult to look into. This emperor will disqualify everyone who participates. Ah Yu shouldn''t worry. This emperor asked the examiners to change the test questions as well. There won''t be a problem."
When he learned that someone was trying to tamper with the imperial examinations, how could Shang JunLin sit back and let them do it? The necessary adjustments had already been made. To ensure the new test questions wouldn''t leak, everyone involved in the changes was living in a house arranged by Shang JunLin, and they''d continue to live there until the end of the exam. There were heavy guard patrols around the house. If anyone tried to send information to the outside world, all they''d do was expose themselves.
Shen Yu nodded and began to talk about the things Jiang HuaiQing and his friends had discovered recently.
"Jiang HuaiQing sent a letter saying that the people were targeting a specific type, mostly poor students. Some of Jiang HuaiQing''s other good friends were approached as well. It''s only when it came up in conversation as an anecdote that they realized several people had been contacted." Shen Yu thought. "Did they notice that Your Majesty likes to employ people from poor backgrounds, and that''s why they decided to meddle with them?"
Shang JunLin: "Whether they seeded or not, those new officials would be susceptible to ckmail in the future. In order to continue their careers, they''d have no choice but to work for the conspirators."
Shen Yu: "True, and the higher those officials rose in the future, the better it would be for the conspirators. What a cost-effective method. With so little effort they can turn this ss of schrs into their agents."
Although Shen Yu looked down to conceal the coldness in his eyes. No matter if it was in his previous life or this one, that man would never seed in his goals!
At Yingxing House:
As the examination day approached, the lodging house appeared less popted. The students stayed in their rooms to make their final preparations.
Jiang HuaiQing''s restless mind gradually calmed down. After discussing everything with Young Master Yu, he realized that Young Master Lin and Young Master Yu weren''t as simple as they appeared. Most likely they weren''t even exam candidates.
Jiang HuaiQing left the window and walked over. "ChengYu Xiong is always so calm."
After spending so much time with H ChengYu, Jiang HuaiQing had never seen him lose hisposure. The students around them were getting more and more nervous, but H ChengYu was the same as ever.
He himself felt anxious a little while ago, but after a few days passed his state of mind gradually recovered.
H ChengYu smiled lightly. "It''s just an exam. HuaiQing is the same as usual too, right?"
"I might not show it on my face, but that incident a while ago really shocked me." Jiang HuaiQing patted his chest. "I''ve been up and down for several days.
"I wonder if ChengYu Xiong noticed that those people are targeting poor students." After observing for a while, that was the conclusion Jiang HuaiQing had reached.
H ChengYu nodded. "I saw that too. I indirectly asked some exam candidates from otherrge families, and they didn''t encounter anything simr."
"Then their purpose seems clear." Jiang HuaiQing touched his chin. "They''re choosing the type of people His Majesty is most likely to appoint."
When thete emperor was in power, poor families were suppressed by aristocratic families and could hardly find a ce to stand. After the current emperor ascended, he gradually promoted officials from poor backgrounds.
"The examination will begin soon. I wonder if they''ll manage to resolve everything before it starts."
At longst, the examination that everyone was anticipating so eagerly arrived.
Early in the morning, the students lined up with their supplies and effects. After being inspected, they entered the examination hall one by one.
Everyone was focused on the exam, so none of them noticed that a small number of students were quietly taken away before they could enter the examination hall.
After the rest of the schrs entered the examination rooms, a well-prepared series of arrests were carried out in secret. The evidence was conclusive, and the offenders had no opportunity to resist. Several inconspicuous people were quietly taken away.
As the weather gradually warmed, flowers began to bloom, especially in the garden of Yuzhang Pce. Knowing that Shen Yu liked flowers and nts, Shang JunLin gave orders to bring in numerous examples of rare greenery.
Recently, a top-grade cymbidium ink orchid was presented by a few subjects. Without so much as a thought, Shang JunLin told someone to send the flower to Yuzhang Pce.
Meng Gonggong personally apanied the attendants who carried it in. He knew that whenever something good arrived, it would be sent immediately to Yuzhang Pce. Who hadn''t noticed that His Majesty stayed there exclusively?
Since Shen Yu entered the pce, Shang JunLin hardly returned to the emperor''s bedchambers. By now Meng Gonggong had his own room inside Yuzhang Pce to rest in.
"His Majesty asked this ve to bring this. Noble monarch, please see if you like it." Meng Gonggong lifted the red silk covering the nt.
Layers of blooming petals appeared, and Shen Yu''s eyes lit up. "Where did His Majesty find such a beautiful ink orchid?"
"A few subjects sent it to the pce. The moment it arrived, His Majesty asked this ve to bring it to you."
"His Majesty is very kind." Shen Yu found a suitable ce for the ink orchid and asked the pce servants to ce it there.
When Meng Gonggong finished delivering the nt and was ready to leave, Shen Yu stopped him. "I wonder if Meng Gonggong can rece the eunuch in charge of Yuzhang Pce?"
Meng Gonggong froze for a moment. "Why does the noble monarch suddenly want to rece him?"
The attendants who served in Yuzhang Pce had all been arranged by Shang JunLin. At the time, Shen Yu had just entered the pce. Shang JunLin wanted people with clean backgrounds who wouldn''t make trouble. Meng Gonggong delegated the selection to some of his subordinates. Later, Shen Yu became favored, and countless people regretted not being assigned to Yuzhang Pce.
Meng Gonggong regretted it as well. If he''d known Yuzhang Pce would be so prosperous because of Shen Yu, he would have given some of his own underlings a ce there.
But the matter had already been decided, and it was pointless to think about it now.
Shen Yu had never asked about the arrangement of the pce staff before. Now he suddenly wanted to rece someone.
"You can select a group of candidates based on my requirements. Since I''m going to be staying for a long time, it has to be someone I''mfortable with." Shen Yu went on to state his requirements: "Loyal, adaptable, doesn''t gossip or argue, knows how to read the atmosphere, easy to work with in general. The rest is up to Meng Gonggong to decide."
"The noble monarch tters this ve. Rest assured, this ve will do an excellent job for the noble monarch," Meng Gonggong responded respectfully.
It took sophistication and extensive experience to serve beside the emperor. Meng Gonggong could guess what happened the moment he heard it. The current head eunuch must have upset the noble monarch. Meng Gonggong felt puzzled. The noble monarch was a rare master who was easy to serve. What did the eunuch in charge of Yuzhang Pce do to provoke the noble monarch and cause himself to be reced?
Also When the noble monarch said he was going to stay here a long time, did he mean that he didn''t intend to live here a long time before, so he didn''t care about anything?
Lowering his eyes to conceal his thoughts, Meng Gonggong began to mentally review the candidates who met Shen Yu''s requirements.
"Well, it''s a relief to leave it to you." After exining, Shen Yu didn''t intend to do anything else.
Meng Gonggong returned to Shang JunLin to continue his work. After rying Shen Yu''s reaction, he hesitated for a while and then told the emperor about Shen Yu''s wishes.
Shang JunLin recalled the eunuch in charge of Yuzhang Pce. He didn''t have much of an impression of him. When Shang JunLin stayed in Yuzhang Pce, he was always served by Meng Gonggong. Shen Yu didn''t like to have servants wait on him closely. Aside from Mu Xi, he had few other attendants.
"Did the noble monarch say why?" ording to Shang JunLin''s understanding of Shen Yu, he didn''t do anything without a reason.
"No." Meng Gonggong shook his head. "Just that the noble monarch isn''tfortable with him."
Shang JunLin: "Go and look into the eunuch in charge. If the noble monarch wants to rece someone, rece him. This time, he can choose the new person."
Meng Gonggong: "This ve understands."
Shang JunLin: "After you select the candidates, let this emperor take a look at them first. Don''t find another one who will make the noble monarch unhappy."
Meng Gonggong: "Yes."
Shen Yu gave the ink orchid some water, then lowered his rolled up sleeves. A momentter Shang JunLin walked in.
"Your Majesty is finished?"
"Mm." Shang JunLin took a handkerchief and wiped Shen Yu''s hands. "Why don''t you let the servants do these things?"
"Of course I have to take good care of the flower sent by Your Majesty. Otherwise, what will I do if Your Majesty is unhappy with jun ling'' again?"
The "jun ling" nt was sent by Imperial Physician Gu. Because it was so difficult to raise, Shen Yu personally watched over it. Shang JunLin had revealed his jealousy several times.
"Are you still making fun of this emperor?" Shang JunLin poked at Shen Yu''s forehead.
Shen Yu dodged aside. "Your Majesty won''t let me talk about what you did?"
"Fine, Ah Yu can say whatever you want." Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s hand and led him to the soft couch to sit down. "Why do you suddenly want to change the head eunuch?"
"Meng Gonggong told His Majesty, then." Shen Yu wasn''t surprised. When he spoke to Meng Gonggong, he intended it to reach Shang JunLin''s ears.
"Shen Yu already knows that this emperor is always concerned about what happens in your life. Meng Chang wouldn''t dare to hide it."
"It''s Mu Xi who found out. The man used his authority as the eunuch in charge of Yuzhang Pce to harass the pce maids. He didn''t dare to touch anyone in Yuzhang Pce, so he focused on maids in other pces." Shen Yu''s face showed his disgust.
"I asked Mu Xi to draw up a list of pce maids who were bullied. If not for the fact that one of the maids has a strong personality and made some noise, I don''t know how long it would have been hidden."
The air pressure around Shang JunLin''s body lowered. "Who gave him the courage tomit such outrages?"
"It''s probably because His Majesty doesn''t pay that much attention to what happens with the pce maids. The man thought that since he was the head eunuch of Yuzhang Pce, he could do whatever he wanted." When Shen Yu heard about it, he almost got rid of the person immediately, but Mu Xi stopped him.
"Young master, this kind of thing ismon in the pce. This time the person you''re dealing with is Li Gonggong, but next time it will be Zhao Gonggong or Sun Gonggong. If you want to put an end to the behavior for good, you have to make sure they never dare to do it again, no matter how much they want to!" Mu Xi said.
The more morous and beautiful the surface, the easier it is to hide the dirt and grime underneath. If the water was clear, there would be no fish. Shen Yu wasn''t a nave young master who lived in a castle in the air. He''d experienced the dark side of the world too many times, and he knew that the imperial pce was the center of power in Da Huan. No matter how appalling the things that happened here, it didn''t surprise him.
"Let Meng Chang handle it."
Shen Yu pressed his hand to Shang JunLin''s lips. "No, since someone from Yuzhang Pcemitted the crime, I should be the one to deal with it. He dares to do such things under my noseI''ll see who gave him the nerve!"
It was the first time Shen Yu revealed such a fierce side of himself in front of Shang JunLin. His temperament was as beautiful as ice, and the coldness in his eyes was devastating. Shang JunLin looked at him and felt his heart beating faster and faster.
Most of the time Shen Yu was gentle and harmless. He asionally showed his sharp little fangs, but he was more like an immature cub than a predator, which made him seem less intimidating.
But right now Shen Yu was different. A menacing aura emanated from him, and his beauty was breathtaking. Shang JunLin immediately felt that this was the real Shen Yu.
Brimming with aggression, danger, and charm.
He almost couldn''t tear his eyes away.
When Shang JunLin didn''t respond for a long time, Shen Yu looked at him suspiciously. "What is Your Majesty thinking?"
"Thinking that Ah Yu is so beautiful." His voice was as low as a whisper.
He wanted to take this man in his arms regardless of anything else, kiss him hard, and mark him as his own inside and out!
TL Notes:
examination hall exam room, exam field The examinations took ce in an open-air za orpound. Constructed specifically for this purpose, it was filled with rows and rows of tiny cubicles for the examinees (Wikipedia) (Pic) (Pic)
cymbidium ink orchid "ink orchid", Cymbidium sinense, Chinese cymbidium The flowers are usually strongly aromatic, variable in color, usually dark purple or purplish brown with a paler lip (via Google)
don''t gossip or argue don''t randomly chew the root of tongue to gossip / argue unnecessarily
do whatever he wanted act recklessly and care for nobody; act outrageously; afraid of nothing; behave in a disorderly manner without fear
hide the dirt and grime to hide dirt, to conceal corruption (idiom); to shelter evil people and ept wrongdoing / aiding and abetting wicked deeds
If the water was clear, there would be no fish If water is too clean no fish can live in it; One should not be too eager to find fault; water which is too clean has few fish
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Li Gonggong Refer to Ch 3 for the note about "gonggong"
Zhao Gonggong
Sun Gonggong
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Chapter 60
Chapter 60
In the face of Shang JunLin''s overwhelming, aggressive aura, Shen Yu found it slightly difficult to breathe.
He even felt a little confused. Did he say something? Why was Shang JunLin suddenly so excited?
After thinking about it, Shen Yu moved away a little. No matter what the reason, he''d better back away from this Shang JunLin who was exuding waves of danger.
Shang JunLin noticed this small movement. He put a hand on Shen Yu''s back, blocking his way. "Why is Ah Yu trying to hide?"
Shen Yu yed dumb. "What does Your Majesty mean?"
Shang JunLin didn''t want to give him a hard time, so he restrained his energy. "What steps would Ah Yu like to take?"
Shen Yu wasn''t sure when Shang JunLin started calling him "Ah Yu" instead of "noble monarch". It happened so gradually that Shen Yu was already used to it.
"First rece the eunuch in charge of Yuzhang Pce. Then we''ll see."
"Ah Yu can decide everything. This emperor will review the candidates first. The same thing won''t happen again, this emperor won''t allow it!"
In the final analysis, the reason there was a problem with the eunuch in charge of Yuzhang Pce was because Shang JunLin hadn''t taken the matter seriously enough in the beginning. If he''d checked more carefully before appointing someone, the current situation wouldn''t have urred.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Yu narrowed his eyes. He knew that a thousand-mile dike could copse because of an ant hill. He didn''t expect the people under him to have no ws, but he wasn''t going to tolerate people who didn''t know where to draw the line.
Now that it was an issue, Shen Yu ordered Mu Xi to check everyone in Yuzhang Pce. At first, he hadn''t expected to live in the pce for very long. That was why he didn''t have high requirements for his servants, and certainly never trusted them with anything critical. However, the most important factor was that Shen Yu usually presented himself as good-natured and agreeable. It had caused some people to be overly ambitious.
Shen Yu was favored by the emperor, and Yuzhang Pce soared because of it. The servants who served in Yuzhang Pce had more prestige than people who served elsewhere. That had always been the rule of life in the imperial pce. Shen Yu didn''t intend to change that, but he also wasn''t going to let someone use his name to make trouble.
Meng Gonggong quickly selected a list of candidates and showed it to Shang JunLin.
The man''s eyes scanned each entry on the list. When he saw a certain name, Shang JunLin paused and looked up with a smile that wasn''t a smile. "If this emperor remembers correctly, this Meng Yuan is your adopted son, correct?"
"Yes, yes." Meng Gonggong didn''t dare to lie. "This ve looked for people ording to the noble monarch''s requirements. This ve has watched that child Meng Yuan grow up and knows his character better than anyone else. That''s why this ve had the audacity to add him to the list."
After saying this, Meng Gonggong felt a little uneasy. "When this ve added Meng Yuan''s name, this ve had selfish intentions. First, this ve knows everything about his background. Second, the noble monarch is a good master. If Meng Yuan can serve at the noble monarch''s side, it will be his good fortune."
Shang JunLin rubbed his fingers along the edge of the list, and his eyes were unreadable.
Meng Gonggong felt even more apprehensive, and he smiled bitterly to himself. He really didn''t want to miss this opportunity, so he dared to indulge his selfishness.
"This emperor knows you think highly of your adopted son. A little is fine. Never try to go too far. This emperor has reviewed the list and sees that everything is in line with the noble monarch''s requirements. You can send the people over to the noble monarch. As for who will get the position, the noble monarch will decide." Shang JunLin nced lightly at Meng Gonggong and tossed the list back to him.
"This ve thanks Your Majesty for your grace!" Meng Gonggong hugged the booklet to his chest. The heavy weight in his heart fell to the ground.
"Go on." Shang JunLin waved his hand.
"Yes." Meng Gonggong bowed and withdrew with the list in his arms.
Without the slightest dy, Meng Gonggong brought the selected people to Yuzhang Pce.
Shen Yu was tending to the ink orchid that Shang JunLin sent to him. He wasn''t sure why, but under his care the flower was still blooming exuberantly even though its normal flowering period was almost over.
"Young master, Meng Gonggong brought some people here." Mu Xi stepped forward to wipe Shen Yu''s hands.
"Already?" Shen Yu cleaned his hands, and then took the handkerchief and dried his fingers. "Send them to the main hall."
Mu Xi received the orders and left. Shen Yu changed his outer robe and then went out.
When Shen Yu arrived, Meng Gonggong was already waiting with the people in the main hall. Shen Yu walked to the main seat and sat down.
Meng Gonggong introduced them to Shen Yu one by one.
"Meng Gonggong worked hard."
Meng Gonggong smiled pleasantly. "The noble monarch tters this ve. Noble monarch, please see if there''s a satisfactory candidate here. If none of them are eptable, this ve will bring another batch."
"You needn''t go to so much trouble. These people already meet my requirements." Shen Yu pointed to several of them. "Those can stay for now. The rest can go."
The others saluted respectfully and left.
Meng Yuan was among the people Shen Yu kept. The smile on Meng Gonggong''s face deepened.
Shen Yu questioned the remaining people. In the end, Meng Yuan was chosen.
Later that evening, Shang JunLin arrived.
"Why did Ah Yu choose Meng Yuan?" Shang JunLin hugged Shen Yu and sat down. "Did Ah Yu know about the rtionship between him and Meng Chang?"
Shen Yu shook his head. "What rtionship? I chose Meng Yuan because I like his attitude. Yuzhang Pce attracts a lot of attention. The people who work here need to be managed by someone with a steady mind."
"He''s Meng Chang''s adopted son. Meng Chang had a bit of an ulterior motive. He knows that Yuzhang Pce is a good ce, so he sent his adopted son here."
"Meng Gonggong has a good eye." Shen Yu leaned on the man''s shoulder. "It seems that Your Majesty truly likes me. Even the most highly regarded people in the pce think there''s a future in working for me."
Shang JunLin thought Shen Yu would be unhappy. He hadn''t expected this reaction. "This emperor thought you would be angry."
"There''s nothing to be angry about." Shen Yu smiled. "Your Majesty already reviewed them. If there was a problem with that person, Your Majesty wouldn''t have sent him to me, would you?"
"Ah Yu''s mouth is sweeter than anyone else''s." Shang JunLin pinched Shen Yu''s chin and turned his face towards himself. His thumb brushed across Shen Yu''s lips.
Shen Yu blinked. "I only said the truth. Why is Your Majesty looking at me like that?"
"This emperor wonders if Ah Yu had this candidate in mind from the beginning. Did you go to all this effort just to give Meng Yuan the opportunity to serve in Yuzhang Pce?" Shang JunLin''s eyes darkened.
It wasn''t hard to guess. Shen Yu, as the noble monarch, could have any head eunuch he wanted. For him to act so circumspectly, the person must have a unique identity, the kind that made it difficult to request him directly.
Shen Yu pretended to be confused. He innocently blinked his eyes. "What is Your Majesty talking about?"
"Little fox." Shang JunLin drew closer and kissed the young man''s eyes.
Shen Yu was startled by the suddenly approaching breath. Before he could react, he felt a sensation of heat against his eyes. A warm touch fell on his eyelids, and the words he was about to saypletely vanished.
Seeing Shen Yu in a daze, Shang JunLin''s eyes deepened further, and his lips gradually lowered.
Just as he approached Shen Yu''s lips, Meng Gonggong''s voice rang out from outside the screen.
"Your Majesty, Minister Fang requests an audience."
As if waking from a dream, Shen Yu abruptly broke free from Shang JunLin''s grasp. "Your Majesty is busy. It''s fine if you have to go," he said uneasily.
Shang JunLin sighed to himself at the missed opportunity. He rubbed Shen Yu''s head, then got up and left.
Shen Yu sat on the soft couch for a while, and the confusion in his eyes eventually faded.
During the exam, examinees were not permitted to leave the examination hall. They were required to eat and sleep inside. That was why they had no idea the outside world was in such an uproar after just a few days.
Shang JunLin''s people finished tracing the clues and caught the mastermind behind the plot. Before the court, Minister Fang reported what he found in a deep voice. When he concluded, he bowed deeply. "Your Majesty, please decide the rest."
The audience erupted with shock.
"What How is this possible?"
"This will shake the foundations of the empire. Could Minister Fang have made a mistake?"
Minister Fang red at them. "Does Your Excellency think this official would joke about something like this?"
" That''s not what I meant." The speaker who made the remark shut his mouth.
"The evidence is overwhelming. This servant hopes Your Majesty will punish them severely!"
As they watched Minister Fang speak so righteously, the officials felt disoriented, as if they''d somehow returned to the days when Imperial Censor Zhang was used.
In the midst of the whispers, Shang JunLin''s cold voice rang out, "The ministers may wish to look at Minister Fang''s evidence before you speak."
The eunuch who served in front of the emperor held up a scroll and began to read aloud.
From how they got the test questions, to how they gave orders to their men to approach the students and lure them into a trap, every single thing was clearlyid out.
After everyone fell silent, Shang JunLin said calmly, "This emperor wonders if His Excellency the Grand Commandant has anything to say in his defense?"
In the face of such overwhelming evidence, it was impossible to form an argument. The Grand Commandant fell to his knees in dismay. "This servant knows my crime."
The Grand Commandant was an old minister from the previous reign. Because he didn''t take sides at the time, he kept his position when the new emperor took power. On the contrary, because there were so few experienced ministers at court in the early days of Shang JunLin''s reign, he quickly rose in importance, and he remained active today.
Shang JunLin stood up from the dragon throne and looked down at him without the slightest emotion. "Don''t be in such a hurry to admit your guilt, Grand Commandant. Tell this emperor, what did thete emperor give you to make you continue to do his bidding after more than ten years?"
The Grand Commandant''s heart leaped in his chest. "This servant wouldn''t dare!"
"What don''t you dare? Do you regret that you didn''t let this emperor die on the battlefield back then to ensure the King of Yue could take the throne?"
When Shang JunLin''s words fell, they caused an uproar. No one imagined that a case of attempted exam fraud would also involve this kind of hidden secret from the past.
Not long after Shang JunLin ascended the throne, he was seriously wounded in a major battle. Before he recovered, the news was tightly concealed. Few people knew about it, and even fewer knew that there was something else behind it.
"Your Majesty, this servant has been wronged. This servant was confused and overzealous, that''s why I tampered with the imperial examination this time, but this servant really never did anything like Your Majesty said!" The Grand Commandant was appalled. The first crime in itself was enough to condemn his entire n. If you added the second one
What''s more, back then he waspletely focused on maintaining a strong foothold in the court. He didn''t have the means to break through Shang JunLin''s numerous guards and attack him directly!
As he watched the man shake like a leaf, Shang JunLin''s mouth slightly curved up. Of course, he knew the Grand Commandant wasn''t responsible for the incident back then. He said it on purpose to raise it as an issue in court. He knew the matter was no ident at all, and he intended to investigate it to the end!
The pale-faced Grand Commandant was taken away. After court was dismissed, Minister Fang stayed behind.
The two talked in the imperial study all afternoon. When Minister Fang left, the Court of Judicial Review began to deal with the Grand Commandant''s case.
Shen Yu pressed against Shang JunLin''s chest, feeling his sturdy body through his clothes. "Does that mean Your Majesty lied to me? Didn''t you say you got this scar when you were a child?"
"This emperor misspoke." Shang JunLin smiled bitterly. When he told Shen Yu what happened at court today, he didn''t think this was what Shen Yu would focus on.
"Did anyone every hands on Your Majesty after you ascended the throne?" Shen Yu thought about it. After all, it wasn''t strange. Whether it was in his past life or this one, the King of Yue had never stopped coveting the throne.
At first, Shen Yu thought it was just the King of Yue who was after the throne. It now seemed that was far from the case. In addition to the person he knew about, there were other people in the dark, but they were too cautious to reveal themselves because of Shang JunLin''s strength.
Shen Yu remembered where the scar was and pressed it. "Does it hurt, Your Majesty?"
Shang JunLin sped Shen Yu''s hand over his chest. "Does Ah Yu feel distressed?"
TL Notes:
a thousand-mile dike could copse because of an ant hill A solid dyke can copse because of an ant hole in it; One ant hole may cause the copse of a thousand-li dyke; Slight negligence may lead to great disaster; A small leak will sink a great ship
soared because of it When the river rises, the boat floats high; A ship rises with the tide a person''s social rise benefits those rted to him; When water rises, the boat rises with it; Particr things improve with the improvement of the general situation
adopted son godson, adopted son (traditional adoption, i.e. without legal ramifications)
most highly regarded people big red people A person who is favored, trusted, and highly regarded by leaders
confused and overzealous be possessed by ghosts; be obsessed with; be corrupted by; be under an obsession of
shake like a leaf shake like a chaff sieve
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Meng Yuan
Your Excellency Alternatively: your distinguished self, the Honorable, Your Lordship, your majesty, sire
this official bn gun
Grand Commandant The highest government official in charge of military affairs. In early dynasties, this was the official title of the head of the military, one of the three highest officials in government together with the prime minister and the imperial censor. Inter dynasties, the position became less important and lost its power entirely (Baidu, Wikipedia) This is a different title than marshal ()
His Excellency the Grand Commandant ti wi drn
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Chapter 61
Chapter 61
"If I don''t care about Your Majesty, who should I care about? I hope Your Majesty is never hurt again."
Shen Yu''s eyes were downcast, and Shang JunLin''s gaze was burning. He held Shen Yu''s chin in one hand and slowly approached.
A soft kiss fell on the corner of Shen Yu''s eye.
With it came the man''s aura: strong, steady, calm.
Recently Shang JunLin liked to kiss Shen Yu''s eyes, especially when those eyes looked at him. He could hardly tear himself away from the color and intensity he saw there.
Shen Yu''s eyelids lowered, and the long eyshes gently brushed the man''s lips, light and ticklish.
Shang JunLin loosened his grip on Shen Yu''s hand. He put his arm around Shen Yu''s waist and pressed him closer.
Shen Yu let him kiss his face for a while. Then he said, "It''s time to bring the King of Yue''s case to a close, isn''t it?"
"Only one fish, the Grand Commandant*, has been caught, but that''s enough. If you catch the first one, there will be a second and a third."
"Not necessarily." Shen Yu propped himself up against Shang JunLin''s chest and met his eyes. "Your Majesty, why would the Grand Commandant decide to tamper with the imperial examination?"
Shang JunLin considered for a moment. "Is Ah Yu saying that the King of Yue should take the me for the Grand Commandant''s actions?"
"If not, why would the Grand Commandant try to bribe humble students who haven''t yet entered the imperial court? What if he acted on the King of Yue''s orders? The King of Yue lives in his fiefdom year round. What if that made him eager to install his own people in the court?" Shen Yu chuckled. "Whether it''s true or not, once the word gets around, people will believe it."
Given thete emperor''s edict, Shang JunLin couldn''t move against the King of Yue directly, but what if the King of Yue crossed the line himself?
The King of Yue had no idea that while he was sitting in prison, the me was suddenlyid at his door.
The emperor personally ordered the Court of Judicial Review to proceed without dy, and the results of the trial were released before the end of the imperial exam.
The moment the schrs walked out of the examination hall, they were greeted with appalling news. They gathered together in shock, worried about whether they would be implicated.
In particr, a few schrs who''d been approached by the conspirators turned white with fear as if their faces had been painted. They had no idea what to do.
Shang JunLin had previously given orders for the examination officials to reassure the candidates and let them go back to rest for the time being.
Jiang HuaiQing had already known what was underway. Shen Yu told him the matter would be resolved by the end of the exam, but Jiang HuaiQing found that difficult to believe. He wasn''t expecting to hear the news the moment he walked out.
After resting for a while to recover his energy, Jiang HuaiQing asked H ChengYu to meet him in the restaurant for dinner.
"It''s not every day youplete an exam. We should enjoy ourselves."
To celebrate the end of the exam, Yingxing House hosted a banquet free of charge for the hard-working schrs. It was a well-known and long-standing tradition of Yingxing House, so there was no reason to refuse.
The ce was bustling with people. Schrs who''d just finished the exam gathered together in small groups to chatter about the recent momentous events.
"I had no idea something so serious would happen this year."
"True. Fortunately, His Majesty was foresighted and discovered the problem ahead of time. Do you think we''d be able to gather together and enjoy ourselves right now otherwise?"
"So true, so true. Throughout the history of Da Huan, every time there was a case of examination fraud, the results of the entire year were thrown out. If not for His Majesty''s sagacity and leadership, we would have wasted another three years for nothing."
Sitting in a quiet corner, a young man in blue smiled. "After everything that''s happened, this year''s students have even more respect for His Majesty. How does Ah Lin feel?"
After picking out the bones from the fish, the man in ck ced it in Shen Yu''s bowl. "Didn''t Ah Yu say that you wanted to see Jiang HuaiQing? You''re not going?"
"There''s no hurry. I sent him a message. He''lle to us when he sees it."
Shen Yu had kept an eye on things in the pce for a few days, making sure that nothing unexpected happened with the Grand Commandant''s case and confirming that he really had changed Jiang HuaiQing''s fate. When it was over, he wanted to leave the pce to see Jiang HuaiQing.
As it happened, Shang JunLin also had a reason to leave the pce. The two of them simply changed their clothes and went to Yingxing House.
This time, they chose to eat in the main hall of the restaurant instead of a private room. Shen Yu wanted to experience the excitement in Yingxing House after the exam.
"It should be even busier the day the results are announced. Would Ah Yu like to leave the pce that day to see it?"
Shen Yu nodded quickly. "Yes."
"If Ah Yu is well behaved, I''ll bring you."
At first Shen Yu didn''t understand what Shang JunLin meant by "well behaved", but then he realized it. "You don''t want to wait until the pce exam is over?"
"Lin Xiong, Yu Xiong." When Jiang HuaiQing came downstairs, he saw the two sitting by the window, and he pulled H ChengYu over. "When Yu Xiong said he''d be here, I was quite surprised."
"Why is it surprising? We''ve known each other a long time. It''s natural to get together on such an important day," Shen Yu said.
After exchanging letters for a while, Jiang HuaiQing and Shen Yu had be more and more familiar. They sat down across from each other. "I was worried that Lin Xiong and Yu Xiong would be too busy."
H ChengYu beckoned the waiter who was standing to the side and ordered a few more dishes. "I should thank the two of you for helping HuaiQing with the incident before."
Shen Yu smiled. "There''s no need to be polite among friends."
Both sides sat down. After talking about everything that had happened recently, Jiang HuaiQing sighed with emotion. "We really have to thank His Majesty for everything. Otherwise I don''t know if I even would have been able to take the exam."
"HuaiQing has such a wealth of knowledge. It would be a loss if you couldn''t serve in the imperial court."
"You''re ttering me." Jiang HuaiQing had never beenplimented like that before, and he ducked his head with embarrassment. "Let''s talk about something else. To thank the two of you for your help, let me offer you a toast."
With that, Jiang HuaiQing picked up his ss and drank it all in one gulp.
Shen Yu wasn''t allowed to drink alcohol, so Shang JunLin returned the toast for him. "I''ll take Ah Yu''s ce since he can''t drink."
"Sorry, I was thoughtless," Jiang HuaiQing said.
"It''s fine. To be honest, I wish I could drink, but Ah Lin keeps a close eye on me." The more Shen Yu wasn''t allowed to drink, the more he felt a little craving for it.
Shang JunLin said little throughout the meal. He seemed to focus all of his attention on taking care of Shen Yu. Jiang HuaiQing watched him deliver small tidbits to Shen Yu and pick out the bones from his fish. asionally the two whispered to each other. Jiang HuaiQing began to feel that he really shouldn''t be there.
After they finished eating, they sat and chatted for a while. Then Shang JunLin had to leave to take care of something, and Shen Yu said goodbye to the others.
In the carriage, Shang JunLin toyed with Shen Yu''s fingers. "Would Ah Yu like to return to the pce or stay with this emperor?"
Shen Yu: "Where is Your Majesty going?"
Shang JunLin: "The Court of Judicial Review."
Shen Yu: "Is it about the Grand Commandant?"
Shang JunLin: "Mm."
Shen Yu: "Then I''ll stay with Your Majesty. I don''t want to go back to the pce alone."
Shang JunLin gave the orders, and the carriage turned towards the Court of Judicial Review.
The Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review received notice in advance. He personally escorted the carriage into the inner courtyard.
When Shang JunLin got out of the carriage, the Chief Justice was about to step forward when he saw the man in ck stop beside the carriage and extend his hand to someone inside.
The Chief Justice was taken aback. Was someone else there?
At the same time, he couldn''t help but wonder what kind of person His Majesty would personally help from a carriage?
The answer was soon revealed.
A pale hand stretched out from the curtain and rested on the hand of the man in ck. The carriage curtain lifted, and then a young man in blue stepped out.
Shang JunLin held Shen Yu''s hand. If Shen Yu hadn''t stopped him with his eyes, the man would have physically lifted him out.
When the Chief Justice saw the intimate interaction between the two, he felt startled and quickly knelt down to salute. "This official greets Your Majesty and the noble monarch."
"No need to be polite." Shang JunLin raised his hand and gestured to the man to get up. "Just take us there."
"Yes." The Chief Justice didn''t dare to ask any questions. He led the way with trepidation.
When they reached a heavy, dark red door, the Chief Justice bowed his head. "Your Majesty, all the files are inside."
"There''s no need for anyone to follow."
"Yes." The Chief Justice hesitated for a moment. "The noble monarch, he"
"Don''t worry, Your Excellency. I''m not going inside."
Shang JunLin narrowed his eyes with displeasure, but Shen Yu poked his arm. "I don''t want to look at all those files. I''ll wait for Your Majesty outside. It''s just as well. I''ve never been here before."
Shen Yu turned to look at the Chief Justice. "Is it all right if I wander around?"
The Chief Justice was grateful for Shen Yu''s suggestion and hurriedly replied, "Of course it''s fine."
Shang JunLin wanted to say something else, but Shen Yu interrupted. "Your Majesty, please spare me. I don''t mind reading novels, but not things like this."
Seeing that he really didn''t want to go in, Shang JunLin gave up. He pinched Shen Yu''s face. "Be good. Wait for this emperor outside and don''t run around."
After Shang JunLin went in, Shen Yu strolled around the courtyard. The Chief Justice followed from a distance, afraid to be too far away or too close.
As the sun began to descend in the west, Shen Yu finished looking at the flowers and nts in the courtyard, and Shang JunLin came out.
On the way back, Shen Yu couldn''t help feeling curious. "What did Your Majesty want to see? You could have just sent someone to fetch the files. Why was it necessary toe here yourself?"
"A few things are still uncertain, and it would be troublesome to make them run back and forth. Since you wanted to leave the pce, this emperor decided to just go there myself," Shang JunLin exined.
After returning to the pce, Mu Xi reported the results of the recent investigation to Shen Yu.
"There are no fewer than twenty injured pce maids. None of them are especially prominent in the pce. Moreover" Mu Xi''s eyes reddened with anger at the thought "Two of them are less than fifteen years old!"
"Where are those maids?" With a "snap", Shen Yu broke the branch of plum blossoms in his hand.
"This ve found an empty courtyard in Yuzhang Pce to amodate them."
Shen Yu turned around. "Take me to meet them."
Through a path lined with flowers, Mu Xi took Shen Yu to a remote courtyard.
Mu Xi pushed open the door. When the maids inside saw Shen Yu, they couldn''t help but cower a little.
"This is the noble monarch, the one who wants justice for you. Don''t be afraid." Mu Xi was obviously familiar with their situation and calmed them with a few soft words.
A few of the pce maids came forward and saluted fearfully, but their movements were hesitant and halting.
"No need to be polite." Shen Yu didn''t make them salute. "Since it was someone from my pce who hurt you, I''ll make certain that you receive justice."
When they heard Shen Yu''s promise, several of the nk-looking women finally had a spark of color in their eyes. "Thank you, noble monarch!"
"If you need anything, tell Mu Xi directly."
After saying a few words, Shen Yu left with Mu Xi.
On the way back, Shen Yu said, "Can you find an imperial physician for them?"
Mu Xi shook her head. "This ve knows it''s not good, but they refused to let me bring an imperial physician."
Shen Yu took note of this. Later, he mentioned it to Shang JunLin. "Your Majesty, are there any female doctors in the pce?"
Shang JunLin: "There should be. This emperor will ask Meng Chang to arrange it. Why do you need a female doctor?"
Shen Yu: "There are some injured women staying in a courtyard of my pce. It would be easier for them to be seen by a female doctor."
Shang JunLin: "Is it those pce maids?"
"Yes." Shen Yu lowered his voice and added, "I went to see them today. This happened because of my negligence. I''ll try to make it up to themter."
"How can you be med for what happened?" Shang JunLin held Shen Yu''s hand on his knee. "You''ve done well. In the pce, human lives are as light as des of grass. How many people are like Ah Yu, willing to stand up for pce maids they don''t know at all?"
Strong, gentle, dangerous Every aspect of Shen Yu suited him to the core.
TL Notes:
* English Wikipedia trantes as "Grand Commandant" so I''m using that instead of "suprememander". Ch 60 has been updated to match
I''m really confused why things like "Grand Commandant" are capitalized but "prime minister" isn''t (o)o
the me was suddenlyid at his door from "the pot (of me) came from the sky" Refer to Ch 20 notes on "carrying the pot" / "taking the me"
leadership martial spirit epithet for a great conquering general best and brightest, glorious, powerful
has a wealth of knowledge One''s mind concealed more knowledge than could have been contained in five cartloads of books; be wealthy in knowledge; of great erudition and schrship (idiom)
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review This official is also known as the Commandant of Justice (). He epted and decided allwsuits that the provincial governors failed to dispose of. Cases which he could not decide were reported to the emperor. In the Han dynasty, he was one of the Nine Ministers (), the collective name for the nine high officials in the imperial government who headed the Nine Courts. They were subordinate to the Three Councilors of State (Wikipedia, Baidu) See Ch 12 notes for the Court of Judicial Review. See Ch 36 notes for the Ministry of Justice
Nine Courts The Nine Courts were service agencies which included the Court of Judicial Review, the Court of Imperial Entertainments, the Court of the National Granaries, and others (Wikipedia)
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Chapter 62
Chapter 62
"It''s because it happened in front of me. It was someone from my pce that hurt them." Shen Yu looked down, suppressing the coldness in his eyes. "The best thing to do with that kind of scum is dispose of them."
"Ah Yu can decide everything." Shang JunLin stroked the hair on the young man''s forehead. "This emperor said you could deal with the matter yourself. This emperor won''t interfere."
Shen Yu had already made a decision, and he turned to something else. "Your Majesty, how is the Grand Commandant''s matter proceeding?"
"After being interrogated, the Grand Commandant confessed. Apparently, the King of Yue told him to do it."
Shen Yu looked up and exchanged nces with Shang JunLin. He smiled and said, "The King of Yue probably wasn''t expecting such a big surprise'' during his stay in prison."
"Someone will identally reveal it to him in a few days. When that happens, he''ll be even more anxious to get out."
After all, while he was in prison, he was at the mercy of his enemies.
The King of Yue waited anxiously for several days. Instead of hearing that Shang JunLin had decided to release him, he heard from a jailer with a loose tongue that he was the one who''d given instructions to the Grand Commandant tomit fraud.
"What did you just say?!" The King of Yue clenched his fists. His widened eyes were filled with disbelief.
"Ah" The jailer, realizing he''d spoken out of turn, went pale. His superiors had specifically ordered him not to give the King of Yue any news from outside.
"How could anyone believe such an outrageous story?! I gave orders to the Grand Commandant, really? How could I tell him to do anything?" At first the King of Yue thought it was absurd, but the more he considered it, the worse his face became.
He''d done a lot of little things in secret, but this was something he hadn''t touched at all. None of his major plots had seeded yet. There was no way he''d left such a big opening for Shang JunLin!
"He did it on purpose." The King of Yue squeezed his fingertips white. "He''s deliberately framing me. That way he can ignore Imperial Father''sst orders and attack me with impunity!
"I want to see His Majesty! I didn''t do it. I won''t admit to anything!"
The King of Yue made a fuss in his cell. Eventually, the guards had no choice but to report it to their higher-ups.
"The King of Yue is a determined man. He went on a hunger strike and even tried to harm himself." Shang JunLin put down the confidential report with an obvious chill in his eyes.
Shen Yu walked over, picked up the report, and looked at it. "It''s not surprising. He knows that Your Majesty won''t let him die in prison under unclear circumstances. If he fights hard enough, he might be able to free himself, but if he sits and waits for death, it really is the end for him."
Rumors were flying, and the King of Yue''s people weren''t able to contact him. With no instructions, all they could do was run around in circles.
"What should we do?"
"Is His Highness really responsible for that?"
A few members of the King of Yue''s inner circle exchanged nces with each other, then shook their heads.
"If His Highness did it, he wouldn''t have hidden it from all of us. There''s only one conclusionHis Highness has been framed!"
"His Highness has always had a good reputation. He''s gentle and polite to everyone. There are no faults whatsoever in his deportment. Who could have such a big grudge against His Highness that they want to force him to his death?"
The room fell silent. After a long time, someone said in a deep voice, "Have you forgotten why the King of Yue was imprisoned?"
"You mean the families of those youngdies?"
The others thought about it and decided it wasn''t an unreasonable guess. Aristocratic families attached great importance to their dignity and reputation. It couldn''t be denied that what the King of Yue had done was like pping them in the face.
"No, something else is extremely suspicious. Why did all those women appear in Yingxing House that day?"
"Not many people would have known about it in advance. Who leaked it? Do you think it was the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence?"
"Either way, we have to investigate."
Shang JunLin''s forces paid close attention to the movements of the King of Yue''s people. When they reported the news, Shen Yu heard as well.
"Will they find out it was the Hidden Dragon Guard?" Shen Yu ced a white go stone on the board. The reason he hadn''t sent his people in the first ce was because of the risk they''d be discoveredter.
In the quiet afternoon, Shen Yu had napped long enough. He dragged Shang JunLin to y a game of go.
Shang JunLin casually ced a ck stone. "If they do find out, the person responsible will be removed from the Hidden Dragon Guard."
On the go board, pieces flowed back and forth. Under the seemingly peaceful surface, murderous intentions lurked behind every move. Off the go board, the two people sat in casual poses, and the stones fell as lightly as clouds strewn by the wind.
"Since they want to investigate, we should provide a target. If they don''t find anything, they''ll suspect us sooner orter."
In other words: Gotta find someone to take the me.
"They already suspect someone in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence. Let''s justify their suspicion." Shen Yu made the decision lightly.
Just as Shen Yu expected, the King of Yue''s people were confused only at first. When they started digging into it, they found that multiple things were wrong.
The King of Yue had taken great pains with his advisors, and they weren''t straw bags. If those peoplecked actual talent or learning, the King of Yue wouldn''t have spared them a nce.
Following the clues deliberately nted by the Hidden Dragon Guard, the King of Yue''s people found the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence.
"Sure enough, the problem is with the Zhenbei Marquis'' shu son."
"In the final analysis, he''s just a concubine''s son. If it was Shen Yu, nobody would be surprised to see His Highness coaxing him. But who is Shen QingRan? Why does His Highness value him so much? It''s like his emotions have blinded him."
The King of Yue hadn''t told these people the content of Shen QingRan''s letters. They had no idea that Shen QingRan almost became their colleague.
As for Shen QingRan, he wasn''t having an easy time recently. The Zhenbei Marquis felt deeply humiliated by themotion involving his son. At least the other families were involved because of their daughters. Why was Shen QingRan rushing to meet a man?
Therefore, Shen QingRan was once again confined.
"Next time, don''t run around making a fool of yourself without my permission!"
Ignoring Shen QingRan''s exnation, the Zhenbei Marquis flicked his sleeves and left. He couldn''t believe how blind he was in the past. He actually thought this son would be of great use and ignored his own heir.
The more the Zhenbei Marquis thought about it, the more he regretted it. Shen Yu was in favor. If he''d treated Shen Yu well, would he still be worried about his family''s future right now? Instead he had Shen QingRan, a concubine''s son, who only made him lose face.
After the King of Yue''s forces investigated and followed the trail to the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence, they didn''t let up. They began to target the Zhenbei Marquis at every turn. Their power had quietly grown and be entrenched in the capital over many years. They were more than enough to deal with a declining marquis.
Shen QingRan lost his temper. He felt so wronged! He thought he was the only person in the King of Yue''s life. He thought he''d finally found a lover. Who knew that he was just a fish in the King of Yue''s fish pond? He was nothing at all.
Aunt Ru did her best to persuade him. Eventually she managed to calm him down.
"That Shen Yu is so lucky. If I knew His Majesty would be so kind to the person who shares his bed, I never would have given Shen Yu the chance. My unfortunate son, you should have been the one to enter the pce."
When he heard Aunt Ru say this, Shen QingRan felt even more unhappy. If he was the one who entered the imperial harem, forget Shen Yu. The lives of everyone in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence would depend on his whims.
Mu Xi told Shen Yu what happened in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence as an interesting story. After that, she added indignantly, "What in the world is that Shen QingRan thinking? Even if he did enter the harem, would His Majesty even look at him?"
"The fact is that I''m the one who entered the pce. No matter how much he regrets it, he can''t change that fact." Shen Yu was slowly and carefully pruning the leaves of the ink orchid.
"Those people in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence are so one-sided and greedy. I wish they''d gone through everything the young master suffered."
"Don''t worry, this is just the beginning." Shen Yu took the handkerchief from Mu Xi and wiped his hands. In this life, Shen QingRan wouldn''t receive any of the glory that didn''t belong to him. Shen Yu would make sure of it.
A pce servant came forward and carried the flower back to its original ce. Shen Yu put down the handkerchief. "How are those pce maids doing?"
"They''re already feeling better. The female doctor sent by His Majesty is working diligently. Their health should recover in a little while." A slight smile appeared on Mu Xi''s face. "They''re also in a better state of mind. They''re grateful for what the young master did for them."
"What about Li Gonggong?"
Mu Xi''s face turned cold. "He''s been acting like nothing is wrong. All those women went missing, and he doesn''t even care."
A cold light shed in Shen Yu''s eyes. "Meng Yuan''s appointment has been confirmed. It''s finally time to deal with Li Gonggong.
"How has Meng Yuan been getting along?"
"Xiao Meng Gonggong is a good fit. The junior maids and eunuchs in the pce have already epted him."
"Mm." Shen Yu hadn''t immediately gotten rid of Li Gonggong and appointed Meng Yuan. Instead, he gave Meng Yuan a different job where he could learn more about Yuzhang Pce.
When Meng Gonggong heard about Shen Yu''s actions, he didn''t feel unhappy. Instead, he came to visit Meng Yuan and scolded him a bit.
"Don''t take your new job lightly just because it''s low in rank. The noble monarch is deliberately cultivating you. This adopted father of yours worked hard to get you this job. If you don''t do it well, don''t me Father for being ruthless!"
"This son understands. I can see the way the noble monarch treats people. This son definitely won''t embarrass Father!" Meng Yuan''s eyes were firm. "And I won''t disappoint the noble monarch''s training!"
"It''s good that you understand." Meng Gonggong nodded with satisfaction. "The situation in the pce is changing rapidly, and there''s no better ce to work than for the noble monarch. Do you know why I wanted you to go to Yuzhang Pce?"
Meng Gonggong wanted to make everything clear at once. "Because the noble monarch is highly valued by His Majesty. His Majesty intentionally separated Yuzhang Pce from the rest of the pce. It ranks higher than any other part of the pce and won''t be disturbed by whatever happens anywhere else. When you work in Yuzhang Pce, you may not be as powerful as if you went somewhere else, but it''s the most secure ce to work."
After a lengthy conversation, Meng Gonggong patted Meng Yuan on the shoulder. "That person, Li Ping, threw away an incredible opportunity. You should take it as a warning. The noble monarch won''t tolerate a speck of sand in his eyes. You''ll have to keep a sharp watch over everything that happens in Yuzhang Pce. Don''t let greedy-minded people offend the noble monarch."
The next day, when Meng Gonggong brought tea to Shang JunLin, the man suddenly said, "This emperor doesn''t want to hear about anything else in Yuzhang Pce annoying the noble monarch, understood?"
"This ve understands. This ve already knocked some sense into Meng Yuan. Nothing simr will ever happen again!"
Meng Gonggong was sweating inside. Fortunately, he''d trained Meng Yuan personally, and he knew the younger person inside and out. With Meng Gonggong there to straighten him out from time to time, Meng Yuan wouldn''t make any big mistakes.
This time His Majesty actually went along with his suggestion. If something bad happened, His Majesty wouldn''t let it go!
Li Ping finished his duties for the day and nned to rx as usual. Recently, a new eunuch hade to Yuzhang Pce. He was good-looking and popr. Li Ping didn''t like him.
He had to find a way to get rid of him.
As Li Ping was thinking about this he didn''t notice the unusual silence around him.
"Where is Li Gonggong going?"
Meng Yuan suddenly appeared around the corner. Li Ping was startled and replied angrily, "Why, is it Xiao Meng Gonggong''s job to keep track of where I go?"
"It''s true that it''s not my job. However, the noble monarch asked me to take you to him."
Instead of replying to his nonsense, Meng Yuan waved his hand. Two guards came out from behind him and grabbed Li Ping without a word.
Shen Yu was leaning against Shang JunLin. He pointed to the screen that was ced not far away. "They''re almost here, Your Majesty."
Shang JunLin stood up and pinched Shen Yu''s face. "This emperor knows. I wouldn''t miss it."
Shang JunLin walked to the other side of the screen and sat down. He looked over at Shen Yu, who was sitting on his formal chair, and almost felt like he was looking at someone else.
TL Notes:
run around in circles to go round and round / running around in circles / fig. frantically busy
as lightly as clouds strewn by the wind peaceful situation; nice weather; sprezzatura (a certain nonchnce, studied carelessness)
straw bag Amon idiom which means good-for-nothing; blockhead; idiot; bungling oaf
so one-sided and greedy watching people serve dishes An idiom which means that people receive different treatment; discriminatory treatment of people
adopted father, Father godfather, (nominally) adoptive father
almost felt like he was looking at someone else "had an illusion of identity recement"
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Xiao Meng Gonggong Little/Young Meng Gonggong. A way to distinguish him from his dad
Li Ping AKA Li Gonggong
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Chapter 63
Chapter 63
Li Ping had no idea his offenses had been exposed. Yuzhang Pce had been as usualtely. When he was brought into the hall, there wasn''t a trace of fear on his face.
Meng Yuan saluted respectfully. "Noble monarch, he''s here."
Li Ping broke away from the two bodyguards who were holding him and knelt down to salute. "Noble monarch."
"Do you know why I brought you here today?" Shen Yu''s tone revealed neither happiness nor anger.
"Noble monarch, forgive me. This ve doesn''t know." Li Ping kowtowed. "As far as this ve knows, I''ve never made any mistakes in the management of Yuzhang Pce. This ve has no idea why the noble monarch would arrest me."
"Is that so?" Shen Yu looked coldly at Li Ping, who was kneeling below him with no trace of remorse.
"Noble monarch, please tell this ve." Li Ping thought he hadn''t done anything wrong. He didn''t take Shen Yu''s question seriously.
Shen Yu had never lost his temper in Yuzhang Pce, and he rarely intervened in the pce servants'' business. Most of his attendants thought he was a kind person who was easy to talk to. Mu Xi, who served him closely, knew her young master''s true character, but she wasn''t the kind to go around talking nonsense.
Shen Yu didn''t like to be closely waited on. Shang JunLin visited Yuzhang Pce often, and Meng Gonggong and Mu Xi were the ones who usually served in their room. Although Li Ping was the eunuch in charge of Yuzhang Pce, he hadn''t spent much time with Shen Yu in person.
He knew so little about Shen Yu that he thought Shen Yu would be easy to fool.
"Meng Yuan, tell him why I arrested him, and tell all the attendants of Yuzhang Pce toe here and watch." Shen Yu supported his chin with one hand and looked on with no emotion whatsoever in his eyes.
Li Ping had finally begun to sense that something was wrong. When he looked around, he saw that almost all the people in Yuzhang Pce were here. If it was something small, they wouldn''t go to such great lengths.
For some reason, Li Ping thought of a major event that happened when Shen Yu first entered the pce. Blood had flowed like a river, and everyone was scared senseless.
The only difference was that, back then, a group of servants was dealt with. Today, the only one on trial was himself.
He looked up at the young man sitting high in his formal seat. It was clearly the same face as always, but right now, the man possessed a murderous aura. In a trance, Li Ping had the feeling that it wasn''t Noble Monarch Shen who sat above him, but His Majesty, who killed so decisively.
His heart sank little by little, and panic surged deep in his chest.
Meng Yuan''s voice was the same as usual. He read out Li Ping''s crimes one by one:
"On the eighth day of the twelfth month, the maid Xiao Cui was secretly taken to"
As each charge was announced, Li Ping''s face turned more and more ashen.
When he did those things in private, he thought it was a secret. The people he used were just some powerless pce maids who would never dare to say anything. After all, he was the eunuch in charge of Yuzhang Pce. He could do whatever he wanted.
Moreover, in order to curry favor with him, some pce people who knew what he liked sent women over on their own initiative. Li Ping never refused. When he was in a good mood, he promoted several people to work in Yuzhang Pce.
Shen Yu lowered his gaze, repressing the killing intent in his eyes. Fortunately, he found out about this early. Otherwise what would Yuzhang Pce be? How long would Li Ping indulge his selfish desires and oppress the other servants with his authority?
For a while, the hall was so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard.
After Meng Yuan finished reading, Shen Yu stood up. He gazed down at Li Ping. "Li Ping, do you acknowledge your crimes?"
Obviously, Shen Yu was only dressed in regr clothes, but his aura was so formidable that no one dared to look directly at him. Li Ping threw himself to the floor and kowtowed again and again. "This ve knows I was wrong. It''s because this ve got carried away"
Everyone who worked in Yuzhang Pce had been summoned. Li Ping knew there was no way out.
He was wrong, outrageously wrong, to think Shen Yu wouldn''t care what happened in the pce just because he didn''t ask too many questions. He thought Shen Yu was a soft-hearted person who was easy to fool. There must be a reason the man was so spoiled by His Majesty. How could he be good for nothing but his face?
"Those who do wrong should be punished. Drag him out and cane him to death."
Ignoring Li Ping''s cries for mercy, the two guards dragged him out.
Shen Yu gazed down at the others. "Today I''ll make one thing clear. You''re servants of Yuzhang Pce. If anyone troubles you outside, Yuzhang Pce will support you. But if you, like Li Ping, rely on Yuzhang Pce tomit crimes, the first one to deal with you will also be Yuzhang Pce!
"I called you here today for two reasons. The first is to tell you that from now on the eunuch in charge of Yuzhang Pce will be Meng Yuan. The second is to warn you. Don''t let what happened to Li Ping today happen to you tomorrow!"
Without giving the pce servants a chance to respond, Shen Yu led them to the execution ground. Amid the rising smell of blood, he said coldly, "I don''t want what happened today to ever happen again!"
It was the first time the servants of Yuzhang Pce had seen Shen Yu so angry. They suddenly realized that even if the noble monarch didn''t say anything, that didn''t mean he didn''t know. Li Ping had done everything so quietly that even the people who worked with him didn''t necessarily know about it, but the noble monarch found out everything in one fell swoop.
The sound of screams and sticks striking flesh mingled together, and the odor of blood lingered. Everyone instinctively held their breath.
No one noticed another small group of women watching the punishment. As they gazed at the execution ground they had no fear or dismay in their eyes, only satisfaction.
At that moment, the haze in their hearts was finally blown away by the wind. Given time, the pain they felt inside would surely decrease.
Mu Xi didn''t look away. Thest time she was faced with such a bloody scene, many more people were involved. Although she was happy about the oue this time, her hands and legs felt a little weak.
On the other hand, Shen Yu never blinked.
When it was over, the pce attendants dispersed. The moment Shen Yu returned to his room, someone took him firmly into his arms.
"Ah Yu Ah Yu"
The man buried himself in Shen Yu''s shoulder, and as the hot breath met his sensitive neck, the skin gradually flushed scarlet.
His waist was firmly shackled, and Shen Yu couldn''t break free. He could only endure as the man nibbled and gnawed at him.
Spreading upwards from the neck.
After a long time, Shen Yu was finally released.
Shen Yu leaned against the man''s arms for a while to catch his breath. "Your Majesty, what''s the matter?"
"It''s my first time seeing Shen Yu like this, and it was a little exciting." Shang JunLin hugged Shen Yu. In the depths of his eyes was a ck mist that couldn''t be dispersed.
"Your Majesty is more than a little excited." Shen Yu sensed the man''s rising spirits and felt helpless. "Your Majesty should let go."
"Never." Shang JunLin tightened his arms to bring Shen Yu closer.
Just now, he sat behind the screen and watched Shen Yu''s cold andmanding performance, and after a while his heart began to burn. He wanted to hold this man in his arms and shut him in his room so that no one else could see him.
He already felt the change in his body, but he didn''t care. The moment Shen Yu stepped into the room, Shang JunLin couldn''t help but obey his desire and hold this person in his arms.
Shen Yu was worried about stimting Shang JunLin even more. He didn''t dare to move but quietly let the man hold him for a while.
"Ah Yu is so imposing." After a long time, Shang JunLin took the initiative to let Shen Yu go.
Shen Yu raised his eyebrows and looked at him. "Then Your Majesty likes it?"
Because of what just happened, Shen Yu''s eyes were glistening, and the corners of his eyes were slightly red. Shang JunLin felt even more happy.
"This emperor likes every aspect of the noble monarch very much."
Shen Yu didn''t doubt what Shang JunLin said. After all, he personally felt it.
Shang JunLin led Shen Yu to the couch and sat down. "Recently, the King of Yue''s people have been targeting the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence."
"Because of Shen QingRan?" Shen Yu thought a little and remembered thest time that Shang JunLin brought misfortune to them. "Your Majesty moves so quickly."
"The Zhenbei Marquis was already angry at the King of Yue. By moving against him, the King of Yue''s people have made things even harder for themselves."
The Zhenbei Marquis had a hereditary title. He paid just as much attention to face as other aristocratic families. When Shen QingRan embarrassed him, the marquis taught him a lesson behind closed doors. The King of Yue made an appointment with Shen QingRan and called over so many other women at the same time. Wasn''t it a clear insult?
In the Zhenbei Marquis'' opinion, his household was no worse than any other eminent family, and right now a person from their family was the noble monarch who was so favored by the emperor. Even if Shen QingRan was a shu son, he couldn''t be bullied by outsiders.
Even before the marquis started making trouble for the King of Yue, the king''s people began to meddle in his affairs. The Zhenbei Marquis couldn''t swallow back his anger.
"Both sides have been cautious so far, and there haven''t been any big moves. It''s small-scale fighting." Shang JunLin described some of the tactics each side had used in secret.
"Now that the news has spread, how can the people behind the King of Yue sit still?" Shen Yu leaned back. "They''ve been so quiet."
Shang JunLin wasn''t surprised. "If they weren''t careful, they would have left more traces of activity over the years."
"Forget it. Let them take their time. We''re in no hurry to deal with them."
Now that the Grand Commandant''s case involved a prince, progress slowed down. Meanwhile, the day the examination results would be announced drew closer and closer.
Jiang HuaiQing continued to stay in touch with Shen Yu. Lately, whenever he wrote a letter, most of the content was about the exam scores.
Waiting for exam results always made people anxious. Even a person as calm as H ChengYu felt distracted.
The two people who couldn''t calm down sat together and talked.
"I wonder where Lin Xiong and Yu Xiong are studying. We still don''t even know their identities." Jiang HuaiQing scratched his face.
"You don''t know, but you write to Young Master Yu every day?" H ChengYu gave him a faint look.
Jiang HuaiQing: "Isn''t it just that he never got around to mentioning it? Young Master Yu and I hit it off right away. Aside from you, he''s the only person I know in the capital."
H ChengYu: "Then you haven''t guessed who they are?"
Jiang HuaiQing: "I tried to guess, but I found outter I was wrong. When I met them, their identities didn''t matter. If there''s fate between us, I''ll find out eventually anyway. I think that Young Master Yu didn''t tell me because something about it is inconvenient to say. He and Young Master Lin were forced to get married because of their families, and he might not have an easy time living with the Lin family. Fortunately, Young Master Lin is a good man and treats him wholeheartedly."
"Pfft." H ChengYu almost sprayed tea from his mouth. "Why are you so worried about other people''s family affairs?"
He really couldn''t guess what Jiang HuaiQing would think when he found out who they truly were.
If everything went well, his suspicions would be confirmed after the pce examination.
Shang JunLin was the first to find out the results of the exam.
"Does Ah Yu want to know the scores ahead of time?" Shang JunLin finished changing into his formal court robes and walked over.
"Are they already out?" To tell the truth, Shen Yu really wanted to know. Jiang HuaiQing kept writing to him about it, which made Shen Yu feel nervous also.
Shang JunLin was so familiar with Shen Yu that he immediately saw the slight tension on his face. Smiling, he said, "Why are you nervous when you didn''t even participate?"
Shen Yu shook his head a little. He couldn''t say if he was anxious because of the results or something else.
When Shang JunLin saw his face like this for the first time, he felt an irresistible tickle inside. He drew closer, pressed the man over the low table, and leaned forward.
"Ah Yu, you lost."
A stone in Shen Yu''s heart fell to the ground with a bang. He looked up at the man standing over him, surrounded by the man''s powerful arms, enfolded in his cold aura. There was no escape.
"Ah Yu, it''s time for you to keep your promise." Shang JunLin''s eyes were deep and bottomless, as if they were concealing a fire that would burn down everything.
TL Notes:
carried away be possessed by ghosts; be obsessed with; be corrupted by; be under an obsession of; lost his mind
instinctively held their breath at this moment unconsciously felt the strings in their heart tighten
made things even harder for themselves bumping into the mouth of the wooden warehouse An idiom which means causing trouble by coincidence or because of your own actions
A stone in (Shen Yu''s) heart fell to the ground Amon idiom which means to be relieved, to have no more worries, one''s tension is released
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Xiao Cui
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Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Shen Yu''s heart skipped, and his eyes darted from side to side. "Your Majesty should show me the results first."
"This emperor knew you wouldn''t meekly admit defeat." Shang JunLin didn''t move. He shouted, "Meng Chang, bring them in."
Meng Gonggong came in with his head bowed. He put the papers within Shang JunLin''s reach, but he didn''t dare to look up the entire time. After setting them down, he immediately withdrew.
Shang JunLin picked up the topmost sheet with one hand and flipped it open for Shen Yu to see. "Now is Ah Yu convinced?"
Shen Yu looked down. The first name he saw was H ChengYu, followed by Jiang HuaiQing.
"Your Majesty really couldn''t wait a moment." Shen Yu gave a resigned sigh.
The ink in Shang JunLin''s eyes intensified. As if to coax him, he called out, "Ah Yu Ah Yu"
Shen Yu put his hands behind him and slightly leaned back. Before him was Shang JunLin, who was drawing closer and closer, and on either side of him were Shang JunLin''s powerful arms. It seemed that the man was determined to get his "trophy" today.
Shen Yu closed his eyes. With a great deal of resolve, he leaned forward and quickly touched the corner of Shang JunLin''s lips.
Before Shang JunLin could react, Shen Yu retreated to his original position.
"Can Your Majesty let me go this time?" Shen Yu turned his head to the side. His red earlobes revealed his emotions at the moment.
Shang JunLin chuckled softly. Instead of letting go, he moved in closer. "Why is Ah Yu in such a hurry? What this emperor wants is this"
His voice disappeared the moment their lips met.
Shang JunLin wrapped one arm around Shen Yu and pressed the back of Shen Yu''s head with his other hand. He leaned over slightly with an irresistible aura and covered Shen Yu''s soft mouth. After carefully tracing the line between Shen Yu''s lips, he entered his mouth, entangling his lips and tongue.
Shen Yu''s eyes were slightly closed. All his senses were focused on his mouth. His lips and teeth were invaded by Shang JunLin, who took hold of him insistently but gently as if to slowly swallow him up.
All perception of the outside world vanished. The only clear thought in his mind was the sensation on his lips. A trembling sensation spread throughout his body, and his legs gradually softened. But when he was about to fall, Shang JunLin held him firmly.
Everything in heaven and earth slowly blurred and faded away. Only himself and Shang JunLin were real.
Light and shadow flickered, and Shen Yu half-closed his eyes, as if everything was covered in fog.
He rarely had feelings like this. In his previous life, his health was poor, and he hardly ever had to deal with physical urges. The schemes he wove for the King of Yue exhausted all his energy. For all these reasons, he rarely had close contact with the King of Yue. At the time, he didn''t think there was anything strange about it, but when he thought about it now, the mysterious power of the book really chose an unscrupulous way to tie him to the King of Yue''s side.
Shen Yu was d he hadn''t done anything with the King of Yue. Otherwise he''d feel too disgusted.
"Ah Yu, focus."
The man''s low voice called Shen Yu back from his thoughts, and then he didn''t have a chance to think about anyone else.
It was like being lost in the boundless sea. All he could do was rise and fall with the waves.
With the hard tabletop at his back, Shen Yu''s fingers clung tightly to the draping ck clothes, leaving a trail of creases.
It wasn''t clear how long it took before the waves finally receded. Shen Yu looked with some confusion at the man who was so close to him. His body was still trembling.
Shang JunLin took a spare handkerchief from the side and casually wiped his wet hand. He propped his elbow beside the young man''s head and leaned over. "Does Ah Yu feel good?"
The man''s voice was low and tantalizing, filled with undiminished desire.
Shen Yu''s drifting thoughts returned a little. He recalled what just happened, and the crimson in his face deepened.
Shang JunLin didn''t expect an answer. He arranged the young man''s clothes, lifted him up, andid him on the soft couch.
The young man with reddened eyes looked so pitiable that Shang JunLin didn''t want to let go of him for a moment. He held Shen Yu tightly in his arms.
"Your Majesty" Shen Yu moved uneasily. His voice was a little hoarse, and the tone was so different from usual that Shang JunLin''s eyes darkened further.
Shang JunLin leaned into Shen Yu''s ear and whispered, "Will Ah Yu help this emperor too?"
Shen Yu was a little uneasy. He''d just been helped himself, and though he wanted to refuse, he didn''t think it was right to leave Shang JunLin on his own.
Seeing him relent, Shang JunLin persisted, "Nothing difficult. Just like what this emperor did just now, all right?"
Shen Yu automatically wanted to say no, but before he could speak, Shang JunLin was already holding his hand. Shen Yu couldn''t do anything but be led by him.
Meng Gonggong waited outside for a long time. When he heard Shang JunLin call for water inside the room, he hurriedly summoned the pce attendants.
Hot water was already prepared. Meng Gonggong personally led the servants into the room. He kept his head down the entire time and didn''t dare to look at anything.
The attendants of Yuzhang Pce had just witnessed a show of force. They were perfectly obedient and didn''t overstep propriety for an instant.
The room was dimly lit, andyers of bed curtains concealed everything. Meng Gonggong brought the servants inside with the hot water. In a low voice he asked, "Does Your Majesty have any other orders?"
"There''s no need to serve here. Go and prepare some hot food. You can bring itter."
"Yes." Meng Gonggong escorted the others out.
When they were gone, Shang JunLin got up and lifted the person into the steaming hot bathtub.
Hot water relieves tiredness. After soaking for a while, Shen Yu felt much better and returned to bed.
Shen Yuy down for a while. Then he suddenly thought of something. He sat straight up and turned to Shang JunLin. "Your Majesty, the final results haven''t actually been released yet, have they?"
Unfortunately, at the moment his eyes were red, and his face still had an abnormal blush. His regal aura was sadly diminished.
Shang JunLin looked at the young man who was "ready to send punitive forces to denounce him" and just wanted to hold him in his arms.
Without restraining his hands, he said, "What does Ah Yu want?"
What else was there? Shen Yu gave him a sideways nce. He''d already paid off the bet with interest.
"If Jiang HuaiQing ranks first when the results of the pce exam are announced, this emperor will abide by what I promised before. How is that?"
"What if Your Majesty wins?"
"Then Ah Yu doesn''t have to do anything."
Shen Yu was barely satisfied.
Seeing that Shen Yu''s ruffled fur had been smoothed, Shang JunLin kissed his temple. "Does Ah Yu want to leave the pce on the day of the announcement?"
"Your Majesty promised me before. Don''t backtrack."
"Very well."
The day of the announcement soon arrived. Shen Yu sent a message to Jiang HuaiQing in advance. As soon as they walked into Yingxing House, Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu headed towards them.
Today, Yingxing House was bustling with noise and excitement. The exam candidates had gathered together, full of eagerness and tension, awaiting the results.
Their group, inparison, seemed particrly calm.
"Why does HuaiQing seem so rxed today?" Shen Yu took a piece of tofu and put it in Shang JunLin''s bowl.
Last time, Shen Yu noticed that Shang JunLin liked the tofu of this restaurant a great deal. Shen Yu thought the dish was well made too. Every bite was soft, moist, and tender.
"I was nervous a few days ago, but today it all seems far away. Anyway, the result is a foregone conclusion. Being nervous won''t change anything," Jiang HuaiQing said.
"Even though I didn''t take the exam myself, when you wrote to me a while ago, I got so nervous that Ah Lin actually teased me."
"Ah Then it''s my fault for making Yu Xiong anxious enough to worry with me," Jiang HuaiQing apologized.
"No matter. It''s interesting to share the excitement once in a while." Whether it was in this life or his previous one, Shen Yu rarely felt anxious. Even when he was betrayed by the King of Yue and his life was hanging by a thread, he was able to n calmly and snatch everything back.
They were sitting in the main hall of the restaurant again, and voices came from all around them.
"Did you hear? They say the Grand Commandant was given orders by the King of Yue."
"The King of Yue? Why was he involved? Shouldn''t he be at home in his fief? Why does he have to meddle in the affairs of the capital?"
"Are you stupid? Just because he''s in his fief doesn''t mean his heart is there too. Maybe he has certain thoughts about"
"That can''t be. The King of Yue holds himself aloof from the world and always has. How could he be interested in power?"
"That''s just a lie for simpleminded people like you. If the King of Yue was as uninterested as the rumors say, why would he seek to form ties with so many different families in the capital?"
As Shen Yu listened, his mouth widened in a smile. He wanted to see if the King of Yue could manage to "conform to the will of the people" and ascend the throne in this life.
The group continued to chat for a while. Then the sound of horses'' hooves came from the street, and the restaurant gradually quieted.
The list had been released.
"Quick, let''s go and take a look."
"This way, this way."
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin followed the crowd outside. There was already a boisterous atmosphere.
Shen Yu knew the result. From a distance, he watched the crowd rush forward to see the posted scores.
Not only were examinees there, but other observers as well.
Before long, the sound of excitedughter and dejected cries came from the crowd. Some people were happy and others were sad. Some people passed while others failed. Two very different emotions intertwined and spread.
After returning to the restaurant, Shen Yu smiled. "Congrattions to H Xiong and HuaiQing for doing so well on the exam."
A special staff member had been arranged to inform Yingxing House of the people who passed, and the staff soon learned of Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu''s achievements. The waiter smiled brightly and came over with a pair of red envelopes. "Congrattions to the two young masters."
Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu epted the gift. "Many thanks."
The first- and second-ranked schrs were both staying in Yingxing House, which was an honor for the owner and employees who worked there. Although many of their guests had won sess before, this was the first time that the both of the top two examinees had stayed at Yingxing House.
After dealing with the people who kepting up to them with congrattions, the two finally found a moment to rx and sat down.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin were sitting in a quiet ce. People came and went around them, and the sound of people giving congrattions could be heard continuously. The schrs who passed the exam were in high spirits and constantly wished each other joy.
Shen Yu had his left hand in his sleeve and wasn''t using it much. Shang JunLin frowned. "It still hurts?"
Shen Yu nodded, but there were so many people around that it wasn''t a good time to say anything. He pointed to a dish. "I''d like to eat some of that."
The dish was a little far away from them. Shang JunLin got up and brought some over to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu waited for the food to be put into his bowl, but he didn''t think Shang JunLin would try to feed him.
"Ah Yu, open your mouth."
Shen Yu paused, then opened his mouth to ept it.
For the next while, Shang JunLin fed Shen Yu whatever dish he wanted. Shen Yu protested a few times in vain, and then he just went along with it.
When Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu left the crowd and came back, Shen Yu lifted his teacup. "How do you feel?"
"There are so many people." Jiang HuaiQing smiled reluctantly. "I was extremely excited at first, but now I don''t feel it much."
H ChengYu nodded in agreement.
Shen Yu smiled. "I''ll toast you with tea instead of wine. I wish you both a bright future."
"Thank you." They picked up the wine sses in front of them and drank them down.
For a while longer they enjoyed the excitement at Yingxing House, and then Shen Yu and Shang JunLin said goodbye and left.
Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu still had to greet the people who came up to congratte them and didn''t ask the two to stay.
When they were sitting in the carriage, Shen Yu sighed. "After all this, I almost feel like I took the exam myself."
Shang JunLin squeezed Shen Yu''s hand. "Tired?"
Shen Yu nced at him questioningly. "I''m also tired because of Your Majesty."
In a good mood, Shang JunLin patiently rubbed Shen Yu''s left wrist. I''ll massage it for Ah Yu."
Shang JunLin had learned from previous experience. This time he used Shen Yu''s left hand, which wouldn''t affect his daily life as much, but it didn''t change the fact that Shen Yu''s hand was sore.
Shen Yu forcefully grabbed Shang JunLin''s fingers. "Next time Your Majesty should exercise more restraint."
"That isn''t something this emperor can control. Ah Yu will have to adapt."
TL Notes:
stuff about the bet Shen Yuined because the bet hasn''t been decided yet. At the beginning of this chapter, Shen Yu points out that the results of the metropolitan exam haven''t been announced. The pce exam follows soon after, and that''s what will determine the ultimate first ce and the title of zhuangyuan. The bet was made near the end of Ch 54, above the part with the swing. When they made the bet, Shen Yu merely said the "top scorer" (), he didn''t specifically say zhuangyuan (). However, in Ch 58, SY and SJL discuss the bet again, and they specifically talk about the pce exam, so SJL kinda jumped the gun here (but I don''t me him at all)
with a great deal of resolve A phrase used when something is difficult to do and requires resolve or determination, or upon making a tough decision
witnessed a show of force from experienced a beating
ready to send punitive forces to denounce him (fig.) to criticize violently; make a punitive expedition against; denounce sb. publicly for his crimes; go with an army to punish sb. for
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Chapter 65
Chapter 65
Shen Yu looked at Shang JunLin, utterly speechless.
"Why is Ah Yu staring at this emperor?" Shang JunLin''s hand continued moving at the same pace. "Did this emperor say something wrong?"
" No." When he thought of their only two encounters so far, Shen Yu''s head began to ache. He didn''t dislike being intimate with Shang JunLin. It was just that Shang JunLin took too long.
Shen Yu didn''t think he could bear it.
Anyway, forget it.
The carriage rattled into the pce. As soon as they got out, Meng Gonggong, who''d been waiting there a long time, greeted them. "Your Majesty, Minister Fang requests an audience."
"Have him wait for this emperor in the imperial study." Shang JunLin walked Shen Yu back to Yuzhang Pce before heading over.
The reason Minister Fang entered the pce this time was because of his impetuous daughter.
Minister Fang knelt on the ground, his face full of remorse. "Your Majesty, this servant is ashamed. This servant had no idea that my daughter disguised herself as a man to take part in the imperial examination."
He knew how determined his daughter was, but he never thought she''d do something like this.
If he''d known this would happen, he never would have educated her so thoroughly since childhood. It made her overly ambitious!
Shang JunLin had an impression of the woman. He tossed away the memorial he was holding. "Tell this emperor what happened."
"This servant''s daughter did everything with the utmost secrecy. But when the results were announced, she knew she couldn''t hide it anymore. That''s when she told this servant what she did."
Minister Fang was astounded. Setting aside the surprising news that his daughter had passed the exam with excellent results, he made her exin the entire story in detail.
"It turns out that a few years ago, she went to visit the schr who taught her when she was a child. During this time, she somehow obtained a man''s identity and took part in the provincial exam. After passing the exam, she didn''t tell anyone about it. This time, she did the same thing and used that false identity to enter the examination hall."
Thest examination was held in the pce, facing the emperor himself. Fang JiaYi had already spoken to Shang JunLin about her goal. Since she had some confidence, she dared to tell her father after the metropolitan exam results were announced.
Minister Fang talked endlessly and rted everything he knew. When he finished, he kowtowed solemnly. "It''s this servant''s fault for not teaching my daughter properly. This servant will ept punishment."
"Does Da Huan have aw that women cannot participate in the imperial examinations?" Shang JunLin asked.
" No." Minister Fang didn''t understand why Shang JunLin suddenly asked this. He mentally reviewed thews of Da Huan and found there really was no rule that women weren''t allowed to take part.
It was just that over the years, everyone implicitly believed that only men could participate.
As he realized the meaning of Shang JunLin''s words, Minister Fang''s eyes slowly widened. "But There''s no precedent."
Did His Majesty actually want to allow female officials? Minister Fang couldn''t believe it.
"There''s no hurry. Let''s wait for the results of the pce exam."
When Minister Fang returned home in a daze, Madam Fang greeted him anxiously. "How did it go?"
She too was shocked by her daughter''s actions. The entire time Minister Fang was in the pce, Madam Fang was on edge. After all, deceiving the emperor was a major crime which could be punished with nine familial exterminations.
Not to mention the fact Fang JiaYi took part in the imperial examination as a woman. If she hadn''t passed the exam, the matter would have ended there, but not only did she pass, she got a good score, too.
Minister Fang patted Madam Fang''s hand. "Let''s go inside and talk."
In the study, Minister Fang dismissed everyone except Madam Fang and Fang JiaYi. "His Majesty doesn''t intend to investigate JiaYi''s actions," he said slowly.
Madam Fang stood up from her seat in shock. "How is that possible?"
"Why isn''t it possible?" Compared with her anxious parents, Fang JiaYi had a calm attitude. "I told you before not to worry. His Majesty is different from other emperors."
"How can we not worry?" Minister Fang asked angrily. "Look at what you''ve done. You almost, almost destroyed our entire family!"
"Does Father really think your daughter would be so reckless?" Fang JiaYi sighed. Now that His Majesty and Minister Fang knew the truth, there was no reason to hide it anymore. She told her parents what happened after her confrontation with the King of Yue.
"This daughter told you there was no need to worry, but the two of you refused to believe me."
Minister Fang let out a long sigh. "You mean you approached His Majesty about this ahead of time?!" His voice rose towards the end.
Fang JiaYi nodded. "Back then I met His Majesty and the noble monarch. They''re exactly as Father said, the perfect couple."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Minister Fang was almost out of breath. "Why didn''t you discuss any of this with your father before you decided to act? Where would you be now if His Majesty assumed you weren''t serious that day?"
"There are no ifs''," Fang JiaYi retorted. If they hadn''t taken her seriously, she never would have had the chance to speak to His Majesty and the noble monarch in the first ce.
"Well, you''ve had your own ideas ever since you were young. Now that you''ve made your choice, do everything properly. Don''t let down His Majesty''s careful efforts." Minister Fang waved his hand. What else could he say?
"Father, please rest assuredthis daughter will never abandon her dream!"
Madam Fang wiped tears from the corners of her eyes. "Why did you have to choose such a path?"
When she thought about it, Madam Fang ached inside. Just imagine how much a woman working as an official would be questioned by the outside world! Her daughter, who''d lived as a pampered child all her life, had finally grown up. Before Madam Fang even had time to choose a husband for her and see her marry and have children, she would have to watch her daughter run headlong into the dangerous field of politics.
Fang JiaYi walked over and held her mother in her arms. "Mother, you don''t have to worry. With the backing of His Majesty and the noble monarch, your daughter will be fine."
"You''re just saying that tofort me. Like your father, I can''t help but worry."
Back when Minister Fang decided to join Shang JunLin''s faction, he was a humble seventh-ranked official who was just starting out. The other princes were much more powerful, but Minister Fang still chose to side with Shang JunLin, the least favored, because Shang JunLin had expelled the foreign invaders and recovered the nation''s lost territory.
"At the time, Fang Jun knelt down before this emperor and said only one thingThis servant is loyal to Da Huan and to those who can save Da Huan." While Shang JunLin approved the revisions to a memorial, he casually spoke about the events of that year.
"At the time, this emperor was in a difficult position in the imperial court. Several of the princes were at each other''s throats, and practically every faction in the capital was involved. This emperor was constantly away with the army and had no allies in the court at all. It was Fang Jun who gathered a few supporters together. Otherwise, this emperor would have had no reputation in the eyes of anyone at court."
"Then the reason Your Majesty is willing to give Young Lady Fang a chance is partly because of Minister Fang." Shen Yu poured a cup of tea and put it in Shang JunLin''s hand.
Shang JunLin picked up the cup and took a sip. "That''s part of the reason. There''s another point. Although she''s a woman, this emperor sees the shadow of Fang Jun in Fang JiaYi. He taught his daughter well. This emperor really wants to see how far she can go."
"Your Majesty is good at reading people." Shen Yu had seen the conviction in Fang JiaYi''s eyes. In the short time he spoke to her, Shen Yu sensed that Fang JiaYi was a strong-willed person. She had the softness of a woman and a heart that wasn''t inferior to any man.
The more time Shen Yu spent with Shang JunLin, the less Shen Yu was able to understand how the King of Yue defeated Shang JunLin in his previous life. Whether it was in terms of his mind or ability or anything else, the King of Yue simply couldn''tpare.
What was the origin of the book he read after he died? Who was manipting them?
This life was drastically different from his previous life. Shen Yu didn''t know if that meant they were no longer under control, but he would never allow the events of his previous life to happen again!
In the book, the King of Yue ultimately became the emperor, and Shen QingRan became the empress of the realm. But before Shen Yu died, he destroyed the King of Yue''s dream of ascending the throne. Shen Yu had managed to rewrite the ending of the book before. Clearly, it wasn''t impossible to change things that happened in the book.
After the metropolitan exam, the pce exam would take ce. It was held inside the imperial pce and supervised by the emperor himself.
The students who failed to pass left the capital one by one, while those who were eligible for the pce exam entered a new round of study and review.
The results of the fraud case were also announced during this time.
As for the Grand Commandant, the verdict in his case hadn''te out yet, but everyone else''s sentence was announced. Those whomitted a serious crime were sentenced to death. Those with lesser crimes would receive punishments ording to their severity.
Every candidate who intended to cheat was disqualified from the imperial examination for life. They and their family members were banned from bing officials for three generations. This was a serious punishment. If no one in the family could be an official for three generations, even the strongest n would fall.
"That Sun XingZhao is from my hometown. He always seemed honest. I had no idea he would do such a thing in private."
"I met that person before, and Sun JianMu as well. I know several people on this list. Shame."
"Why would they do something that would hurt themselves and their families?"
"They really deserve it. If they hadn''t tried to take a shortcut, this wouldn''t have happened to them."
"To tell you the truth, I got a simr letter back then. It said all kinds of things, but I didn''t believe it."
"I got one too."
"Me too."
Several people looked at each other and realized how many people had been approached. Now that the exam was over and the results were out, they weren''t as apprehensive as before. After asking each other a few questions, they confirmed that quite a few people had received overtures. The only thing they had inmon was that they were all from poor families.
It wasn''t a secret that the present administration liked to use officials from humble backgrounds. People who were able to participate in the spring exams had some awareness of the situation at court. Once they reached this conclusion, the purpose behind it was clear.
"Fortunately, I''ve always believed in my own abilities and wasn''t tempted."
"Same here."
The people who''d gathered together exchanged nervous nces. After a moment of silence, Jiang HuaiQing said, "We''ve all learned a lesson from this. If we''re lucky enough to join the court as officials in the future, we should focus on serving Da Huan, and avoid thinking too much about other things."
"That''s true. The reason we studied so hard was to serve the country one day. Soon, some of us will be able to realize our dreams. That makes it even more important to act with restraint in the future."
This statement was echoed by many people.
The discussions happening among the students were observed by the Hidden Dragon Guard.
It was a special situation, and Shang JunLin had sent a team of Hidden Dragon Guards to collect information outside the pce. If anything shady was going on, it was important to intervene in time.
"This might be a blessing in disguise. It''s a lesson for schrs who haven''t entered officialdom yet," Shen Yu said after reading Jiang HuaiQing''s letter.
In his letter, Jiang HuaiQing shared the discussion the schrs had about the exam fraud. He happened to be present and wrote about it to Shen Yu.
"Thanks to Jiang HuaiQing news from outside, Ah Yu''s information is even better than this emperor''s." Shang JunLin took the letter from Shen Yu. After reading it, he set it beside the confidential message presented by the Hidden Dragon Guard.
Jiang HuaiQing''s letter and the Hidden Dragon Guard''s message arrived at almost the same time.
"He''s so devoted to writing letters to Ah Yu. Before the exam results were released, he wrote to Ah Yu quite a few times, and now the letters areing one after the other. Did Ah Yu write back to him?"
Of course he did. Otherwise Jiang HuaiQing wouldn''t have sent so many letters to the pce.
"It seems so." Shang JunLin rubbed the soft skin of the young man''s neck. "What exactly did Ah Yu say to him?"
TL Notes:
Stuff about a woman sneaking into the exams Based on other things I''ve read, it would have been hard for a woman to get away with this because the candidates had to strip naked to prove they weren''t smuggling in contraband. I guess that wasn''t a thing in this dynasty (* *)
provincial examination This exam was held every three years in the provincial capitals. Schrs who passed were known as Juren () and were eligible for the metropolitan exam which took ce in the capital (see note in Ch 39)
had some confidence "had a bottom line in mind" had some knowledge of the true situation, had confidence
nine familial exterminations Refer to the note in Ch 16
empress of the realm be a motherly model of the nation
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Sun XingZhao
Sun JianMu
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Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Shen Yu tilted his head. "If Your Majesty wants to ask a question, just ask, don''t just move your hands."
Shang JunLin rubbed Shen Yu''s neck, then let go. He said frankly, "This emperor likes to touch Ah Yu. Does Ah Yu like it?"
Shen Yu blushed slightly. He lowered his eyes and didn''t answer.
Shang JunLin thought too much teasing would scare him away, so he changed the subject. "The King of Yue has been moring to see this emperor for some time."
"The King of Yue?" Shen Yu looked up. "What does he want?"
When discussing the King of Yue, Shang JunLin''s eyes darkened. "He says he''s innocent and hopes this emperor will find the truth and clear him of guilt."
"What about his hidden supporters? Has there been any movement?" Shen Yu remembered Shang JunLin saying the previous emperor had left a significant inheritance for the King of Yue.
"It''s strange, but after the He family came to the capital, they haven''t made any moves. It''s like they only came here to enjoy themselves." Shang JunLin had ordered the Hidden Dragon Guard to pay close attention to what happened in the capital. "This emperor thought they''d take action."
"What about Little Young Master He?" Shen Yu thought about it. If the He family did something, that would be fine, but apleteck of action was disturbing.
"There are no changes." After the attempted jail break, Shang JunLin tightened security around Little Young Master He. Maybe in the past there was a chance for someone to secretly rescue him, but there was no chance at all now.
"Don''t worry." Shang JunLin went over to Shen Yu, took the young man into his arms, and printed a kiss on the side of his neck. "This emperor will take care of it."
"The He family came to the capital for a reason. Since they''re here, they''re going to do something. All we have to do is wait." Worrying about the problem wouldn''t solve it. Shen Yu stopped thinking about it.
"What Ah Yu said is right."
In the small courtyard where the He family was staying:
"Father, are we really going to sit here and do nothing?" Eldest Young Master He had an unhappy expression on his face. "My younger brother is nowhere to be found. When we came to the capital, you didn''t say what we were going to do. Did you bring us here just for fun?"
"I''m worried about your younger brother, too." The head of the He family knew his youngest son was in the dark prison. Of course he felt anxious. Who wouldn''t? Everyone who entered that ce was guaranteed to lose ayer of skin. But what was the use of fretting about it? It wasn''t like he could break into the prison now.
"It doesn''t look like Father is worried at all," Eldest Young Master He said coldly. "If Father was truly concerned, you would have inquired everywhere about my younger brother''s whereabouts when you came to the capital, but what did you actually do? You told us to keep quiet, avoid exposing ourselves, and not take any action."
"There''s obviously a reason for that," the He family patriarch said, frustrated.
"What reason could there be? What''s more important than finding my didi?" Eldest Young Master He was dissatisfied. "I don''t think Father has the slightest intention of finding him at all. If Father doesn''t want to do it, give me some men and I''ll go and find him myself."
"Shut up!" The He family patriarch trembled with anger. "What did I say before we came here? You have to be careful about everything. The capital isn''t like home. If you''re not extremely cautious, you''ll make a grave mistake. Now stay put and don''t set foot out of this courtyard without my permission!"
Eldest Young Master He was incredulous. "Father!"
"Don''t worry about your brother. I said I''d bring him back, and I will!" Patriarch He flung his sleeves and strode away.
Eldest Young Master He stood in the courtyard and slowly clenched his fists.
A servant boy stepped forward hesitantly. "Young master?"
The eldest young master and the little young master were sons of the same mother. They''d had a close rtionship since childhood. When the little young master went missing, the eldest young master felt the most anxious about it. After finding some clues, it wasn''t easy for him to be told to do nothing. How could he just ept it?
"Since Father refused to look for him, I''ll do it. As for you" Eldest Young Master He pointed to the boy "take our men with you and inquire secretly. Remember, don''t make any big moves, and don''t let Father''s people find out."
"Yes," the boy replied and then withdrew.
Eldest Young Master He''s movements were indeed stealthy, but he couldn''t hide anything from the eyes and ears of the Hidden Dragon Guard. The moment he took action, the news reached the pce.
"Eldest Young Master He has deep affection for his younger brother." Shen Yu took the report and looked through it. "It seems that the head of the He family didn''t tell his eldest son about his younger son''s whereabouts. He probably thinks his eldest son is too unreliable. Even if he conceals himself, he can still cause trouble."
"It gives us an opening. Maybe we''ll find out something through Eldest Young Master He."
Shen Yu thought so too.
"This emperor intends to meet with the King of Yue. Does Ah Yu want toe along?" Shang JunLin asked.
Shen Yu nodded. If it meant seeing the King of Yue at his most unfortunate, Shen Yu was quite interested.
Early spring had passed, and the weather was growing warmer and warmer. Shen Yu had taken off his heavy winter clothes. He now wore casual blue clothes, which made him look more and more like a young man as brilliant as orchids and jade trees.
When heid eyes on the King of Yue again, there was no trace of the man''s usual learned and elegant appearance. In terms of looks, if the King of Yue used to score seven out of ten, he was now a four at most.
His hair was disheveled, his face was ghastly pale, his eye sockets were sunken, and he gave off an overwhelming aura of defeat.
The King of Yue watched nkly as a tall, upright figure approached arm in arm with a jade young man. Shen Yu was even more enchanting than when they first met. Shang JunLin had nurtured him carefully. Hisplexion was ruddy and there was some flesh on his face. His body wasn''t as frail as before, and his temperament was more reserved.
As the King of Yue watched the two people draw closer, a strange feeling arose in his heart. It was as if something important had left him forever, and there was no possibility it would ever return.
He opened his mouth, but the words he wanted to say caught in his throat. For a long time he didn''t make a sound.
As the King of Yue stood there in a daze, the jailer at the side felt disgusted and scolded him in a sharp voice, "How dare you not salute His Majesty?"
The King of Yue returned to his senses. He immediately saw that Shang JunLin''s arm was around Shen Yu''s waist.
He stared at that arm as if he wanted to bore a hole in it.
Noticing his gaze, Shang JunLin calmly tightened his arm around Shen Yu and pulled him closer.
Under the watchful eyes of the prison guards, the King of Yue reluctantly saluted them both.
"This servant greets Your Majesty and the noble monarch."
He pressed his forehead to the ground. After a long time, the King of Yue still didn''t hear Shang JunLin speak. He lifted his head slightly and looked up.
Shang JunLin stared down at him from above. There was no emotion in his eyes. It was like he wasn''t looking at a person but an insignificant ant at his feet.
Again.
Again!
The King of Yue''s body tensed up, but he forced himself to maintain hisposure.
In the past, he was his imperial father''s favorite son, and no one was ever discourteous to him. Back then, Shang JunLin was just a son who was despised by his imperial father. No one in the pce took him seriously. The higher-ranking eunuchs and pce maids could walk all over him if they chose. But that same Shang JunLin now sat in the position everyone dreamed of. He''d be the ultimate victor.
As Shen Yu studied the King of Yue kneeling on the ground, he saw the man''s resentment, but so what? In this life, the King of Yue was destined to carry this resentment until he died. The man would find that no matter how hard he fought, Shang JunLin would always stand like a mountain peak in front of him, towering and tall, an insurmountable barrier.
When Shen Yu thought about this, heughed softly.
Theughter shattered the frozen atmosphere. For a while Shang JunLin looked at the King of Yue with an indecipherable expression. Then he said, "This emperor heard that you threatened your own life in order to see me?"
The King of Yue was chagrined. In the past, he was the one in the superior position when he stood across from Shang JunLin. But now the feng shui had turned. Today, in front of Shen Yu, their positions had reversed.
He couldn''t tell whether he was angry simply because he was now inferior to Shang JunLin, or because Shen Yu was here to see it. Even after so much time had passed, he couldn''t forget the day he first saw Shen Yu and the way his heart had skipped a beat.
As much as he wanted to straighten his spine and speak firmly, he couldn''t. Now he was the one who had to beg others for help.
"This servant wants to ask Your Majesty for justice. What the Grand Commandant did has nothing to do with this servant. Begging Your Majesty to judge clearly!" All he could do was kneel before Shang JunLin and plead for mercy.
In front of Shen Yu.
The King of Yue gritted his teeth. A raging me ignited in his heart. He would definitely take back his rightful ce. The one whoughedst would be him!
"This emperor knows." A cold voice spoke above him.
The King of Yue looked up incredulously. "If Your Majesty knows then why"
His voice faded away, and his expression became more and more ugly.
The King of Yue was no fool. After a bit of careful thought he understood. If Shang JunLin knew that he was wrongfully used, why did Shang JunLin allow the rumors to spread until they reached his ears?
There was only one possibility
"You did it on purpose!" The King of Yue could no longer maintain his apparent calm. "Why are you doing this? You know very well I didn''t do it. Why are you still ming me?"
Shen Yu looked at him coldly. "Maybe you didn''t do this, but what about those young women?"
The King of Yue stared at Shen Yu in amazement. "You did that?"
Shen Yu avoided the question. "Your people made trouble with the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence, so they almost found the right person."
In the eyes of the outside world, there was no line between Shen Yu and the Zhenbei Marquis. Shen Yu was the legitimate son of the Zhenbei Marquis, and the rtionship between them was one of shared glory and loss. When Shen Yu entered the pce, countless peopleughed at the Zhenbei Marquis behind his back for sending his legitimate son, but now many of them thought he was farsighted. So what if that was his only legitimate heir? Who else was so fortunate as to have won His Majesty''s favor?
"Why are you doing this?" The King of Yue felt so shocked that he moved forward a few steps. "Are you still angry with me? There''s really nothing between Shen QingRan and me. I only met with him because"
"King of Yue, speak carefully," Shang JunLin interrupted coldly.
Feeling the increasing strength of the arm around his waist, Shen Yu covered the big hand on his hip and patted it soothingly. When he turned to look at the King of Yue, the only thing in his eyes was coldness.
"Your Highness, don''t talk nonsense. We have nothing to do with each other. You don''t need to tell me about yourself and Shen QingRan. I don''t care and I don''t want to know. Whoever you''re with has nothing to do with me, understood?"
The young man''s voice was like hardened ice, and his bitter cold indifference was like a de cutting through the skin and injecting a deathly chill inside. For a moment, the King of Yue almost felt that his heart was frozen solid.
He realized once again that he''dpletely lost Shen Yu.
No, he never had Shen Yu. How could he talk about losing him?
The King of Yue smiled bitterly. "You sent the letters to those women? How did you know?"
"When you concealed your identity and approached me, you were doing the exact same thing to others. Did you really think I didn''t know anything?" Shen Yu answered carelessly.
The King of Yue copsed in dismay. "Then you knew from the start that I approached you with a purpose?"
Shen Yu didn''t answer. The King of Yue interpreted it as silent agreement.
"Then I was wrong. I thought we meant something to each other. I was upset for a long time because of what happened back then." the King of Yue murmured in a low voice.
What happened back then? Shen Yu remembered how he was rejected in his previous life, and how he rejected the King of Yue in this life, and didn''t speak.
Shang JunLin also thought of something. He nced at Shen Yu and intimately stroked the hair on his temple. "Speaking of which, in terms of seniority, the King of Yue ought to call Ah Yu imperial sister-inw''."
The King of Yue was thunderstruck.
TL Notes:
move your hands to set about (a task) / to hit / to punch / to touch
a young man as brilliant as orchids and jade trees lit. orchids and jade trees (idiom); fig. a child with splendid future prospects
the feng shui had turned fortunes rise and fall; times change; every dog has its day; turn By turns; toe full circle; the tables have turned; the wheel of fortune has swung round again
avoided the question to avoid the important and dwell on the trivial / to keep silent about major charges while admitting minor ones
shared glory and loss honor one and you honor them all; injure one and you injure them all
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
the head of the He family, the He family patriarch, Patriarch He H ji zh
this servant servant younger brother the King of Yue refers to himself this way when speaking to the emperor (except when he loses his temper)
imperial sister-inw hung so imperial older brother''s wife
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Chapter 67
Chapter 67
The King of Yue looked at Shang JunLin and then at Shen Yu, who was in Shang JunLin''s arms, half-leaning against him. The expression on the man''s face could be described as kaleidoscopic.
Shang JunLin was right. In terms of familial rtionships, Shen Yu was the King of Yue''s imperial sister-inw. What did that mean? The first man he''d ever liked was now with the older brother he couldn''t stand!
The words "imperial sister-inw" echoed in the King of Yue''s ears, filling his mind with chaos. When he saw the two people standing together so intimately, he fell into a trance.
Then there was the name "Ah Yu". Once exclusively his, it was ruthlessly snatched away when the young man changed his feelings. Now the only person qualified to use it was Shang JunLin.
Endless bitterness flooded through the King of Yue''s heart. He twisted the corners of his mouth, and his smile was uglier than if he were crying.
The chill on Shen Yu''s face was dispelled by Shang JunLin''s words. Shen Yu almostughed, and when he saw the King of Yue''s dazed expression, he felt even happier.
The statement had clearly dealt an enormous blow to the King of Yue. After Shang JunLin said it, it took him a while to recover.
Shang JunLin spoke to Shen Yu in a low voice. Shen Yu listened with a light smile on his face. It was far from his usual ice-cold expression. The more the King of Yue looked at him, the worse he felt. Even so, he refused to avert his eyes. He stared at them like it was a form of self-abuse.
Sensing his gaze, Shang JunLin gave him a seemingly casual nce. The silent warning made the King of Yue tremble. In panic he looked away.
Some people don''t learn what regret is until they''ve lost something.
Shen Yu didn''t know or care what the King of Yue was thinking. In his previous life, he severed the thread between them with his own hands. Not to mention that Shang JunLin was now in his life. Even if that wasn''t the case, Shen Yu would never return to the King of Yue.
The only thing he''d do was torment this man to death!
The more the King of Yue wanted something, the less Shen Yu would ever let him have it!
Shen Yu restrained the coldness in his eyes, and then he looked down at the King of Yue. "Your Highness, did you ever think about the consequences your actions would have for those youngdies?"
The King of Yue was startled by Shen Yu''s sudden question. "What?" Then he reacted and widened his eyes. "Are youining because of those women?"
He suddenly burst outughing. "When ites to harming those women, don''t you think you hurt them far worse than I did?"
Shen Yu lifted his eyebrows. "You''re the one who did wrong. Why me me? It''s better to tell them the truth sooner than let you keep them in the dark for the rest of their lives."
"At least I didn''t destroy their reputations in public and disgrace their families. Shen Yu ah, Shen Yu. You''ve always been clever, but did you ever stop to think that when this incident is exposed, the one who will be hurt the most isn''t me, but those young women?"
Shen Yu looked at him silently.
The King of Yue knew he was right, and his smile continued to widen. He looked at Shen Yu and made no attempt to conceal the malice in his eyes. "Outside gossip and family oppression will eat those women alive, and the one responsible is you."
Shen Yu wasn''t surprised at all by the King of Yue''s sudden change in demeanor. He''d seen every side of this man''s personality and knew him very well. The King of Yue might talk about loving this person or that person, but the truth was he only loved himself.
Shen Yu had no doubt that even if Shen QingRan hadn''t given the King of Yue all those highly useful strategies in his previous life, they might still have gotten together.
When the expression on Shen Yu''s face didn''t change, the King of Yue''s smile gradually tightened.
"So, you knew your actions would harm those women, but you did it anyway for your own selfish desires, isn''t that right?" Shen Yu looked at the King of Yue up and down, and the sarcasm in his eyes was clear. "Your Highness the King of Yue is really full of surprises."
The King of Yue automatically wanted to deny it, but Shen Yu didn''t give him a chance. Shen Yu continued, "That''s why the King of Yue will be the King of Yue for the rest of his life, and His Majesty will always be the emperor of Da Huan."
"You" Shocked, the King of Yue jumped up regardless of etiquette. "Don''t you know that you shouldn''t talk nonsense?!"
His most secret thoughts had been said aloud, and the King of Yue was horrified. He knew that Shang JunLin might have realized his malicious intentions, but so what? There was no evidence. With thete emperor''s edict still in ce, Shang JunLin didn''t dare to do anything to him.
No one should know about his ns aside from Shang JunLin and his own closest confidants. When he deliberately approached Shen Yu, he didn''t say anything about it. How did Shen Yu know?!!
Shen Yu smiled, but the smile didn''t touch his eyes. He leaned intimately against Shang JunLin and stabbed the King of Yue with his ice-like gaze. "Your Majesty, do you think I''m talking nonsense?"
"The King of Yue knows what he has done. Don''t treat this emperor as a fool," Shang JunLin replied.
He knew everything.
The King of Yue staggered back. After several blows in session, his foreboding grew stronger and stronger.
"The King of Yue needn''t worry about the youngdies. His Majesty predicted what you said might happen. Without you in their lives, those women will only go on to better things. Instead of worrying about other people, the King of Yue should worry more about yourself. There are certain things you shouldn''t dare to think about!"
As he thought about causes and effects, the King of Yue discarded his meek and subservient appearance. "Shang JunLin, you did this on purpose, didn''t you? You made use of those women to arrest me. From the beginning, you never intended to release me.
"What a pity that you can''t touch me because of Imperial Father''sst decree. Shang JunLin, so what if you''re currently sitting in that position? You aren''t the one Imperial Father chose!"
"What if he wasn''t recognized by the previous emperor? That person couldn''t even defend his own country," Shen Yu said. "The recognition of the people is the recognition of the entire world. His Majesty has the support of the people. Or do you think you''re somehow better than His Majesty?"
When the jailer who was standing to one side heard this, he felt shocked. He looked carefully at Shang JunLin''s face and silently sweated for Shen Yu. Thete emperor was thete emperor. Even if His Majesty wasn''t close to him, he was still the ruler of the nation and His Majesty''s father. To imagine Shen Yu would say that about thete emperor
But when he saw Shang JunLin''s face, the jailer couldn''t help but feel surprised. Shang JunLin looked calm, not angry at all at what Shen Yu said, and there was even a hint of a smile in his eyes.
Before the jailer had a chance to see more, Shang JunLin nced over. When he looked at others, his expression was nowhere near as soft as when he looked at Shen Yu. Under that piercing gaze, the jailer quickly averted his eyes and ducked his head.
The man gained a new level of understanding of how much Noble Monarch Shen was favored.
Shen Yu recited a list of questions one by one. "How much territory have you recovered? How many enemies have you defeated? How many lives have you protected? "
With each question, the King of Yue''s face grew more and more unpleasant. He hadn''t done any of those things.
After finishing his list, Shen Yu raised his eyebrows slightly. "So, in which aspect does the King of Yue feel he''s better than His Majesty?"
The King of Yue was speechless.
"Ah Yu has such a powerful way of speaking." In the carriage as they returned to the pce, Shang JunLin poured a cup of tea and handed it to Shen Yu. "Have a sip to moisten your throat."
After talking a little too much, Shen Yu was genuinely thirsty. He took the cup and drank from it. "I just can''t stand him. He concealed who he was to approach me, and he said such disparaging things about Your Majesty. I don''t know why he thinks he''s worthy."
Shang JunLin was amused by Shen Yu''s blunt words. "Ah Yu really thinks this emperor is that good?"
"Your Majesty is naturally the best," Shen Yu said agreeably. "No one is better than Your Majesty."
Shang JunLin''s dragon heart was so pleased that he wrapped his arms around Shen Yu and pulled him close. "Ah Yu is also the best."
Shen Yu was already used to Shang JunLin''s asional hugs and kisses. He found afortable position and nestled close to him.
After lying there a while, Shen Yu remembered what happened earlier and poked Shang JunLin in the arm. "Why did Your Majesty suddenly tell the King of Yue that I''m his imperial sister-inw?"
"Ahem." Shang JunLin coughed once or twice. Where Shen Yu couldn''t see, his earlobes flushed scarlet. He replied in as normal a tone as possible, "He''s my half-brother, and he''s younger than me, and you''re my wife. Naturally he should call you imperial sister-inw''."
"Really?" Shen Yu turned in Shang JunLin''s arms,ing face-to-face with him and looking into his eyes.
Shang JunLin''s gaze flickered slightly. "Really."
"Oh" Shen Yu deliberately trailed off. "I thought perhaps Your Majesty was jealous and wanted to dere his sovereignty before the King of Yue. It seems that I was ttering myself about Your Majesty''s feelings."
With that, Shen Yu was about to move away, but Shang JunLin caught Shen Yu in his arms. His lips moved, and his voice was almost too low to hear.
"Ah Yu isn''t wrong. This emperor was jealous."
"Hahaha." Shen Yu was so delighted that he fell against Shang JunLin,ughing. "Your Majesty, you''re so cute."
Shang JunLin corrected him. "Not cute."
His hands were gentle, surrounding Shen Yu and preventing from falling.
His Majesty was also cute when he was serious.
Shen Yu rested his forehead on Shang JunLin''s shoulder. Hisughter slowed and he gradually calmed down.
The carriage swayed, knocking Shen Yu against Shang JunLin several times. Given their close contact, it was natural to have a reaction. Shen Yu had to sit up straight and move back.
"Why is this road so bad all of a sudden?" Shen Yu remembered thest time they left the pce. The road wasn''t nearly this bumpy.
"Meng Chang."
Meng Gonggong heard the conversation inside the carriage and exined, "This ve doesn''t know why, but someone dug a lot of holes in the road. There are also some stones in the way, which makes it difficult to travel."
Curious, Shen Yu opened the curtain. The road outside had a lot of potholes.
"Not many people use this road. Who would dig it up?"
The road from the pce to the dark prison wasn''t considered a major thoroughfare. Shen Yu and Shang JunLin hadn''t encountered any people on it the other times they''d traveled this way. Obviously, the damage was man-made.
Just then, they heard the sound of an argument ahead. Shen Yu poked Shang JunLin''s shoulder. After a pause, Shang JunLin ordered, "Meng Chang, go have a look."
"Yes."
Meng Gonggong got down from the carriage. In a short while he returned.
"The two carriages ahead of us collided," Meng Gonggong said with a troubled face. "The road is blocked. Your Majesty and the noble monarch may have to wait for a while."
"No matter." Shen Yu turned to look at Shang JunLin. "Your Majesty, shall we go take a look?"
"Yes."
The two got out of the carriage. Meng Gonggong led them over to the source of the noise.
The owners of the other carriages looked over when they saw more peopleing.
One of the parties was none other than Minister Fang and his family.
When Minister Fang saw Shang JunLin and Shen Yu, he automatically began to salute. But when he saw that they, Meng Gonggong included, were dressed in nondescript clothes, he hesitated.
After a moment, the other carriage owner walked up to Shen Yu and Shang JunLin.
"My apologies, but there''s something wrong with my carriage. Please wait a little longer. I''ll do my best to make it up to youter. I wonder what the two of you are called?"
The man who spoke had a face like jade, and he was gentle and courteous. When he saw Shen Yu, his eyes lit up.
Shang JunLin wrapped his arm around Shen Yu''s waist. "My surname is Lin, and this is my wife."
TL Notes:
kaleidoscopic unusually brilliant with high lights; hundreds of high lights; brilliant and varied
dragon heart Alternatively: imperial heart/mind
ttering myself about Your Majesty''s feelings to imagine that one''s love is reciprocated / to shower affection on an uninterested party; imagine oneself as the favourite of one of the opposite sex; be under the hallucination that the other party is willing; self-sentimental; make a fool of oneself
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
(surname is) Lin
Imperial Father f hung Alternatively: Father Emperor
[ Project Page | Ko-Fi | Other trantions by Confectioner ]
Chapter 68
Chapter 68
"Ah This one has been rude." The man bowed slightly and apologized. "This one''s name is Yan Zheng. My sincere apologies."
Yan Zheng was handsome, and his peach blossom eyes gave his every nce an indefinable air of affection. He was dressed in a wide-sleeved indigo robe, and all of his gestures and mannerisms revealed a certain charm and elegance.
Shen Yu looked at him for a while. When he felt the increased strength of the arm on his waist, he averted his gaze.
Da Huan had always had open customs, and there was nothing unusual about a man being with another man. Yan Zheng quickly adjusted his expression and looked past Shen Yu and Shang JunLin. "Were the two gentlemen traveling this way? I thought I heard another carriage just now."
"Yes, our carriage is back there," Shen Yu said. "We heard some kind ofmotion, so we came over to have a look. What''s going on?"
At that moment, Minister Fang, who was dressed in civilian clothes, also walked over. He saw that Shen Yu didn''t intend to reveal their identities, so he didn''t speak much.
"There was a problem with my carriage, and I collided with another party." Yan Zheng smiled bitterly. "I don''t know what happened, but this road is suddenly full of potholes."
Shen Yu looked at the road ahead of them. It was even worse than the portion they''d just traveled. "It was fine when we passed by earlier. That was hardly an hour ago. How did it suddenly be like this?"
Shen Yu remembered that when he left the pce with Shang JunLin, this part of the road wasn''t this bad. He didn''t know what happened to the road in the past hour.
"To tell the truth, it''s not the first time I''ve encountered this kind of thing. I''m afraid both of you have run into trouble because of me. If I hadn''t taken this road, I doubt this would have happened." It wasn''t the first time Yan Zheng had seen something like this. He didn''t know whether it was just bad luck or someone was making trouble for him.
While they were talking, the servants of the two families finished dealing with the carriage ident.
Yan Zheng apologized by inviting both groups to dinner. As it happened, Shang JunLin wasn''t busy today. When he saw that Shen Yu had no objection, he agreed toe.
Coincidentally, Yan Zheng invited them to Yingxing House. When the waiter saw them, he was enthusiastic and hurried up to them.
"Are all of you together? What would you like to order?"
Shen Yu pointed at Yan Zheng to the side. "We''re all together. He''s the host today. Just ask him."
Yan Zheng was familiar with Yingxing House. He asked for a private room and ordered the restaurant''s signature dishes. Then he turned to the other three people. "I ordered a few things at random. If you want anything else, please order it directly."
There was already a lot of food. Shen Yu and Minister Fang thought there was plenty. Shang JunLin, who hadn''t spoken much, ordered a few more things.
When Shen Yu heard the names of the dishes, his eyes shed. They were all his favorite foods.
Madam Fang and Young Lady Fang were female dependents, so Yan Zheng thoughtfully requested a private room for them next to theirs.
Madam Fang, who''d been married for many years, had met Shang JunLin before. She hardly dared to breathe until she was inside the private room.
Fang JiaYi poured a cup of tea for her mother. "Mother, why are you so nervous?"
"It''s the first time I''ve seen that man in regr clothes. I''m not used to it." Madam Fang took a sip of tea and slowly calmed down.
Madam Fang spoke openly, thinking that Fang JiaYi had already met His Majesty and the noble monarch. She didn''t know that when Fang JiaYi met them, they were using a disguise.
Based on Minister Fang''s attitude, Fang JiaYi had some suspicions, and Madam Fang''s words verified her guess. The people she saw again today were indeed His Majesty and the noble monarch.
"It seems the rumors are true. That person genuinely adores the child of the Shen family." Madam Fang was an old hand and could tell true feelings from false ones at a nce. His Majesty''s love and care for the noble monarch and the affection in his eyes when he looked at Shen Yu were no sham.
"They really are a perfect couple." Fang JiaYi had seen that before, but she couldn''t help feeling surprised by His Majesty''s attitude towards the noble monarch.
She didn''t know how things worked in the pce, but when they were outside, the noble monarch vaguely seemed to be in charge.
Madam Fang agreed with this and smiled. "I never imagined that person would behave this way with a sweetheart. I wonder if you noticed that they get along with each other regardless of their rank. That person acts like an ordinary man who''s fallen in love."
Shen Yu had no idea that Fang JiaYi and her mother were discussing Shang JunLin and himself next door. Yan Zheng was a cordial host, hospitable and well-mannered. Thanks to his efforts, Shang JunLin wasn''t as quiet as usual.
It was a small banquet, but both the host and the guests enjoyed themselves.
After the meal, Shen Yu and Shang JunLin took their leave.
Minister Fang got up and left not long after.
Yan Zheng stood by the window, watching the man gently lift the younger man into the carriage. Unreadable emotions filled his eyes.
"If the young master likes Young Master Yu, why not"
"Careful what you say," Yan Zheng interrupted. "The two husbands are deeply in love. Why should I be a viin and disturb them?"
The man''s affection for Shen Yu wasn''t lost on Yan Zheng. He could admit to himself that he had certain unspoken thoughts about the person, but those thoughts had now been discarded.
He quietly observed them throughout the meal. The way the man took care of his partner wasn''t deliberate or staged but more like a naturally formed habit. The principle of attending to his young husband was deeply engraved into the man''s bones. Yan Zheng came to the capital to do serious work. A romantic affair would add some interest, but in the final analysis, it wasn''t a priority.
"But"
"Don''t worry." Yan Zheng tapped the servant boy''s head with his fan. "What about the things I asked you to do?"
"Everything''s done, young master. Are we really not going to return in the future?"
"Why, is there someone back there you can''t live without?"
"Young master, don''t make fun. It''s just that you''re worthy of so much more. The young master is clearly I don''t understand why."
Yan Zhengughed softly. "If I wanted to do it, I would, but what''s the point? Why are you worrying about these things at such a young age? Have you ever seen your young master suffer a loss?"
Yan Zheng looked at the distant carriage. Based on the temperament of those two men, he was afraid their identities weren''t that simple.
In the carriage, Shen Yu leaned against the window. "Does Your Majesty know who dug up the road?"
Shang JunLin: "Few people travel on it. Such a thing wouldn''t happen without a reason. What''s more, we spent at most an hour at the dark prison. If someone wanted to do something, an hour would be enough."
Shen Yu: "Was it directed at Yan Zheng? Or us?"
Shang JunLin: "If it was aimed at us, it wouldn''t make sense to merely dig up the road. Most likely it was aimed at Yan Zheng."
Shen Yu felt the same way. When he thought about the road, what came to mind was something Shen QingRan produced in his previous lifecement. The ratio for producing this material was described in detail in the book Shen Yu read after his death. He decided that after he returned to the pce he''d write out the form and see if he could try to recreate it.
Compared with the current road, a cement road would be much more convenient.
No sooner said than done, after Shen Yu returned to the pce, the first thing he did was sit down at the desk and write down what he remembered.
After his death in his previous life, he remained in the empty space for a long time. Reading that book was the only way to pass the time. Shen Yu read through it several times. He was especially interested in the knowledge that didn''t belong to his world, and he took note of all the details.
Back then, Shen Yu didn''t know he would be reborn. He remembered these things purely because he was curious about them. He was intrigued by the world Shen QingRan transmigrated from. ording to the vague mentions in the book, it wasn''t difficult to infer that it was filled with wonders.
After he sorted out the form, Shen Yu packed it in a small box. The big question was how to give it to Shang JunLin.
Of course, before it could be officially put to use, it had to be tested.
Shen Yu thought about the form a little more and wrote down some precautions, then called for Mu Xi.
"Give this recipe to the people in the estate. Tell them to make it ording to the instructions."
"Yes." Mu Xi didn''t ask any questions. She tucked the box into her sleeve.
"How''s the situation at the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence?"
"The lord marquis is still making trouble for the King of Yue''s people. I''m not sure what happened, but Shen QingRan angered the Zhenbei Marquis. This time, not even Aunt Ru can visit him."
It was all rted to the King of Yue.
For Shen QingRan, the King of Yue was thest straw he could clutch to save himself. There was no way he''d break off their rtionship easily. He secretly revealed the Zhenbei Marquis'' actions to the King of Yue''s people, which caused the Zhenbei Marquis to suffer a tremendous loss. When he found out Shen QingRan was behind it, the marquis almost died of anger.
The Zhenbei Marquis was so angry his face turned red. "After raising this beloved son for more than a decade, not only did he side with the enemy, he actually told them about our weaknesses. I might as well have strangled him from the start!"
"Lord marquis, please calm down. QingRan didn''t mean it. He''s still young. This concubine will teach him!"
Aunt Ru grabbed the hem of the Zhenbei Marquis'' robe, but he kicked her away.
"Still young?" The Zhenbei Marquisughed angrily. "Look at Shen Yu. He''s about the same age, but Shen Yu is sensible. He hasn''t brought disaster on his family, has he? Now look at your dear son. What did he do?!"
Not only were the losses enormous, the foundations of the marquisate itself had been shaken. The Zhenbei Marquis valued his title more than anything. How could he tolerate it?
"This marquis seriously regrets sending away my good di son and keeping a white-eyed wolf." The Zhenbei Marquis gave Aunt Ru a cold look. "This is my order. From now on, without the permission of this marquis, no one is allowed to see that wretched son!
"If this marquis finds out that he''s beenmunicating with the King of Yue''s people again, don''t me this marquis for being cruel!"
After driving away Aunt Ru, the Zhenbei Marquis summoned his advisors.
"The lord marquis needn''t worry. As long as the eldest young master is around, the marquis'' residence will be fine."
"It''s best not to bother Shen Yu if we don''t have to. It''s not easy for him in the pce. The first thing we have to do is solve the mess that Shen QingRan made."
If you said the problem was big, it was big, but you could also say it was small. The Zhenbei Marquis could deal with it himself, but it would cost him a pound of flesh.
When the matter reached the court, Shen Yu heard about it from Shang JunLin.
"This emperor has people keeping an eye on it, in case he decides toe to you for help. If you want someone to deal with it, just tell this emperor. There''s no need for you toe forward personally," Shang JunLin said in a low voice. He was ying with a lock of Shen Yu''s hair that had fallen to his chest.
"Your Majesty doesn''t have to bother with him." Shen Yu leanedzily in Shang JunLin''s arms. "He won''te to me to beg."
"Then this emperor will listen to Ah Yu." Shang JunLin lifted the lock of hair to his lips and kissed it.
"Your Majesty will really listen to me? About everything?" Shen Yu came to his senses. He rolled on top of the man and faced him.
As if anticipating what Shen Yu was going to say, Shang JunLin lifted Shen Yu''s chin and nted a kiss on his lips. "Everything but this."
TL Notes:
peach blossom eyes Eyes shaped like a peach blossom petal. Perhaps the most seductive eye shape, it''smonly found in shous and seducers. The upper lid is rounded, and when the person smiles, the eyes look like crescents. The corners of the eye are parallel; a simr shape with an upturn on the end is a fox eye () or maybe a "hanging eye" (). However, those terms are used less frequently in literature and don''t have their own Baidu page, which suggests to me that most people would just call them peach blossom eyes (Baidu)
a romantic affair wind, flower, snow and moon romantic themes; wind, flower, snow and moonlight to waste money in houses of ill repute
white-eyed wolf Amon idiom which means a thankless wretch or ingrate
wretched son unfilial son / unworthy son / illegitimate son / concubine''s son
cost a pound of flesh to suffer serious injury (idiom); be injured in the sinews or bones; have a fracture
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
this one under / myself (humble); "I" A humble way to refer to oneself
Yan Zheng
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Chapter 69
Chapter 69
Shen Yu shook his head to free himself from the man''s hands. "Then Your Majesty knows what I was thinking?"
"Ah Yu is reluctant every time." Shang JunLin lifted his eyes and looked at him. "Even when Ah Yu enjoys it, you still don''t want to help this emperor."
"That''s not it." Shen Yu''s face flushed scarlet. "Whose fault is it that Your Majesty refuses to stop."
"If the doctor hadn''t said that Ah Yu still needs to recuperate, it would be time for you to carry out your duties." A low cluster of mes sprang up in Shang JunLin''s eyes. He reached out to caress Shen Yu''s neck. "Doesn''t Ah Yu think so?"
"Your Majesty should follow the doctor''s advice." Without any scruples whatsoever, Shen Yu used the imperial physician''s words as a shield. "And restrain yourself a bit more."
"This emperor has been extremely restrained," Shang JunLin said. His eyes were deep and quiet. "Does Ah Yu think this emperor would let you off so easily otherwise?"
Because of Shen Yu''s health, the two of them hadn''t hadn''t really gotten to that point. asionally they used their hands or legs.
Shen Yu didn''t want to continue this dangerous topic and switched to something else. "Your Majesty, recently I made a new thing on the estate. I''d like to give it to Your Majesty."
"What is it?" Seeing that Shen Yu wanted to change the topic, Shang JunLin didn''t resist, but he also didn''t stop moving his hands.
Shen Yu''s neck was highly sensitive, especially near a certain small mole. Shang JunLin was extremely fond of this spot. It was his favorite ce to nibble when they were intimate.
"Your Majesty, let go of me first." A tingling sensation spread from the side of his neck. Shen Yu reached up and pressed the man''s hand.
Shang JunLin willingly went along with the request and stopped, but he refused to move away. The man''s body temperature radiated against Shen Yu''s skin. He could only sit up straighter.
"Since Your Majesty refuses to let go, you''ll have to get it yourself. It''s in the cab on the left." Shen Yu pointed to Shang JunLin''s side.
Following Shen Yu''s directions, Shang JunLin opened thepartment and took out a small wooden box devoid of decoration.
"This?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Open it and see."
Shang JunLin opened the box with one hand. When he saw what was inside, he had no choice but to let go of Shen Yu to open the letter.
At first, Shang JunLin''s attitude was a little casual. He was always more rxed when he was with Shen Yu. But after a moment or two, Shang JunLin''s expression gradually became serious.
After reading the letter, Shang JunLin folded it up, reached out his hand, and scooped Shen Yu into his arms. With his lips against Shen Yu''s ear, he said, "Is this also something Ah Yu learned from a misceneous book?"
The letter contained a description of something called "cement". In addition to the steps to create it, there were detailed notes on how to use it. Shang JunLin was a well-qualified leader. The moment he saw it, he immediately saw the importance of "cement".
This material could be enormously useful to the country and its people.
"It''s fine for Your Majesty to think so." Shen Yu didn''t want to deceive him, but he also didn''t want to tell the truth. He could only answer vaguely. "Another name for it is concrete."
Shang JunLin gently bit Shen Yu''s earlobe. "Ah Yu constantly surprises this emperor."
He could tell that Shen Yu didn''t want to say more, and he wasn''t going to force the issue. Shen Yu was willing to give this to him, and that was enough to show his weight in Shen Yu''s heart. Otherwise, Shen Yu could have just not said anything and avoided his doubts altogether.
Last time, when Shen Yu gave him the water control manuscript, the official in charge of this area reviewed it and told Shang JunLin that it was aplete system. There was no way it could have been pieced together from random books. He told Shang JunLin to find this expert and make use of it at once.
"The people on the estate have made some examples of the finished product. Would Your Majesty like to see it?" Shen Yu saw that Shang JunLin didn''t intend to pry and breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "I''m afraid it would be difficult to bring it to the pce."
"We''ll just go directly to your estate." Shang JunLin hugged Shen Yu tightly. "Ah Yu gave this emperor a gift, and I''m very happy."
No matter what Shen Yu gave him, Shang JunLin''s joy was the same, because what he valued was Shen Yu''s willingness to give him something, not the thing itself.
After getting ready, they left the pce.
The manor received the news that Shen Yu and Shang JunLin wereing to visit and made preparations, paying special attention to the cement. The person in charge checked everything carefully and didn''t permit a single oversight.
Amid the eager anticipation of the staff of the estate, the carriage bearing Shen Yu and Shang JunLin arrivedte.
The steward stood in front, followed by the other manor staff. These were Shen Yu''s own people. Mu Xi had already informed them of Shen Yu and Shang JunLin''s rtionship. Shen Yu had told her that these people should treat Shang JunLin like one of his own.
Shang JunLin got out of the carriage first. Then he reached up to help Shen Yu down. It was just a matter of getting out of the carriage, something Shen Yu could do himself. However, Shang JunLin wouldn''t let him. In the beginning, he wanted to physically carry Shen Yu, but Shen Yu sternly rejected it, so Shang JunLin relented and merely helped him down.
Shen Yu didn''t know what Shang JunLin was thinking. This man was the emperor. Why was he so devoted to helping him out of the carriage? However, Shang JunLin insisted on it, and Shen Yu could only let him do it.
Today the two were wearing simr colors. As they stood together, they made a pair that pleased the eye.
The steward brought someone up to meet them. "Your Majesty, noble monarch, everything is ready. Tea and snacks have also been prepared."
Shen Yu interrupted the steward''s chatter, saying, "Take us to see the results."
As the steward led the two men over, he gave them an outline of the process. They soon reached their destination.
Before them was an open field divided into two parts. On the left was a t concrete pad, and to the right was a space for mixing cement. There were various kinds of raw materials piled up. There were also about a dozen men dressed in short working clothes bustling about.
"This is the road that was paved ording to the noble monarch''s instructions."
Shen Yu led Shang JunLin over to it. Shen Yu wasn''t surprised, as he''d seen the finished product in his previous life. When Shang JunLin saw such a smooth road surface for the first time, however, he couldn''t conceal his shock.
Shen Yu noticed that there were regr gaps between the sections. Satisfied, he nodded. "Well done."
The steward took them to the other side. "This part is solid enough to walk on. Even if it rains, the road surface isn''t affected."
The steward received a letter from Shen Yu ahead of time and knew what to demonstrate. First he let Shen Yu and Shang JunLin go up and feel it, and then he ordered someone to pour a bucket of water all over the surface.
Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s hand and walked slowly on the concrete road. There was a clear difference between this road and existing ones.
"If a carriage was driving on it, the road would be a lot less bumpy."
After walking around, Shang JunLin gripped Shen Yu''s hand tighter and tighter. The impact of imagining something waspletely different from seeing it in person. The shock was ten times as intense.
Only a short section of road had beenpleted, but Shang JunLin could already anticipate the effects of paving the official roads in the capital with this material. Not only the capital, but all of Da Huan needed roads like this.
The easier it was to travel, the fastermunication would be. This would have an enormous impact on Shang JunLin''s management of all of Da Huan.
Shen Yu could sense Shang JunLin''s excitement. Smiling, he said, "Your Majesty, there aren''t many people on my estate. Making this much cement is the most they can do. I gave Your Majesty the form. Your Majesty can order someone to try building a road with it to see the effect."
"For Ah Yu to treat me so well, this emperor is really" Shang JunLin rested his forehead against Shen Yu''s forehead and said in a low voice, "How should this emperor thank Ah Yu?"
"Your Majesty doesn''t have to thank me. I didn''te up with the idea in the first ce. If it''s useful to Your Majesty, consider it fate. Your Majesty doesn''t have to worry about it." Shen Yu produced these things not because he wanted to take credit for them, but because they would be useful to Da Huan and Shang JunLin.
Next, the steward guided them over to watch the process of making cement.
Cement wasn''t hard to make, and the raw materials weren''t expensive. It wouldn''t be difficult to make its use widespread. After watching for a while, Shang JunLin had already made a decision.
They didn''t stay at the estate for long. After returning to the pce, Shang JunLin immediately summoned the Minister of Works and gave him the method of manufacturing cement.
After the Minister of Works finished reading it, he said excitedly, "Such, such a thing is extremely practical! I don''t know what it''s called?"
"Cement. It''s also called concrete."
"A solidified mixture of sand and gravel. In addition to paving roads, it should have many other uses." The Minister of Works'' eyes were shining. Since Shang JunLin ascended the throne, his ministry hadn''t made any great achievements. Atst they had a huge opportunity within their grasp.
"It''s been handed over to you. What you develop with it is for you to decide. The road from the pce to the dark prison is in disrepair. You can use it for practice."
"This servant will obey."
The Minister of Works took the form back to his ministry and assigned people to start work. The current emperor valued people who could do practical things. Now that the officials of the Ministry of Works finally had a chance to show their talents, they couldn''t let it go to waste.
The road chosen by Shang JunLin wasn''t used too often. For the sake of convenience, the Minister of Works ordered his people to close off the road, saying that it was being repaired.
The road was already in bad shape, and it wasn''t strange for it to be rebuilt. People who heard the news didn''t think too much about it, but people who asionally needed to pass that way had to take a detour.
When Yan Zheng heard about it, he turned to his servant boy and said, "At the end of the day, the road was destroyed because of us. We can''t let the people of the Ministry of Works go to so much trouble on our ount. Ask around and find out if they need anything. If so, send it to them."
The servant understood his master''s character well and went to work.
The man pressed the handle of his folded fan against his chin, and the corners of his mouth curved to reveal his good mood. If he was lucky, he might be able to make some contacts with the people in the Ministry of Works as a result. If those people knew they gave him such a good opportunity for nothing, they might die of anger.
The Ministry of Works hit the ground running. At court, the attitude of the officials from the Ministry of Works changed greatly, which attracted the attention of the other ministers. Those who were close to the Minister of Works went up to ask him what was going on, but all they were told was "road construction".
The questioner was confused. "Road construction, that''s it? That''s why you''re so excited?"
"You don''t understand," the Minister of Works said with passion in his eyes. "When we finish this road, the Ministry of Works will have its time to shine atst!"
The man still didn''t get it. He just shook his head and left.
After handing out the recipe, Shen Yu didn''t pay much attention to it. In his previous life, the King of Yue relied on concrete to amass huge profits. This time, Shen Yu gave it to Shang JunLin in advance, allowing the government to put it into use immediately. Not only did this block the King of Yue''s path to wealth, it also cut off Shen QingRan from amassing fame.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Shen Yu''s eyes curved in a delighted smile.
"What is Ah Yu thinking about? As happy as that?" Shang JunLin cupped Shen Yu''s chin and turned his face towards him.
"I was just thinking that Da Huan will get better and better under Your Majesty''s rule. Which means I can enjoy a happy and prosperous life following Your Majesty." The smile in Shen Yu''s eyes didn''t fade, and his dark eyes seemed to contain a multitude of stars.
Shang JunLin was mesmerized by those smiling eyes and couldn''t help approaching. "This emperor will certainly live up to Ah Yu''s trust."
TL Notes:
OK so this chapter clearly shows that you guys were right about Chapter 35. The pair has not yet gone "all the way". Here''s hoping Shen Yu''s first time is 100% eager, willing, and hot ( )*:
When I work on chapters I try really hard to not add anything that isn''t there and not remove anything that is there. Obviously, I sometimes rify things (e.g., missing pronouns), but I do my best to present the story as it''s written. I also feel it''s important to add content warnings on chapters, and when I reached Chapter 35 I couldn''t help wishing it yed out differently. Anyway, I''m d to know my personal interpretation was incorrect I''ll go back and adjust my TL note
As I mentioned to you guys before, I haven''t read too far ahead in the novel. It''s a way to keep myself motivated and it guarantees that I can''t spoil anything. But it also means I sometimes have nail-biting moments where I don''t know how things will turn out
Regarding concrete technology: Roads are cool and everything, but in my opinion the lowest-hanging fruit is germ theory! Hygiene, plumbing, antibiotics, varition would literally save millions of lives, but maybe Shen QingRan didn''t think it was profitable enough to bother with? Will Shen Yu steal even more modern technology to face p the King of Yue? I guess we''ll see
Cement Some ancient societies produced cement from a mixture of lime (calcium oxide) and y or volcanic ash. Ancient Romans had ess to all of these materials. Cement wasn''t used in ancient China, possibly due to ack of volcanic ash. The ancient Chinese used other types of binders such as lime mortar (1500 BC) or sticky rice mortar (500 CE). A cement is a binder, a substance used for construction that sets, hardens, and adheres to other materials to bind them together. Modern cement is made by heating limestone with other ingredients such as y in a kiln at high temperatures (Wikipedia)
Concrete Concrete is aposite material made of fine and coarse aggregate (such as sand) bonded together with a fluid cement paste that hardens, or cures, over time. Structural concrete consists of about 14% cement. Concrete is the second most used substance in the modern world after water and the most widely used building material. Ancient Romans made extensive use of concrete. Many of their roads, made fromyers of concrete and cemented stones, still exist today (Wikipedia)
"Cement wasn''t hard to make, and the raw materials weren''t expensive" From what I can tell, the limiting factor is lime. Modern (Pornd) cement is made from limestone, an extremelymon material, but the process requires temperatures of 1450 C. Historically, Chinese kilns that were capable of producing porcin could approach these temperatures. The mantou kiln (Warring States Period, 475-221 BC) could reach about 1370 C. The dragon kiln (Shang dynasty, 1600-1046 BC) sometimes reached as high as 1400 C. The difficulty would be burning all the fuel to keep those kilns running and maintaining the temperature high enough consistently. At lower temperatures, they might produce a proto-Pornd cement (such as Parker''s "Roman" cement), though the materials would be harder to find. I''m sure there are rebirth geeks that have wargamed out all of this in detail. I''m not one of them, but I wouldn''t really call the process "easy" or "inexpensive" (Wikipedia + personal opinion)
willingly went along with the request readily following good advice (idiom); willing to ept other people''s views
consider it fate from lot or luck by which people are brought together; predestined affinity or rtionship / (Budd.) destiny
hit the ground running be in full swing; burning with ardor; buzzing with activity; going ahead at full steam
time to shine rise abruptly; rise sharply; suddenly appear on the horizon
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Ministry of Works One of the Six Ministries under the Department of State Affairs in imperial China. In some dynasties, it had charge of weights and measures, construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure such as roads and canals, government construction works such as flood control projects, and the hiring of temporary artisans orborers
Minister of Works
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Chapter 70
Chapter 70
The man''s breath got closer and closer. Shen Yu didn''t evade, but looked at him steadily.
Shang JunLin let out a lowugh and kissed Shen Yu''s lips. Theughter vanished when their lips met.
The initial gentleness gradually increased in urgency. Shen Yu''s breathing became unsteady and he was supported by those powerful arms.
His eyes closed, and his long eyshes fluttered restlessly, like a butterfly swaying in the wind of a storm.
After the kiss, the man''s breath remained on his lips. Dazed, Shen Yu opened his eyes and met the man''s gaze close up.
Staring straight into those deep, dark eyes.
The warmth of the touch moved upward, and the corners of his lips, cheeks, and eyelids were carefully attended to. The man''s crisp, cool aura hovered over him for a long time.
When he was finally released, Shen Yu''s eyes were misted over and wet.
Shang JunLin looked at him for a while and said in a low voice, "This emperor will carry you to the couch."
After that, without waiting for Shen Yu to respond, he picked him up face-to-face.
Shen Yu was caught off-guard, and his feet were already in the air. Shen Yu put his arms around the man''s neck. His thoughts were pulled away from his memories.
"Your Majesty"
"This time this emperor will tell you in advance." There was a satisfied smile in Shang JunLin''s voice.
Shen Yu paused for a moment before he realized Shang JunLin was referring to what he''d said before, that Shang JunLin should "tell him before he did anything". It turned out that Shang JunLin had kept these words firmly in his mind.
Shen Yu lowered his eyes. Because of his posture, his head was a little higher than Shang JunLin''s. As he looked down at the man from above, a wave of unknown, indescribable emotions flooded his heart.
Effervescent and tingling, a little sour and a little sweet.
He didn''t hate this feeling and let it spread from the depths of his heart until it lightly washed over his entire being.
Shang JunLin didn''t put him down but carried him to the couch and sat with Shen Yu in his arms.
"Sometimes this emperor wonders if Ah Yu was sent to me by heaven." Shang JunLin buried his head in Shen Yu''s neck. His voice was almost inaudible. "When the seas are calm and the rivers are clear throughout Da Huan, will heaven take Ah Yu away?"
When he heard Shang JunLin say this, Shen Yu was pulled back from his reverie. "What is Your Majesty thinking?" He couldn''t help feeling amused. "I''m a living person, and I don''t even like my own father. Where else can I go if I don''t stay by Your Majesty''s side?"
Shang JunLin tightened his arms and said in a low voice, "Ah Yu can''t leave this emperor. No one can take you away from me."
Shen Yu touched the top of the man''s head. "That won''t happen. I have a good life with Your Majesty. If I leave Your Majesty, how could I live as freely as I do now?"
When Shen Yu finished saying this, he recalled that in both his lifetimes, the mostfortable days he''d ever spent were the ones since he''d entered the pce. Shang JunLin thought of him in everything. There was no one else in the harem but him, and the pce rules were little more than decorative where he was concerned.
Without his really noticing it, he''d received incredibly preferential treatment.
As he thought of his, Shen Yu''s eyes gradually softened. Shang JunLin was Shang JunLin, the emperor of Da Huan. He wasn''t the King of Yue or anyone else.
"Ah Yu has promised this emperor. If Ah Yu ever disappears someday, even if the sky and earth are overturned, this emperor will find Ah Yu and bring you back." After saying this, Shang JunLin left a trail of small kisses on Shen Yu''s neck.
In the past, he took the throne out of self-preservation. He rebuilt and expanded Da Huan because it was his duty. He didn''t want to be like thete emperor, who left the people destitute because of his selfish desires. If Shang JunLin did the same, what was the difference between him and thete emperor he despised?
Now he was d that he was the emperor of Da Huan and had the power to protect Shen Yu. In the future, he would work even harder to develop and grow the country. Only in that way could his Ah Yu live freely and wantonly under his wings.
As for the Minister of Works, after the initial excitement, he began to worry about how much money it would take to develop this new product. The official in charge of the Ministry of Revenue was a penny-pincher where funding was concerned. The two had been at odds several times before when the Minister of Works asked for a small sum of money.
Right now there was only enough money left to solve immediate needs.
The Minister of Works sat at his desk with his brow furrowed, thinking about how he could get a little more silver from that penny-pinching Minister of Revenue.
A junior official walked in and saw the Minister of Works frowning. "Is Your Excellency still worried about funding?"
There was no secret about this in the Ministry of Works. It happened every time the minister wanted to do something new, and all the officials knew it.
There was a deep crease between the Minister of Works'' eyebrows. "Yes. There''s enough for the first stage, but will we doter on?"
The underling''s heart skipped, and he suddenly thought about the man he met a few days ago. He said hesitantly, "Coincidentally, Your Excellency, a little while ago this subordinate was approached by a Young Master Yan. He said his name was Yan Zheng, and he imed that the road was damaged by him. He apologized and wanted to givepensation for it."
"It''s true that the damage to the road was man-made, but what does that have to do with this Young Master Yan?" The Minister of Works wasn''t easily convinced.
"Why doesn''t Your Excellency meet with him? As far as this subordinate could tell, Young Master Yan looked straightforward and honest and didn''t seem to have any bad intentions. Of course, this subordinate can''t judge the person on my own. Your Excellency would have to meet with him in person," the junior official advised.
"We work for Da Huan. How can we let the citizens pay for such things?" The Minister of Works still disagreed.
"Your Excellency, to tell you the truth, the young master found this subordinate on his own initiative. His servant frequently travels that road. Young Master Yan said that he came from the south to do business. The road was damaged because of an old grudge against him, which is why he wanted to make up for it."
"You can go for now. We''ll discuss this matterter."
After thinking about it, the Minister of Works asked around. It was true, as his subordinate said, that a young master named Yan Zheng had been seen around the Ministry of Works recently. Many officials knew about it. The Minister of Works felt somewhat reassured and decided to meet with the person before deciding anything.
If he really just wanted topensate them for the damaged road, the Minister of Works wouldn''t have to work up the courage to argue back and forth with the Minister of Revenue.
Yan Zheng waited in his newly purchased courtyard for a few days. As expected, the Minister of Works eventually called.
Everything seemed straightforward. After talking for a while, the two sides reached an understanding. Afterwards, the chief minister of the Ministry of Works thought about it and went to the pce.
Back at Yuzhang Pce, Shang JunLin had taken Shen Yu to sit on the swing. "Does Ah Yu remember the person we met outside the pcest time?"
The weather had gradually warmed up. When the temperature was high in the afternoon, Shen Yu liked to enjoy the sunshine outside. His favorite ce was the swing Shang JunLin made for him.
He liked to sit there with a book. He didn''t need an attendant to push him. The swing gently swayed, and the sun shone through the gaps in the leaves like a naughty little elf dancing on his skin.
Now that Shang JunLin was here, Shen Yu felt even more rxed and sat with half of his body leaning against the man. He searched his memory and said, "Yan Zheng?"
"That''s him. He recently approached someone in the Ministry of Works." Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s slender fingers, raised them to his lips and gently nibbled.
"What did he ask the Ministry of Works?" Shen Yu was puzzled.
"He said the road was damaged because of him, and he wanted to givepensation." When he spoke of the man, Shang JunLin''s tone was careless.
Shen Yu: "Is the ministry that short of money?"
Shang JunLin: "As expected of Ah Yu, you grasped the key point at once."
Shen Yu chuckled. "If it weren''t for ack of money, the Minister of Works would never have spent time on such a person."
"Ah Yu is right. The Minister of Works has been tussling over money with the Ministry of Revenue." As Shang JunLin said this, he felt a slight headache. "The Ministry of Revenue is in charge of the national treasury. The two have always been at odds. Every time the Ministry of Works wants to do something, they quarrel."
"If you want to develop something new, it will definitely take a lot of money." That was something Shen Yu knew very well.
"This emperor was going to allocate a sum from my private treasury."
"Your Majesty can''t do that," Shen Yu interrupted before Shang JunLin could finish. "If there''s a first time, there will be a second. Your Majesty can''t subsidize the Ministry of Works with your private funds all the time. I think it''s possible to ept Yan Zheng''s assistance."
Shang JunLin stopped ying with Shen Yu''s fingers. "What do you mean?"
"What''s taken from the people will be used for the people. Cement will definitely be used by the peopleter on. Yan Zheng offered money aspensation, but it would be better to call it a sponsorship. When cement is put into use in the future, we can say that Yan Zheng sponsored it. The Ministry of Works will have the money it needs for research, and Yan Zheng''s reputation will be enhanced. It''s a mutually beneficial arrangement."
This was another method Shen Yu saw in that book. In the world Shen QingRan transmigrated from, trade was highly developed. There were many merchants who used this approach to build a reputation for their goods. The more people knew about something, the more buyers there would be.
"Sponsorship? That''s a good approach. Da Huan doesn''t restrict merchants. This kind of method will serve to develop Da Huan''s merchants at the same time. Ah Yu, it''s a wonderful idea."
Shen Yu recalled what was said in the book and continued, "Merchants have no shortage of money, but they aren''t allowed to be officials. If a special honor was offered to them, they might be willing to exchange some money for it.
"Merchants value profits and reputation. Instead of letting arge sum of money rot in their hands, they might as well give up some of it in exchange for the recognition of the imperial court. A good reputation makes it easier for them to do business on a wide scale."
The more Shang JunLin thought about the idea, the better he thought it was. He buried his face in Shen Yu''s hair and sniffed gently. His Ah Yu was really a treasure. He surprised him every moment.
"Your Majesty can discuss exactly how to do it with your ministers. I only put forward a general idea. Whether it can be implemented depends on the situation of Da Huan. But I should mention, this method can''t be allowed to be a weapon for particr people to enrich their own pockets."
Shen Yu lowered his eyes. In his previous life, the King of Yue implemented this method too, butter, because of some people''s greed, the original intention was ignored. This led to a near copse of business throughout Da Huan. At the time of Shen Yu''s rebirth, it still hadn''t recovered.
"This emperor knows. It will have to be implemented slowly."
Shen Yu believed that Shang JunLin would do a good job. To be honest, Shang JunLin''s ability as a ruler was much stronger than that of the King of Yue. Shen Yu didn''t know what the person who wrote the book was thinking to let the King of Yue ascend the throne. Based on what Shen Yu had seen in his previous life, even if the King of Yue took the throne in the end, Da Huan was unlikely to go far under his leadership.
The core was rotten, and there were powerful enemies watching outside. On the surface things were flourishing, but in fact the entire structure was on the verge of copse.
Shen Yu nestled in Shang JunLin''s arms and yawned. "Your Majesty, is the pce examinationing soon?"
"It is. Will Ah Yu attend it with this emperor?" Shang JunLin''s tone was gentle as he stroked Shen Yu''s back. He secretly wanted Shen Yu toe with him. When Shen Yu entered the harem, he lost the ability to take the imperial examinations himself. Shen Yu said he didn''t care, but Shang JunLin still wanted him to be able to experience it in person.
"In what capacity will I go? Disguised as a little eunuch serving His Majesty?"
TL Notes:
When the seas are calm and the rivers are clear The world is at peace; peace and prosperity under heaven
the sky and earth are overturned sky and the earth turning upside down (idiom); fig.plete confusion / everything turned on its head
penny-pincher an iron rooster; a stingy person; a miser; a person who will not lift a finger to help
been at odds several times tore skin several times
straightforward and honest from clear and bright/sober and calm eyes
little elf xio jnglng
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Ministry of Revenue One of the six ministries under the Department of State Affairs in imperial China. It was in charge of poption andnd censuses, assessment and collection of taxes, and storage and distribution of government revenue. Alternatively: Ministry of Finance
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Chapter 71
Chapter 71
Shang JunLin imagined Shen Yu dressed as a little eunuch with red lips and white teeth, and his eyes darkened.
In the end, he couldn''t bear it.
"This emperor will tell someone to put up a screen. You can sit behind it."
Shen Yu nudged him. "Is that Your Majesty''s way of taking revenge for the time I put you behind a screen?"
At the time, Shen Yu needed to establish his authority in Yuzhang Pce, but Shang JunLin refused to leave. Shen Yu had to tell someone to set up arge screen in the main hall and asked Shang JunLin to sit behind it.
Shang JunLin pinched Shen Yu''s cheek. "Do you think this emperor is so petty?"
"Your Majesty took advantage of the letters Shen QingRan wrote to me several times" Shen Yu muttered under his breath.
Shang JunLin''s ears were sharp, and he heard Shen Yu say this clearly. He jokingly pinched the young man''s cheek and shook it left and right. "If Ah Yu didn''t always refuse, would this emperor have to find so many excuses?"
He wished the names of other men would never be mentioned in Shen Yu''s hearing.
Shen Yu didn''t want to admit Shang JunLin was right. He broke free of Shang JunLin''s hand. "Your Majesty just likes to make trouble. Why are you trying to me someone else?"
If it wasn''t for the fact that Shang JunLin wanted more and more every time, would Shen Yu need to try to refuse?
"Yes, yes, it''s all this emperor''s fault. This emperor hasn''t worked hard enough to make Ah Yu enjoy himself." Shang JunLin rxed the hand pinching the soft flesh on Shen Yu''s face and kissed the reddened skin.
For a moment Shen Yu was speechless at Shang JunLin''s deliberate misinterpretation of his words. However, he knew he had no chance of defeating Shang JunLin where this subject was concerned.
He sat up straight and patted Shang JunLin on the shoulder as if he was venting his anger. "Your Majesty has worked hard. Really, if you try any harder, Your Majesty will have to find someone else."
Didn''t he toss Shen Yu around enough already? What more did he want?
"Ah Yu, don''t talk nonsense." Shang JunLin grabbed Shen Yu''s waist and took the man into his arms, then bit Shen Yu fiercely on the lip.
"Mm" There was a sting of pain, and Shen Yu let out a low cry. Soon the taste of blood was in his mouth. "Your Majesty!"
"This emperor doesn''t like to hear such things." Shang JunLin let go of Shen Yu''s mouth and gently kissed the blood stain on his lip. "Ah Yu, everything this emperor has can only belong to you!"
The man''s aura was so strong it was frightening, like a raging storm that would sweep through everything in its path. Shen Yu, at the center of the vortex, felt the strength of Shang JunLin''s emotions.
"Well, Your Majesty, I was talking nonsense," Shen Yu admitted. When Shang JunLin withdrew, Shen Yu took the initiative to chase him and kiss the man''s lips. "Your Majesty certainly belongs to me, and no one can take Your Majesty from me."
The terrible aura around Shang JunLin gradually stabilized after Shen Yu''s reassurance. He didn''t immediately resume his efforts but enjoyed a rare instance of Shen Yu taking the lead.
The young man had a light fragrance on his body which was very faint. Shang JunLin could only smell it when they were close, and he liked the scent very much.
Shen Yu didn''t go deeper; he just grinded against Shang JunLin''s mouth. His lip was wounded, and a faint taste of blood reached their tongues.
When he sensed that Shang JunLin had calmed down, Shen Yu slowly withdrew.
But how would Shang JunLin be willing to miss out on such a good opportunity? The moment they were about to separate, the hand that had moved behind Shen Yu''s head at some point exerted slightly more force, and Shen Yu was forced to return.
Compared to earlier, Shang JunLin''s kiss was much softer this time. Although it was gentle, it had an irresistible strength.
Under the tall, leafden tree, the man in ck held the young man in blue tightly in his arms. The shadows beneath the tree drifted slightly, and small birds asionally circled over their heads.
A light breeze brushed against them, and the branches and leaves bowed and rippled.
Dappled light and shadow fell on them, and the swing swayed gently with their movements. It was a quiet afternoon, leisurely and beautiful.
After being inspired by Shen Yu, Shang JunLin invited his important ministers for a discussion.
In order to implement Shen Yu''s suggestion, Da Huan''s existingws on merchants would have to be changed.
After Shang JunLin outlined the idea, a long silence filled the imperial study.
The prime minister hesitated. After a while, he said, "Such aw would subvert expectations, but for Da Huan the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. This servant thinks it should be implemented."
Some of the other ministers disagreed. "They''re only merchants. Is the treasury really in such need of money? Compared to the previous dynasty, Da Huan already gives preferential treatment to traders. This servant doesn''t think it''s necessary to give them even more advantages. Your Majesty, the nation shouldn''t encourage the arrogance of merchants."
The Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue exchanged nces. For once they were in ord.
"Your Majesty, this servant thinks it''s a feasible approach."
"This servant agrees as well. Merchants are also citizens of Da Huan. There''s no reason to treat them too harshly. The proposal is just a matter of giving them some honor and recognition. This would also give these merchants a greater sense of belonging to Da Huan."
After some arguments back and forth, the people in favor had the upper hand.
The prime minister was impressed with the person who put forward the suggestion. "I wonder who came up with the idea. A man with such great talent shouldn''t remain hidden!"
"It was the noble monarch who mentioned it to this emperor." When he spoke of Shen Yu, Shang JunLin''s face softened visibly.
The prime minister was hoping His Majesty would promote the person who came up with the idea. However, since ancient times, the harem had always been forbidden to interfere in politics. He sighed heavily to himself, thinking it was a pity.
The other ministers were surprised as well. They looked at each other, and for a time, the study was quiet again.
Finally, the Minister of Works spoke up. "The noble monarch is a great talent. It''s Da Huan''s good fortune to receive his help."
Previously, Shang JunLin had more or less told him that Noble Monarch Shen was the source of the cement recipe. From that moment, the Minister of Works looked on Shen Yu favorably. Now that the noble monarch had alsoe up with a way to solve the Ministry of Works'' longest-standing problem, his opinion was even higher.
Shang JunLin''s eyes became even more gentle.
"Before this matter is officially implemented, you should perform a trial run." Shang JunLin paused. "Just experiment with the Ministry of Works'' current project."
"This minister will obey."
As they left the pce, the ministers gathered together to talk.
"It''s really a shame about the child of the Zhenbei Marquis'' family."
"There were rumors before about a rift between them. I don''t know what the Zhenbei Marquis was thinking to send his di son to the pce."
Everyone knew that, under the circumstances at the time, being sent to the harem was the same as being thrown away. Yet the Zhenbei Marquis had abandoned his only legitimate son so lightly. Everyone else was amazed.
"Back then, the Zhenbei Marquis'' favorite was a son born to a concubine. That childter got tangled up with the King of Yue. If I may say so, a di son is a di son. You can''t just let any cat or dog walk all over a di son, yet the Zhenbei Marquis spoiled his shu son and ignored his legitimate heir. It''s really stupid."
"Who said it wasn''t? Noble Monarch Shen is so much better than that shu son who turned his elbows out. I wonder if the marquis regrets it."
"It''s already toote. What''s the use of regretting it now?"
Did the Zhenbei Marquis regret it?
He did!
He regretted it until he was blue in the face.
After Shen Yu entered the pce, Shen QingRan repeatedly fell into trouble, which gradually wore down the Zhenbei Marquis'' feelings of fatherly affection. It was possible that Shen Yu''s behavior also broke through the blinders he had for Aunt Ru. No matter how the marquis looked at her now, he couldn''t see Aunt Ru as anything but ordinary. He even began to wonder if he was bewitched when he was infatuated with her.
Out of sight, out of mind. After Aunt Ru made trouble a few more times, the Zhenbei Marquis felt nothing for her but irritation. He was so anxious to clean up the mess created by Shen QingRan that he confined Aunt Ru as well.
Aunt Ru, who''d lived in the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence for more than a decade, had fallenpletely. The people of the marquis'' residence all sighed about it.
A concubine who''d lived in the marquis'' mansion for a long time sighed. "Why, that''s the eldest young master for you ah. At first he doesn''t move, but the moment he strikes, you''re powerless to defend yourself."
"That''s so. A few months ago, Aunt Ru was treated like a legitimate wife. Who would have thought she''d see such a day?"
"When ites to it, she''s only a concubine. I never liked her anyway. She tyrannized everyone when she had the marquis'' favor."
"A di son is a di son. She wanted her son to be the heir, but she didn''t stop to check whether that''s even legal in Da Huan."
"Certain humble people shouldn''t dream so big. If it wasn''t for Madam, would Aunt Ru be where she is today?"
"Careful, careful. You can''t mention that person."
In another courtyard, separated by a single wall, Aunt Ru tightly clenched her fists, and her nails pressed deep into her palms. She knew those people were deliberately pitching their voices so she could hear. After suppressing them for more than ten years, she''d suddenly fallen, and they wouldn''t miss the chance to throw stones into the well.
Shen Yu heard what happened at the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence from Mu Xi.
"She deserves it. Aunt Ru probably never thought the day woulde when the feng shui would turn." After she reported the situation at the Zhenbei Marquis'' residence, Mu Xi felt angry, but "Young master, did you expect all of this to happen when you left the marquis'' residence?"
When Shen Yu allowed the Zhenbei Marquis to deal with Aunt Ru, Mu Xi was disappointed. She thought he was going far too easy on her.
Mu Xi wasn''t the only one. Other people in the marquis'' residence thought so too. After so many years, the Zhenbei Marquis'' favoritism towards Aunt Ru was obvious to everyone who lived in the mansion. When Shen Yu left Aunt Ru for the marquis to manage, wasn''t it a clear opportunity to let the marquis shield her from punishment?
Shen Yu casually fiddled with the leaves of the "jun ling" nt, which was growing healthily. "I showed Aunt Ru what kind of person the Zhenbei Marquis is. If I took care of her myself, she would have only hated me. But what if the person who sends her to hell is the marquis who always doted on her?
"She thought she had the Zhenbei Marquis'' heart. But she didn''t realize it was merely because she hadn''t touched his material interests. You see, I didn''t lift a finger against her here in the pce, but she''s already realized what a heartless person that man is."
"The young master considered it thoroughly."
Shen Yu chuckled and didn''t say anything. There was no need to take things too far. He had plenty of ways to get rid of Aunt Ru, but he didn''t bother. What he wanted was to show Aunt Ru with her own eyes that the Zhenbei Marquis was a false and hypocritical person. The truth was, Aunt Ru''s deep feelings meant nothing to the Zhenbei Marquis. He could give her limitless affection and let her dominate the marquis'' residence, but he could also take back everything and let her be insulted by everyone.
She wasn''t worth his time. Her former glory was a joke. Shen Yu wanted her to see for herself that everything in the past was a sham.
That was far more painful for her than if he''d taken action himself.
The ink orchid sent by Shang JunLin had passed its flowering period. Shen Yu ced the two pots of flowers side by side and looked at them.
"Ah Yu is taking care of the flowers again?" Shang JunLin strode inside and then touched Shen Yu''s face. "Ah Yu seems particrly happy today?"
"Is it so obvious?" Shen Yu touched his face, not realizing that his hand had just touched the soil. His lustrous, jade-like skin was immediately stained with dirt.
Shang JunLin lifted Shen Yu''s chin and carefully wiped it for him. "Ah Yu, tomorrow you can apany this emperor to the pce examination. You don''t have to pretend to be anyone. Just follow this emperor around."
This emperor will restore to you everything you missed, one by one.
TL Notes:
red lips and white teeth Amon way to describe a person with a handsome or beautiful appearance
Your Majesty took advantage of the letters Shen QingRan wrote to me I honestly don''t remember Shen QingRan ever writing letters to SY, so I wonder if this is a bug and it''s supposed to be Jiang HuaiQing, who wrote to SY several times (and SJL got jealous)
any cat or dog people of little importance; Tom, Dick, and Harry
walk all over a di son climb all over a di son''s head
turned his elbows out lit. the elbow turns outward (idiom) / fig. to side with outsiders rather than one''s own people
blue in the face from intestines are blue/green An idiom describing the worst kind of regret. The intestines turn blue after death, so if a person regrets something until their intestines are blue, it means they regret it to death
fell into trouble seek death; take the road to ruin; look for trouble
throw stones into the well drop down a stone on the man who has fallen into a well to maltreat an injured person; add insult to injury; add to the misfortunes of a man who is already unfortunate
There was no need to take it too far "Killing/Hurting a person is no more than touching the head to the ground" You should leave room and not go too far, to avoid hurting the innocent or bringing more harm to others, which wouldn''t be of much benefit to yourself. Once one''s purpose has been achieved, there''s no need to continue
lustrous, jade-like mutton fat jade-like A specific type of top grade jade, which is pale, lustrous, and glossy
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Madam fren Alternatively: Lady, Mrs.
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Chapter 72
Chapter 72
"There''s no need for that." Shen Yu refused without even thinking about it. He could imagine how the ministers would react if Shang JunLin grandly led him into the hall.
To avoid scandalizing all those officials, Shen Yu thought it would be better if he didn''t join in the excitement.
"What is Ah Yu worried about?" Shang JunLin rubbed the delicate skin on Shen Yu''s neck. "Thinking the ministers will oppose it? Don''t worry, they won''t say anything."
Clearly, when Shang JunLin said he wanted to take him to watch the pce examination, it wasn''t a whim but something Shang JunLin had already decided. Shen Yu felt confused. "Why does Your Majesty want to bring me?"
"Did Ah Yu forget about the bet we made before? Doesn''t Ah Yu want to see the results in person?" Shang JunLin coaxed him in a low voice.
Shen Yu gave him a sideways nce. "Of course I didn''t forget. But Your Majesty settled the wager in advance. There''s not much difference between seeing the result of the imperial exam and not seeing it."
When Shen Yu thought about what happened that day, his face grew hot.
The beauty''s eyes shied away, and his face was tinted light pink. Shang JunLin''s heart began to pound.
He closed in to nt a kiss on that pale pink skin. "This emperor personally wants to take Ah Yu there. Shouldn''t Ah Yu apany this emperor?"
"Your Majesty." Shen Yu felt moved, but he still reasoned with Shang JunLin. "Since ancient times, the harem is forbidden to interfere with politics. Your Majesty has already bent the rules by discussing court affairs with me. The imperial exam isn''t like other things. In any case, as a noble monarch, it''s improper for me to set foot there."
"Husband and husband are one. There should be no distinction between Ah Yu and myself. Ah Yu can go wherever and do whatever this emperor can."
Shang JunLin stroked Shen Yu''s cheek. "This emperor knows Ah Yu has tremendous aptitude. Being trapped in the harem is unfair to you. This emperor won''t ept it because this emperor refuses to cover up Ah Yu''s talent."
Shen Yu was startled. He didn''t think Shang JunLin would say something like this. His heart softened, but he also felt a slight ache. An imperceptible sweetness that was hidden inside him slowly began to spread.
When he spoke, his throat ached a little. "I don''t care about those things. Your Majesty doesn''t have to do this for me."
Shang JunLin held the man tightly in his arms. "Then do it to satisfy one of this emperor''s selfish wishes, Ah Yu."
His Ah Yu should be an eagle soaring in the sky, but because of him, because of the Zhenbei Marquis'' foolishness, Ah Yu was trapped in the harem. Shang JunLin was too selfish to let him go. His Ah Yu had to remain by his side. Ah Yu must belong only to him!
After being worn down, Shen Yu agreed.
Shang JunLin hugged him happily and said quietly, "In fact, it''s boring to sit up there. It takes more than an hour and you can''t do anything."
Shen Yu stroked a loose strand of the man''s hair. "Then Your Majesty wants me to apany you to relieve your boredom?"
"It''s fine if Ah Yu thinks so."
Shen Yuughed softly and held the man''s face in his hands. "Your Majesty, please don''t feel like you''re holding me back from anything. It was my own choice to enter the pce. No one forced me. Your Majesty treats me so well, and I''m truly happy. Your Majesty doesn''t have to find ways to show off my talent. I don''t want it."
Shen Yu gazed directly into Shang JunLin''s eyes, as if to see into his heart. He stressed once again, "What I want is to live freely and without restraint, not to be caught up in never-ending intrigues and deceit, Your Majesty."
He felt at peace by Shang JunLin''s side. Maybe it was selfish or cowardly, but he was exhausted from calcting every step and every word so carefully in his previous life. When he first entered the pce he hadn''t intended to stay long. It was Shang JunLin who showed him another way of life.
It felt good to have someone shelter you from the wind and rain.
Shang JunLin''s eyes were heavy and dark. After a long time, he suddenly smiled. "Ah Yu, even if you want to, this emperor won''t ever give you a chance to escape from me."
Now that Ah Yu hade to him, he would never leave his side!
The news that Shang JunLin was going to bring Shen Yu to the pce examination wasmunicated in advance to the officials who were going to be present that day. Those who knew Shang JunLin''s temper didn''t put forward any objections but calmly epted it. As for the ones who were unhappy, after they saw the prime minister and the others silently agree, they didn''t dare to speak up.
Afterwards, someone was puzzled. "Even if His Majesty dotes on the noble monarch, he should be measured about it. How does it look to bring such a person into the pce examination hall?"
"That''s right. Why didn''t the prime minister persuade His Majesty against it? Is it right to let His Majesty act on a whim?"
The prime minister methodically straightened his sleeves. Without looking up, he replied, "When His Majesty told us, do you think he was asking for our opinion?"
Several people thought about it, and their faces became a bit unpleasant.
"Obviously the rest of you know His Majesty has already made a decision. If we oppose him, what effect will it have except to increase His Majesty''s displeasure?"
"But Since ancient times, the harem hasn''t been allowed to meddle in politics. On such an important asion, isn''t it all the more vital for the noble monarch to avoid suspicion?"
The prime minister thought of the young man who proposed the new merchantsw and came up with the method of flood control, and he sighed inwardly. "His Majesty has his reasons. Let''s not worry about it too much."
If the Zhenbei Marquis'' shortsightedness hadn''t trapped that young man in the harem, he would have made brilliant achievements at court.
Seeing that the Prime Minister stood firmly on His Majesty''s side, the other ministers could only shut their mouths. As for broaching the subject with His Majesty directly, they wouldn''t dare.
The schrs who failed the metropolitan exam had left the capital one after another, either to earn a living or to return to their hometowns to study for the next exam, preparing toe back and fight again in three years'' time.
Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu, as the two top scoring candidates, had met with all kinds of well-wishers. Then they settled down and concentrated on studying for the pce examination.
Yingxing House also quieted down.
After obtaining His Majesty''s permission, the Minister of Works sent an official to Yan Zheng to discuss the topic of sponsorship.
After listening to the person from the Ministry of Works, Yan Zheng put away his fan. "This idea is only too favorable to us merchants. I never thought I''d pick up such a bargain."
"You don''t have to say that, Young Master Yan. If it weren''t for your generous offer, we''d still be in a troublesome situation." The visitor had a good impression of Yan Zheng and spoke with a degree of intimacy.
As the wine flowed, the atmosphere grew more and more friendly. Yan Zheng had been in business for many years, and as the saying went, his tongue could describe ck as white. The official from the Ministry of Works had never dealt with such a person before. In a short time, he gave out a lot of information.
However, Yan Zheng was careful and only asked about some marginal things. When the official eventually sobered up, he wouldn''t feel rmed about the things he said.
"Is this idea of sponsorship'' something your senior minister thought of?" Yan Zheng nced up, and the servant boy hurried to pour more wine for them.
The wine was a good, clear vintage with a refreshing vor and a longsting, mellow fragrance. It was a good choice for weing guests.
The official from the Ministry of Works was already drunk, but his mind was sober enough to know what to say and what not to say. He lowered his voice and warned, "There may be big movesing from above. Young Master Yan should seize the opportunity."
After getting the information he wanted, Yan Zheng casually changed the subject.
Seeing that the man had stopped asking questions, the official from the Ministry of Works rxed and felt more satisfied. He told himself that this person was informed and knowledgeable, a suitable long-term partner.
Late at night, Yan Zheng sent a servant to escort the official home. Then he stood by the side of the road. With an obscure look in his eyes he watched the carriage as it rumbled away.
The servant boy brought over a cloak and helped Yan Zheng put it on. "Young master,e inside."
Yan Zheng chuckled. "It was a good idea to make a trip to the capital."
The servant boy didn''t understand. "What does the young master mean?"
"Those people never would have imagined it, I''m afraid. They thought they were banishing me, but as it turns out, they built me a road to heaven. Compared with what I''m about to get, who cares about the things they''re grasping so hard?"
It really was a blessing and a curse. He thought it was going to take a lot of effort, but opportunity had already knocked on his door. This would greatly shorten the amount of time needed to achieve his goal.
Yan Zheng didn''t go to sleep that night. He stayed awake, carefully adjusting his ns. Heaven itself seemed to be helping him, and he had to make good use of it.
"Young master." The servant boy came in with hot porridge. "As you requested, we made inquiries about those people. It''s strange, but we couldn''t find out any details."
After parting from Shang JunLin and Shen Yu that day, Yan Zheng told his people to find out more about them. He didn''t want to do anything to them, he just wanted to get better acquainted. There weren''t many people with extraordinary conversation and looks that fit his aesthetics so perfectly. Setting aside anything else, it would be nice if they could be friends.
That was one of the major rules of business: making friends.
"Oh?" Yan Zheng stopped writing. "You couldn''t find out anything? What about the others?"
"This servant made careful inquiries. The other party was Minister Fang and his family. As for the two young men the young master was curious about, this servant really couldn''t find out anything."
"I see. Pull back my people and stop looking. In the future, pretend this never happened."
Minister Fanghe was one of His Majesty''s most trusted officials. Although the man was subtle about it, Yan Zheng noticed Minister Fang''s respectful behavior towards the two young men that day, and it didn''t seem to be insincere. How many people could make Minister Fang behave that way?
Yan Zheng smiled. Really, no one could beat his luck.
Yan Zheng''s movements couldn''t be hidden from the Hidden Dragon Guard. Shang JunLin soon heard the news, but the pce examination was about to begin and the matter had to be set aside for now.
Shen Yu got up early and changed into more dignified clothes than usual. Shang JunLin wore his imperial robes with gold embroidery against a ck background, disying the majesty of the emperor.
There was no cover or screen. Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s hand and sat beside him on high.
The ministers had been informed in advance. When they saw the two together, the ministers didn''t even exchange nces. They simply got ready to begin.
The candidates bowed their heads and paid homage to their superiors, and then they took their seats one by one.
Given the rule that forbade anyone from looking directly at the face of the emperor, no one dared to openly look up.
The pce exam wasn''t only a test of knowledge, but also mental endurance. Sitting above, Shen Yu could see the reactions of the schrs below at a nce.
Some were obviously nervous. Rather, the nervous ones were in the majority. Shen Yu looked around and saw that H ChengYu and Jiang HuaiQing seemed to be doing well, writing their answers in an orderly manner. Another person whose performance stood out was Fang JiaYi.
Fang JiaYi was dressed in a uniform student robe. Sitting with a straight back, she focused on the answer sheet in front of her.
Time passed slowly. Finally, it was over.
The candidates stopped writing, and a special person came forward to collect their answer sheets. The process had finally reached its end. Those who hadn''t performed well had pale faces.
The examinees entered the side hall to wait. Meanwhile, the ministers took the answer sheets and went through them. Barring exceptions, the new blood of the imperial court would be born here.
Shen Yu had sat for more than an hour. He stood up and moved his hands and feet. When he thought about the ministers who''d looked at him several times but never dared to say anything, he felt a little happy.
"How does Ah Yu feel?" Shang JunLin embraced the person and walked down the steps with him.
"Your Majesty is right. It''s hard to wait so long." Shen Yu hadn''t been able to make big movements or speak the entire time. He felt that he shouldn''t have been so soft-hearted and agreed to Shang JunLin before.
But
"Your Majesty, do you think Jiang HuaiQing and the others will be surprised when they see uster?"
TL Notes:
a road to heaven direct ess to the highest authorities
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Chapter 73
Chapter 73
"Ah Yu has written to Jiang HuaiQing so many times. He doesn''t have any doubts about our identity?" Shang JunLin asked.
Shen Yu nced at him obliquely. "Your Majesty read almost all of those letters. Doesn''t Your Majesty know?"
In the beginning, Shang JunLin never cared about such things. He never asked in detail about what Shen Yu did. He didn''t think it was necessary. As long as it was clear that Shen Yu had no intention of harming Da Huan, Shang JunLin didn''t care. Later, his feelings changed, and he didn''t ask because he didn''t want to pry into Shen Yu''s personal space. He wanted to respect Shen Yu as a person. The reason he cared so much about Jiang HuaiQing''s letters came down to one word, "jealousy".
Shang JunLin pestered Shen Yu several times with this excuse. Shen Yu ended up reading every letter with him, which spared him from being hassled under this pretext.
Shang JunLin didn''t have a shred of embarrassment at being found out. He leaned in close to Shen Yu''s ear. "Ah Yu is the one who wanted to read those letters with this emperor. Don''t me me."
Every once in a while, the ministers cast restrained nces at them. Shen Yu wasn''t in the mood to show off the closeness of his rtionship with Shang JunLin. He pushed the man back. "He probably doesn''t know."
If he knew, he wouldn''t have written to Shen Yu as often, nor would he sound like he was writing to an old friend. Jiang HuaiQing was younger than when Shen Yu knew him in his previous life, but some things were engraved in his bones and hadn''t changed.
"Maybe he doesn''t just want to think about it." Shen Yu thought for a while and added, "The fact we live in the pce is actually a big w in our cover story. If he thinks about it deeply enough, he could probably guess our identity."
"Ah Yu is right. For example, H ChengYu who''s frequently with him has probably guessed who we are." After Shen Yu''s hint, Shang JunLin rxed the arm around the young man''s waist.
Shang JunLin''s cold gaze swept the hall, and the ministers who were targeted lowered their heads in fear. They didn''t dare to look again.
Finally there was no more staring. Shen Yu felt relieved.
"H ChengYu is the di son of the H family, the top aristocratic family in Jiangnan. It''s reasonable for him to be perceptive." Shen Yu had learned about H ChengYu''s background from Shang JunLin and wasn''t surprised he''d seen through their disguise.
The officials who scored the exam weren''t able to see the examinees'' names. Even Shang JunLin wouldn''t know which answer sheet belonged to which examinee until after the final scores were decided.
The results of Da Huan''s pce examination would be announced the same day. The examination officials were ready before the exam even began. After the candidates left the hall, the officials immediately began to review the exam papers.
During this time, the candidates stayed in a special side hall, where food was presented to them. The dishes and delicacies were all mouth-watering, which could be regarded as a form of reward for the schrs who made it this far.
But not everyone was able to enjoy the imperial pce''s food.
The side hall had a lot of space. Before the results were announced, the candidates could rest as much as they wanted. However, not many people were rxed enough to enjoy it.
Jiang HuaiQing moved around a bit to loosen his arms and legs, then walked to H ChengYu. "ChengYu Xiong, howe you don''t look nervous at all?"
Everyone in the side hall seemed to be tense and could hardly sit down. There were countless delicious foods on the tables, but nothing could ease the anxiety they felt at the moment. Only a few people were calm enough to sit down and taste the delicious food.
H ChengYu was one. The other
Jiang HuaiQing stared at the young man for a while. Then his eyes grew wider and wider. He poked H ChengYu with his elbow and said in a low voice, "ChengYu Xiong, look over there."
H ChengYu followed his gaze and couldn''t help but be slightly taken aback.
"Isn''t that"
Jiang HuaiQing nodded vigorously. His curiosity was almost overflowing. "It''s really her. Why is she here? Dressed up like that?"
The person Jiang HuaiQing was looking at was clearly Young Lady Fang JiaYi of the Fang family.
Jiang HuaiQing and Fang JiaYi weren''t well-acquainted. They hadn''t seen each other since theyst met at Yingxing House. He never dreamed they''d meet again under such circumstances.
"Could it be her brother or something?" After saying this, Jiang HuaiQing shook his head. He couldn''t help but think it really was her.
Fang JiaYi sensed the eyes looking at her, and turned to see a familiar face. She paused for a moment, then got up and walked towards them.
"Jiang Xiong, H Xiong."
Although she was deliberately speaking in a deeper voice than usual, Jiang HuaiQing recognized Fang JiaYi''s voice without much difficulty.
"Young" He was about to call her Young Lady Fang, but after thinking that it sounded out of ce, he suddenly changed his words. "Young Master Fang?"
"It''s me." Fang JiaYi admitted it and casually sat down opposite them.
Now that his conjecture was confirmed, Jiang HuaiQing was dumbfounded. He turned to H ChengYu and saw a nearly imperceptible crack in the man''s expression. He gradually suppressed his astonishment.
Anyway, it wasn''t just him who was surprised. Jiang HuaiQing was open-minded and stopped thinking about it. He talked with Fang JiaYi in high spirits.
They''d met each other only briefly, but Jiang HuaiQing admired Fang JiaYi''s bold style, especially the way she handled the King of Yue. She defended the wronged youngdies resolutely and without dy. How many men were as courageous?
However, it wasn''t the right time or ce to ask a lot of questions. Jiang HuaiQing''s personality wasn''t the type to demand immediate answers, so he skipped the topics that couldn''t be discussed for now. The two spoke happily.
H ChengYu asionally interjected a few words, and the three seemed to be enjoying themselves.
The young eunuch who served in the side hall observed everything, and it didn''t take long for this interaction to reach Shang JunLin''s ears.
At that time, Shang JunLin was reviewing the answer sheets which had been singled out as excellent. Shen Yu sat next to him, reading along. Meng Gonggong came over and whispered the news.
Shen Yu thought it was interesting. "The three of them got together?"
"Yes," Meng Gonggong said with a smile in his eyes. "They''re having a pleasant talk, and the atmosphere is harmonious."
"Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu recognized that Young Lady Fang is a woman?" Shen Yu asked, sitting up straighter.
Meng Gonggong answered, "Replying to the noble monarch, that does seem to be the case. Young Master Jiang HuaiQing''s face changed greatly for a moment, though he recovered quickly. He must have recognized her. On the other hand, H ChengYu, Young Master H, didn''t seem to change his expression much."
"Is Your Majesty going to announce Young Lady Fang''s identityter?" Regardless of Fang JiaYi''s final score, the pce examination was equivalent to taking the first step in beginning an official career at court. Bing an official in the imperial court required careful verification of identity. Shang JunLin had covered for her several times, but this was something that even the emperor couldn''t cover up.
The two were standing a certain distance from the officials. When they spoke in low voices, they couldn''t be overheard.
Shang JunLin didn''t conceal his ns. "The final results will certainly be announced. Her intention was to enter officialdom as a woman."
"I can already predict the excitement at court during the next few days." But not only at court. Once it was announced, there would probably be several stacks of memorials censuring the decision.
"However, there''s really no reason to confine women to the harem. There are so many things women can do." Shen Yu would never forget the glimpse of the future he saw in that book. Just a glimpse was enough to fill him with wonder. It was difficult to imagine what it would be like to really live in that era.
"They''ll have to change their views on various things regardless. Not just allowing women to be officials at court, but also the neww on merchants. There may be more new things toe. If they refuse to ept it, they can be reced. This emperor has never wanted officials who strictly adhere to old ways!"
At a fundamental level, Shang JunLin''s nature was murderous and audacious. He spent all of his youth and part of his young adulthood on the battlefield. He was more inclined to aggression than conservatism, whether it was governing the country or with regards to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu looked at Shang JunLin and sensed clearly that Shang JunLin was the emperor of Da Huan, a ruler who could not be disobeyed. When Shang JunLin was before him, he deliberately restrained his aggressive aura. Shen Yu suddenly realized that when faced with this autocratic, decisive Shang JunLin, he didn''t feel as resistant as he would have thought.
"Why are you looking at this emperor like that?" Shang JunLin stroked the hair on Shen Yu''s temple.
"I think Your Majesty is especially handsome today," Shen Yu replied with a smile.
Shang JunLinughed in spite of himself. "No matter how handsome, this emperor can''tpare to Ah Yu."
When they were talking, the officials finished discussing the general results.
"Your Majesty, this servant thinks this answer sheet is good enough to rank first."
"This servant is more optimistic about this one."
Seeing that the officials were going tounch into another argument, Shang JunLin said, "Tell this emperor your reasons."
"The answer this servant is holding is broad and wide-ranging. It covers the topic in depth."
While listening, Shen Yu and Shang JunLin read the three answers together. Each essay exined the issue from different angles and had its own characteristics. At first nce, none of them was worse than the others. Shen Yu recognized familiar handwriting in one of them. He took that answer sheet and looked at it thoughtfully.
After carefully reading the other two essays, he reached a vague conclusion.
After some reasoned discussion, everyone came to a decision.
The prime minister picked up one of the answer sheets and stood up. "This servant thinks this schr should rank first."
This time no one objected.
The final result matched what Shen Yu expected.
In the pce examination, the top three scorers were the most difficult to decide. After these three were identified, the rest of the results were just about confirmed.
When that happened, ministers would find out who each answer sheet belonged to.
First ce, not surprisingly, went to H ChengYu, and Jiang HuaiQing was third. When second ce was announced, everyone was surprised. A minister immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, no!"
"Oh? You chose these people yourself after discussing it. What do you mean by saying no to this emperor now?" Shang JunLin sat on the throne high above. His eyes were unreadable as he looked at the person kneeling below.
"This This candidate impersonated a man and took the imperial examination as a woman. It''s the crime of deceiving the emperor!"
"Deceiving the emperor? This emperor doesn''t understand. How did she deceive this emperor? Minister Ming, if this emperor remembers correctly, a quarter of an hour ago, you were still arguing that her essay qualified her to take first ce."
"This servant didn''t know it was written by a woman"
"A woman, but one who can produce such a beautiful essay. Is Minister Ming trying to deny the excellence of this answer just because the author is a woman?" Shen Yu spoke up to ask.
" That''s not what this servant meant." It happened that this article was his favorite a moment ago. Even if he wanted to deny it now, there was nothing he could say. If he said the article wasn''t any good, wasn''t he also saying that his judgment wasn''t any good?
Based on His Majesty''s expression, it was obvious he''d already known about it. Minister Ming sighed and retreated to the side.
After the results were decided, the candidates would face the emperor again. The results would be read out, and the candidates would bow to thank the emperor for his grace.
Jiang HuaiQing followed a group of examinees back into the hall. He stood in front with the other schrs who had the top results in the metropolitan exam.
They followed Meng Gonggong''s instructions to kneel down and salute. A calm voice came from above.
"You may rise."
When Jiang HuaiQing heard this voice, he suddenly thought it sounded familiar. As he stood, he boldly took the opportunity to nce up.
! ! !
TL Notes:
I can already predict the excitement at [court|] in the next few days Randomly censored word in the raw, reced by me
strictly adhere to old ways hidebound by convention (idiom); stick in the mud; adhere to old habits; be fettered by old conventions; follow a stereotype routine
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Minister Ming
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Chapter 74
Chapter 74
When Jiang HuaiQing saw the two people before the throne, his reaction could be urately described as "heaven and earth turned upside down".
A man in ck imperial robes stood shoulder to shoulder with a young man in blue. Their faces looked somewhat different, but the aura that surrounded them was unmistakable.
Even though their faces were a little changed, Jiang HuaiQing recognized them at once.
Lin Xiong and Yu Xiong.
Jiang HuaiQing''s mind went nk. If someone to the side hadn''t tugged the hem of his robe, he might have totally forgotten himself in front of the imperial court.
Jiang HuaiQing hastily collected his thoughts and finished saluting with the other schrs. While the rankings were announced, his thoughts began to drift again.
It turned out that Lin Xiong and Yu Xiong were actually the emperor and Noble Monarch Shen. The two concealed their identity, left the pce for unknown reasons, and happened to appear in Yingxing House. When Jiang HuaiQing recalled everything he''d been doingtely, he wanted to clutch his head.
He was worried about Yu Xiong, uh that is, the noble monarch''s situation at home, interfered in His Majesty''s rtionship with the noble monarch, and sent letter after letter.
Why did he do that ah? He even put things in his letter about someone asking him to cheat in the exam. After the fraud case was handled so smoothly, he thought at most that the two belonged to an important official''s family. He never dreamed they stood at the very pinnacle of power in Da Huan.
But that wasn''t all. For example, when the noble monarch wrote him back, he said in a joking tone that his husband drank a lot of vinegar because of all the letters Jiang HuaiQing had been sending. And what in the world did he do as a result? He spent most of his reply making fun of Lin Xiong, er, His Majesty''s behavior.
As the two became more familiar, his tone became more and more casual. If he knew those letters were going to the pce, he wouldn''t have written such things at all! And he certainly wouldn''t have written as often!
After the rankings were announced, Shang JunLin said some words of encouragement and warning to the examinees. Shen Yu stood beside him and looked down at Jiang HuaiQing, watching with a smile as the expression on Jiang HuaiQing''s face changed again and again.
It seemed that he''d recognized them.
Shen Yu was amused, but right now Jiang HuaiQing probably felt shocked.
During the rest of the ceremony, Jiang HuaiQing was distracted until Shang JunLin said Fang JiaYi''s name.
"Among the graduates this time, one has a unique identity. Our newly promoted bangyan is Fang JiaYi, the daughter of Minister Fang Jun. It''s the first time in Da Huan''s history that a woman has achieved such a good result."
What???
Second ce was a woman???
The moment Shang JunLin said these words, amotion broke out in the hall below. Shang JunLin didn''t care. He kept the top three graduates behind and sent the rest out of the pce.
Several ministers wanted to speak up, but they stopped themselves. Shang JunLin''s demeanor was so imposing that they couldn''t bring themselves to say anything. They followed the other graduates out of the hall.
Several people gathered together and began to talk in low voices.
"But Since ancient times there''s no precedent for a woman to be an official. Are we just going to let His Majesty do whatever he wants?"
"The results were chosen by everyone together. What''s the use of discussing it now? Are we going to take away the ranking she deserves because of her status as a woman?"
"But Fang JiaYi entered the examination hall disguised as a man. It''s against the rules."
"The rules? How do you think she managed to hide herself from the people who searched her body before the exam? Even if she''s the beloved daughter of Minister Fang?"
"What the prime minister means is that His Majesty agreed to this from the very beginning?"
"What else could it be? Look at what happened today. Was His Majesty the slightest bit surprised?"
"Then, are we going to let a woman enter the court as an official?"
"A lot of people will have something to say about this. Right now, only a few of us know, but when the results are announced, all of the officials will find out. Not only that, schrs all over the empire will know. His Majesty won''t face opposition from just the court officials."
The prime minister smoothed out the folds in his sleeve and said quietly, "Do you think His Majesty will care what those people think? When has His Majesty ever made a decision and changed his mind because other people opposed it?"
One of the ministers was unhappy. "Is the prime minister going to indulge His Majesty?"
"Your Excellency shouldn''t tter me. This official doesn''t have the ability. This official only wants to remind you that it''s better to ept the established facts than try to fight against His Majesty."
As long as a person had the ability to truly work for Da Huan, the prime minister didn''t care at all about their origin, gender, or other external traits. He was fed up with people who upied positions and didn''t do any work. It greatly increased his workload.
In the main hall, Jiang HuaiQing was still a little dazed, but the mood of the other two people was slightlyplicated.
It was one thing to guess the identity of those two men, but facing the truth in person was something else. H ChengYu was absent-minded. Compared to Jiang HuaiQing, he hadn''t interacted as much with Shen Yu and Shang JunLin. The problem was, from what he''d seen, Shang JunLin was too unlike the popr image of Da Huan''s emperor.
Everyone in the world knew that the current emperor of Da Huan had waded through an ocean of blood and corpses and ruthlessly forced his way to the throne. Although the means by which he''d be emperor were criticized by many aristocratic families, his contributions to Da Huan meant that he still had a good reputation where ordinary people were concerned.
H ChengYu had heard that Shang JunLin was brutal and decisive, a man of his word who didn''t tolerate disobedience. But the Young Master Lin he knew was almost subservient to his wife. He didn''t talk much or have much of a temper. No matter how H ChengYu tried, he couldn''t link the two together.
Two distinct personalities somehow belonged to the same person.
Fang JiaYi''s thoughts at the moment wereplicated too. She felt a little confused. She knew that the road she''d chosen would be difficult, and she was ready for a hard fight, but she never thought the first step would be so easy.
After a pause Shen Yu said, "Meng Gonggong, bring in some chairs for our newly announced top three graduates."
Meng Gonggong immediately went to carry out the order. A little whileter, there were three more chairs in the hall.
Shen Yu pulled Shang JunLin to sit down. "I probably don''t need to say this, but I think you must have guessed the identity of myself and His Majesty. It''s exactly what you think. When we left the pce, we never thought we''d meet the future zhuangyuan and tanhua."
With those words, he confirmed what Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu guessed.
"I hope you won''t me us for hiding it."
Thanks to Shen Yu''s efforts, the atmosphere wasn''t as stiff as it was at the beginning. H ChengYu had been prepared for a long time and quickly adjusted his state of mind. Jiang HuaiQing took longer to digest the news. He barely managed to calm himself down.
Shen Yu knew that with his and Shang JunLin''s current status, it would be difficult to return to the rtionship they previously had with Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu, and they weren''t going to force it. That wasn''t the reason they asked the three to stay behind.
"A lot of things have happened during this session of the imperial examinations. Now that the results are out, there will likely be some controversy. The reason this emperor kept you was to assure you that you received the results you deserve. No matter what you experience in the future, this emperor hopes you will maintain your original intentions and goals."
Shang JunLin didn''t say it explicitly, but everyone present knew what he meant. First there was the fraud case, which Jiang HuaiQing was involved in. Then Fang JiaYi, a woman, won second ce in the exam. For some time toe, there was going to be a lot of trouble in the court.
The three stood up and saluted respectfully. "This schr will keep Your Majesty''s instructions in mind!"
This was Shang JunLin''s home field, and Shen Yu didn''t say much. Shang JunLin said a few more words and let the people leave.
When they exited the pce, Jiang HuaiQing breathed a long sigh of relief.
Fang JiaYi intended to return to her house and said goodbye. Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu returned to Yingxing House together.
Once they were in the carriage, the more Jiang HuaiQing thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong. He elbowed H ChengYu. "ChengYu Xiong, did you already know?"
H ChengYu, who was resting, opened his eyes. "Know what?"
"The true identities of Lin Xiong and Yu Xiong. I think I was the only one who was shocked. It seems like you expected it." Jiang HuaiQing lowered his voice.
H ChengYu didn''t conceal it. "I guessed, but wasn''t sure until today."
"You should have warned me," Jiang HuaiQing wailed. He copsed against the floor of the carriage. "Do you know what I did? All those letters My goodness, I actually had the guts to write something like that!"
H ChengYu pulled the man up. "Did His Majesty or the noble monarch say a word about it? You didn''t know their true identity at the time. When you wrote to the noble monarch, he sent you a normal reply. It''s fine."
"You know what?" Jiang HuaiQing''s eyes were listless. "At the time, I only thought the noble monarch had married into an aristocratic family. I gave him a lot of advice on how to deal with an extended n and how to make sure Lin Xiong would side with him."
When H ChengYu pictured that mental image, he couldn''t helpughing. He patted Jiang HuaiQing''s shoulder. "Just pay attention in the future. His Majesty and the noble monarch are generous and open-minded. They won''t take offense."
It wasn''t as simple as whether His Majesty and the noble monarch would take offense! Whenever Jiang HuaiQing thought about what he''d done, he cringed to death.
They were riding in a carriage sent by the pce. As soon as they arrived at the gate of Yingxing House, the owner greeted them with his employees. Here were the new zhuangyuan and tanhua, and they were both guests of Yingxing House. It was a great honor.
Amid the congrattions of the crowd, the two got out of the carriage. Yingxing House had prepared a small banquet for them. They were just waiting for the two guests of honor to arrive.
Fang JiaYi also returned to the Fang residence in a carriage sent by the pce. Minister Fang and his wife went out to meet her. When he saw his daughter dressed as a schr, an indistinct sense of pride rose in Minister Fang''s heart.
He only had this one daughter, but so what? She wasn''t inferior to any son in the world.
"Father."
"Well done." Minister Fang rubbed the top of his daughter''s head. "Your family is prepared. Now that you''ve gotten such good results, don''t worry about anything else. Your father will take care of it."
His daughter had achieved such an excellent score. He couldn''t wait to see how shocked those old-fashioned ministers were when they found out.
"Your Majesty will have a headache tomorrow." Under the gazebo, Shen Yu poured a cup of tea for the man across from him.
Shang JunLin epted the cup and took a sip. "The day I promised the daughter of the Fang family, this emperor anticipated the consequences. The issue has been decided. No matter what kind of trouble they make, it won''t affect the oue."
"Your Majesty announced the results early. Was that deliberate?" As far as Shen Yu could remember, the results of the pce examination were generally announced after one to three days. This year, Shang JunLin made the announcement on the same day, presumably to inform the world before anyone had time to react.
"Ah Yu isn''t wrong. The prime minister won''t be any trouble. It''s probably the officials from aristocratic families who won''t like the result." Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s wrist. "After all, not a single one of their people ranked in the top three."
"H ChengYu is from an aristocratic background, but the H family doesn''t have many ties to the leading families in the capital." Shen Yu smiled. "They probably never thought the scores would end up like this."
Shang JunLin rubbed Shen Yu''s wrist, and his eyes darkened. "Ah Yu, this emperor won again."
TL Notes:
drank a lot of vinegar Jealousy. Refer to the note in Ch 47
My goodness(, I actually had the guts) Tin Oh my God, gosh, etc.
had the guts ate bear heart and leopard galldder things that make one fierce
generous and open-minded magnanimous; be kind and generous; A harbor has room for many vessels be broad-minded and generous; be most liberal andrge-minded; capable of generous actions
cringed to death (Inte ng) nothing left to live for
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
zhuangyuan "top thesis author" The candidate who won first ce in the pce examination. Refer to the note in Ch 58
bangyan "eyes positioned alongside" The candidate who won second ce in the pce examination
tanhua "flower snatcher" The candidate who won third ce in the pce examination
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Chapter 75
Chapter 75
"Last time Your Majesty said the bet would only count if I won. Didn''t Your Majesty already get your reward?"
When Shen Yu thought of the kiss and what happened afterwards, his face flushed with heat.
A calloused finger stroked the inside of his wrist, and a tingling sensation danced across his skin, spreading upwards.
Shang JunLin gazed at Shen Yu, and his eyes grew deeper and deeper. "This emperor did say that, but this emperor wants to do it again. Will Ah Yu agree or not?"
His wrist felt like it was touched by a fire that was burning from the outside, moving inwards. Shen Yu retracted his hand, but the man stopped him.
Shang JunLin didn''t have a strong grip on his arm. It was just enough to prevent him from breaking free. Shen Yu tried several times, but he couldn''t get loose.
The man took his hand, lifted it, and slightly lowered his head. A soft kiss fell on the back of Shen Yu''s hand.
As if being scalded, Shen Yu''s fingers curled up slightly.
Shang JunLin didn''t let go. The tender kiss traced down the back of his hand and met his fingers, and the thin lips parted slightly.
Shen Yu felt a moist heat on his fingers. He wanted to pull back his hand, but he was forcibly restrained by the man.
A nibbling sensation met his fingertips. The man''s eyes looked up at him. It was like he wasn''t biting Shen Yu''s fingers but other delicious things instead.
"Your Majesty, let go. It''s dirty." Shen Yu turned his face away from the man''s gaze, exposing his blood-red earlobes.
The Adam''s apple in Shang JunLin''s throat rolled, and the mes in his eyes gradually ignited into a wildfire.
"Ah Yu, this emperor wants to kiss you," the seductive voice said.
Shen Yu''s eyshes trembled. He bowed his head and didn''t speak.
Shang JunLinughed softly, and the tip of his tongue wrapped around Shen Yu''s fingers, leaving a trace of wetness.
Shen Yu looked down at the man. At some point his hand had been released. The man came up behind him and leaned into his ear. "Ah Yu, let this emperor kiss you, OK?"
Although it was a question, Shang JunLin didn''t really intend to listen to Shen Yu''s reply. He gathered that bright red and luscious earlobe into his slightly opened mouth.
The red, ripe fruit was taken into his mouth, and the tip of his tooth ran gently across it. The fruit was delicate, and he was afraid of bruising it, so he didn''t dare to use force.
When he felt his earlobe being treated like this, Shen Yu began to tremble all over, and his senses became hazy. Suddenly there was a feeling of unreality to everything. The only sensations that came through clearly were the ces he was being touched.
At some point Shen Yu became seated in the man''s arms. The increasingly scarlet earlobe was released, and the touch moved to the side of his neck.
Drifting along the delicate jawline, the touch finally met his lips.
Taking cities and seizing territory.
Before his eyes was a field of peach blossoms in full bloom, white with hints of pink. Little by little, they upied his sight.
Slender white fingers clutched the ck robe tightly, leaving creases.
The sun to the west drew long, nting shadows. Layer uponyer of hazy orange light and shadow surrounded them, outlining everything in gold.
asionally a few small whimpers could be heard. Before they reached anyone else''s ears, they were taken by the wind.
Meng Gonggong stood with the waiting pce servants in the distance. Their heads were bowed, and they didn''t dare to look at anything.
As Shang JunLin predicted, the next morning, the court exploded because of Fang JiaYi.
They selectively ignored the fact that Shang JunLin had taken Shen Yu to watch the pce examination.
In the eyes of the officials from aristocratic families, breaking tradition and admitting a woman as an official was far more serious than anything else.
"Your Majesty, it cannot be! There has been no such precedent since ancient times. That Young Lady Fang concealed her identity to participate in the imperial examination. This is the crime of deceiving the emperor!"
"Your Majesty, how can we set such a precedent? If all women in the world copied her, wouldn''t there be chaos?"
An official who read Fang JiaYi''s answer sheet yesterday retorted, "Not all women are that talented."
"So what? If we survey all of history, which dynasty ever had a woman as an official? A woman should marry quietly, remain in the inner courtyard, serve her father-inw, and produce branches and leaves."
"Minister Zhao''s words are simply wrong. There are more than a few talented women. How can you speak with so much prejudice?"
Minister Zhao snapped his head to the side. "Is there something wrong with what I said? If everyone just epted their ce in life, would today''s incident have happened?"
The ministers in the hall debated endlessly, and Shang JunLin didn''t say anything. Shen Yu, who was standing in the back hall, shook the cup in his hand and said to Mu Xi:
"You see, they don''t have anything to say. The point about deceiving the emperor is all they have. They''re anxious for His Majesty to put this deviant'' woman to death immediately."
Shen Yu intentionally got up early today to wait for Shang JunLin in the back hall. He was curious what would happen in morning court.
After hearing the voices in the main hall, Mu Xi got angry. "They actually think women exist to do nothing but stay in the back courtyard and produce branches and leaves for men?"
"Indeed, it shows that His Majesty is right. Some ministers in the court really do need to be reced."
Their eyes could only see one-third of the field in front of them. With such short-sightedness, all they knew was how to form factions to pursue personal gain day in and day out. Keeping them around was a waste of their sries.
The bickering in the main hall continued. Some officials, led by the prime minister, recognized Fang JiaYi''s achievements, although they felt that the question of letting women be officials in the court was still open for discussion.
The surviving members of the Qian family sided with the prime minister. After the incident with the King of Li, Shang JunLin had taken the opportunity to promote more of his own people. There was already some new blood in the court.
A group of older officials led by the aristocratic families refused to yield. No one from the leading families had entered the top three, and one of the ces was even upied by a woman. How could they ept it?
To give them added motivation, one of their own people was in fourth ce. If Fang JiaYi was pushed out, their family member would rank in the top three, which wouldn''t be nearly as embarrassing.
All of this was in to Shang JunLin. Seeing that they intended to continue bickering left and right, Shang JunLin interrupted, "Look at yourselves. All of you have red faces and ears. Is this the behavior of the country''s foremost ministers?"
The hall fell silent.
"Meng Chang, show them the answer sheets of the top graduates. You say a woman shouldn''t be an official. You should read the woman''s essay before you speak."
Meng Gonggong led the young eunuch who was waiting to the side and handed out the essays that had been prepared in advance.
After reading them, some ministers who''d raised objections a moment ago because of Fang JiaYi''s status as a woman bowed their heads in shame. Those who''d managed to keep their positions under Shang JunLin''s reign had some awareness. They could see how well the essay was written.
Other ministers, who didn''t want to admit that a woman could do better than a man, turned pale. In particr, Minister Zhao, who''d tried to push Fang JiaYi into the mud a moment before, turned white, then green.
No matter how biased he was against women, he had to admit the article was extremely well-argued. If he hadn''t been told in advance that it was by a woman, he wouldn''t have believed it was possible for a woman toe up with it.
Shang JunLin looked down at them from above. "What do you have to say now?"
The ministers silently bowed their heads.
The prime minister stepped forward. "This servant thinks this woman has great talent and should be given a position."
Immediately, many people echoed him.
Minister Fang stood in the crowd, feeling proud as well as distressed. He was proud that his daughter was so excellent, but he was distressed about what his daughter would have to face as she walked this road.
There were already so many objections, and she hadn''t even begun. When his daughter actually entered the court, how much pressure would she face? How many hostile stares?
Even if they saw the excellence of Fang JiaYi''s essay, some of the ministers were still unwilling to ept a woman as an official. Minister Zhao was one of them.
He exchanged a few faint nces with certain others, then stood up. "Your Majesty, your servants recognize the excellence of this article, but there''s no precedent for a woman to be an official in the court since ancient times. This servant hopes Your Majesty will consider it carefully."
"This servant hopes Your Majesty will follow precedent and carefully consider the matter."
Soon, a row of officials lined up.
"Oh? Then what do you think this emperor should do about it?" Shang JunLin looked down, and neither happiness nor anger could be distinguished in his tone.
"This servant thinks Your Majesty can give the person a certain reward, but Your Majesty should also issue a warning to the world. There can be no next time!" Minister Zhao said loudly.
When Mu Xi heard this, her hands twitched. "Young master, Minister Zhao is going too far, isn''t he? What''s the difference between doing that and openly destroying Young Lady Fang?"
"True, he wants to ruin Young Lady Fang. Look at what he said before. He thinks that women should be trapped in the inner courtyard. He thinks that women don''t deserve the same treatment as men. You''ll see. When Young Lady Fang enters the court, he''ll be the first to deal with her."
It wasn''t necessarily a bad thing to be self-interested. All people were prone to having a few careful thoughts and being selfish. What wasn''t good was when people destroyed dissidents because of their self-interest. Da Huan wasn''t the sole property of that man.
Shang JunLinughed quietly. "Warn the world? ording to Minister Zhao, Fang JiaYi did something that overturned the normal order andmitted an intolerable injustice. Is it right to issue a warning?"
"Well" Minister Zhao hesitated. "She took part in the imperial examination as a woman."
"Minister Zhao, as a high-ranking minister of Da Huan, have you actually read thews of Da Huan in detail?" Shang JunLin gazed at him without the slightest emotion. "Tell this emperor, whichw, which article, says that women are not allowed to participate in the imperial examinations?"
Under heavy pressure, Minister Zhao''s legs softened. He fell to his knees. "This, this servant"
"Since Minister Zhao doesn''t know, you''d better go back and learn thews of Da Huan by heart. Until you''ve memorized them all, there''s no need toe back to court."
"Your Majesty!" Only then did Minister Zhao clearly understand to what extent he''d crossed Shang JunLin. At first Shang JunLin''s attitude had been ambiguous, which gave him the wrong impression, and then he''d taken one wrong step after another.
That''s right, how could he forget what kind of man Shang JunLin was? How could he ever allow someone to walk all over him? Minister Zhao slumped to the ground. He''d already broken out in a cold sweat.
After Minister Zhao was dealt with, the rest of the ministers who were in opposition didn''t dare to act rashly. They nced around with cold eyes. Some people who''d been loudly disagreeing a moment ago were now standing with their heads down, afraid they''d be targeted next.
"Since thew has not been vited, this matter will be handled as it should be handled. Both men and women are people of my Da Huan. This emperor doesn''t want to hear anyone talking about gender in the future."
The ministers felt solemn inside. In unison they said, "This servant will obey."
When he left court, Shang JunLin saw Shen Yu, who''d been waiting for him, and he took the man into his arms. "Ah Yu waited a long time, didn''t you? You should have slept more beforeing over."
"It''s all right. It was fun to hear them argue." Shen Yu had listened to the ministers bicker all morning. He lifted his head from the man''s arms. "Has the matter been settled?"
"No one will make trouble for now. Once the new graduates are formally appointed, they''ll most likely make another fuss." Shang JunLin stroked the loose hair on Shen Yu''s back. "There will probably be some noise about the official position that will be given to Fang JiaYi."
"Your Majesty isn''t afraid of those people." Shen Yu''s eyes flickered. "Just now Your Majesty was really powerful."
It wasn''t clear what ran through his mind, but Shang JunLin suddenly moved a little. "Ah Yu, tell this emperor, which part of this emperor is powerful?"
TL Notes:
Sometimes I''m like: SJL, would you just listen when your husband doesn''t want to?
But most of the time I''m like: SY, the man loves you so much, give the damn emperor a kiss!
Taking cities and seizing territory capture territory, plunder
(the court) exploded the pot burst blowing up, buzzing etc.
produce branches and leaves e.g., expand the family tree, have children
deviant discard the ssics and rebel against orthodoxy; be guilty of heterodoxy; be heretical and deviate from the true teachings; depart from the ssics and rebel against orthodoxy
the normal order feudal order of importance or seniority in human rtionships
intolerable injustice Heaven and earth will not tolerate; intolerable injustice
to what extent he''d crossed Shang JunLin how much of Shang JunLin''s taboo (he''d) vited
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Minister Zhao
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Chapter 76
Chapter 76
"What part of Your Majesty isn''t powerful?" Shen Yu''s eyes shed. "Naturally, all of Your Majesty is powerful."
"Is that so?" Shang JunLin grasped Shen Yu''s waist with one arm. With the other, he took Shen Yu''s hand and toyed with it. "Would Ah Yu like to try it for yourself?"
"Try what" As soon as he said the words, Shen Yu shut his mouth. Then he said, "Why does Your Majesty seem different from the way you were before?"
Shang JunLin considered it, but he didn''t think there was any change. "What''s different?"
Shen Yu frowned. "Your Majesty never used to say the things you do now."
"What didn''t this emperor say before?" Shang JunLin pulled Shen Yu closer. Leaning in, he stroked Shen Yu''s cheek. "So does Ah Yu want to?"
A faint pink blush arose on Shen Yu''s face. The man''s body temperature pressed against him, just like his personality, giving Shen Yu a feeling of fever. The intimate touch on his face transmitted the same heat. Shen Yu pursed his lips.
"Do Your Majesty''s officials know that Your Majesty behaves like this?"
"Does this emperor need them to know? It''s enough for Ah Yu to know." Shang JunLin turned his head and pressed a kiss on Shen Yu''s cheek.
The fingers hanging at Shen Yu''s side curled up. Shen Yu didn''t avoid Shang JunLin but let the kiss drift downwards.
After Shang JunLin held Shen Yu for a while, all the anger he''d felt because of morning court gradually extinguished. He hugged Shen Yu and sat down with him. "Ah Yu waited for this emperor a long time. Are you hungry?"
Now that he mentioned it, Shen Yu realized he genuinely was hungry. "A little."
"Meng Chang, bring in the meal."
Meng Gonggong acknowledged the order and left. Mu Xi poured tea for the two masters, then retreated to one side.
Shen Yu picked up his tea cup and gently rubbed the outer surface. "What is Your Majesty going to do about that Minister Zhao?"
"Does he think that just because there''s an aristocratic family standing behind him, this emperor doesn''t dare to touch him?" Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s hand and drank from the teacup he was holding.
" Your Majesty, that''s my cup."
"Ah Yu won''t even give this emperor a sip of tea? Does Ah Yu dislike this emperor?" Instead of letting go, Shang JunLin drank down the rest of the cup in one gulp.
"Of course Your Majesty can have it if you want. It''s just a cup of tea."
"Ah Yu, don''t take offense. In exchange, this emperor willpensate you with mine. All right?" Shang JunLin took the empty cup from Shen Yu and picked up the other cup, which was full. He held it up to Shen Yu''s lips.
"Ah Yu fed this emperor, and now this emperor will feed Ah Yu."
It was clear he wasn''t going to give up until Shen Yu drank it.
Since Shen Yu couldn''t refuse, he took a sip. He could tell Shang JunLin was doing it on purpose.
Fortunately, Shang JunLin knew better than to tease him too much. After holding the cup for Shen Yu once, he returned to normal. "The ambitions of those aristocratic families are growing bigger and bigger."
"Minister Zhao was merely a spokesperson for them, right? If they seed in making Your Majesty give them an inch, they''ll demand a mile next time and want even more benefits for aristocratic families. He''s an imperial censor. If they have to abandon him, they will. Losing him won''t cause serious injury or shake their foundations."
When Shen Yu waited in the back hall, he learned about Minister Zhao''s background. As an imperial censor, it was that man''s duty to advise the emperor. That didn''t mean he was supposed to influence the emperor out of his own selfish desires.
"Ah Yu isn''t wrong to think so. The aristocratic families have been making moves in the court for a long time. It''s not an easy thing to root them out." Shang JunLin looked down to suppress the killing intent in his eyes.
Ever since he ascended the throne, the aristocrats had found various ways to trip him up, overtly as well as covertly. Unfortunately, because of the foolishness of thete emperor, most of the power in the court was still in their hands. Even though the imperial examinations were open to all, the aristocratic families had a lot of resources, and most of the officials selected by the imperial examinations were linked to them on some level. It had taken Shang JunLin several years to cultivate a group of useful officials who didn''t have ties to them.
Shen Yu put his hand over Shang JunLin''s. "Your Majesty won''t have to endure it for long. Weren''t the results of this imperial examination a clear p in their faces?"
No one in the top three came from an aristocratic family. Didn''t those people like to boast about their superiority and rich heritage? Why couldn''t theypare to Jiang HuaiQing, who was born to a poor family, or Fang JiaYi, a woman?
Shang JunLin turned his hand over and wrapped Shen Yu''s hand in his palm, interlocking their fingers together. "Ah Yu is right. No matter how deep their roots are in Da Huan, this emperor will cut down the roots that feed on Da Huan''s blood!"
As long as those people didn''t act up too much, he was willing to turn a blind eye, but now he had Ah Yu to protect. In order to shelter Ah Yu better, he would never allow any trouble to arise in Da Huan!
Not long after, Meng Gonggong led the pce servants in. One by one they set down the bowls of food sent by the imperial kitchen.
Shen Yu nced at the dishes. They were all his favorites.
"Your Majesty, let''s eat."
"Mm."
The two took their seats, and the pce servants stepped aside.
Shen Yu wasn''t used to being waited on during meals. Shang JunLin had been eating with him a long time, and he''d gradually lost the habit of making people serve him directly as he ate. The emperor and the noble monarch, the two people with the highest status in the empire, enjoyed their meal like an ordinary family.
Meng Gonggong was an old man who''d served Shang JunLin for years. He''d seen with his own eyes the changes in Shang JunLin since Shen Yu entered the pce, bing more and more expressive and human. Meng Gonggong couldn''t have described the emotions in his heart.
In the past he used to envision what would happen if someone entered His Majesty''s harem. Nothing he imagined was better than now.
After the results of the pce exam were finalized, the imperial court announced the news to the public. Every year this happened, the people in the capital paid a lot of attention to the top three scorers.
This time the results gave rise to heated debate.
The main reason was that, for the very first time, a woman appeared in the list of graduates, and she actually came in second.
In taverns and teahouses, everywhere you went, you could hear people talking about it.
"A woman as an official? It sounds like a fantasy tale."
"How can a woman be an official? A woman shouldn''t show her face in public. Women ought to stay home with their husbands and children."
"What do you know? If a woman has the ability, why can''t she serve the court like a man?"
"Those sons of noble families brag higher than the sky, but did you notice that none of them managed to get zhuangyuan, bangyan, or tanhua this time?"
"That''s right, that character who bragged about his towering genius every day only ranked fourth."
"If you ask me, the aristocratic families really look down on everyone. They think they can rest easy by holding onto a lot of rare books they keep secret from everyone else. They don''t realize that closing themselves off and working in private just means they''ll be left behind."
A young man in white was sitting not far away. When he heard these people talking, his expression turned ugly. Beside him, several other finely-dressed young men exchanged quiet nces. They were too embarrassed to say anything.
They noticed their friend hadn''t scored well and took him out to rx a little. They weren''t expecting to overhear something like this.
"Yi Xiong"
"It''s true that I didn''t do well on the exam. You don''t have to say anything." The young master in white took a drink of wine with an ugly face. "Did you find out about those people?"
Being outssed by H ChengYu was one thing. At least he was the legitimate son of a prominent family. But who were Jiang HuaiQing and Fang JiaYi?
Those people came from the middle of nowhere. How dare they walk all over him?!
"We found out that Fang JiaYi is the only daughter of Minister Fang. As for Jiang HuaiQing, he''s just an orphan with no background at all. JianMing Xiong, do you want us to do something?"
The young master in whitethat is, Yi JianMingshook his head. His eyes were gloomy. "Don''t do anything rash. They might have ranked in the top three, but that doesn''t mean their official careers will go well. The truly difficult part is still ahead. Do they think it''s that easy to walk into the world of officials?"
Someone with no backing at allwas it hard to make trouble for a person like that?
"JianMing Xiong, don''t worry. One of them''s a woman, and the other is deeply linked to that fraud case a while ago. It remains to be seen whether they manage to enter the court at all."
Yi JianMing grabbed the speaker''s hand. "What do you mean by that? What do you mean by deeply linked to the fraud case''?"
"Oh, as for that, JianMing Xiong, it was something that happened when you were focused on preparing for the exam. You must not have heard. They say that Jiang HuaiQing was contacted by those people before the exam. Did he really not do anything? Except for himself, who could possibly know for sure?"
"I see." Yi JianMing smiled maliciously. "How can someone with no background get such a good score unless he cheated?"
"Ah-choo." Jiang HuaiQing, who''d been talking, sneezed all of a sudden. He touched his forehead. "The weather''s been cooling downtely. Maybe I caught a chill?"
"Maybe someone''s talking about you." H ChengYu slowly and methodically took a piece of vegetable with his chopsticks and lifted it to his mouth.
"ChengYu Xiong, don''t make fun of me. If that was true, you''d be sneezing too. So many people are talking about us." As Jiang HuaiQing said this, his face was troubled.
Because both the zhuangyuan and the tanhua were staying there, the threshold of Yingxing House was almost worn out from all the visitors. It was exhausting to deal with the people who came to congratte them, not to mention wave after wave of matchmakers with marriage proposals.
Da Huan had an old tradition of using the graduation list to catch son-inws. H ChengYu and Jiang HuaiQing were both handsome, with clean family histories. One was the zhuangyuan and the other was the tanhua, and neither were married. Countless people in the capital wanted to propose.
Jiang HuaiQing''s family background was weaker than H ChengYu''s, but not many people cared. If they wanted to marry someone from that kind of background, there were plenty of young masters from aristocratic families in the capital. Because of this, Jiang HuaiQing''s poprity was actually slightly higher than H ChengYu''s.
Almost every morning, more than twenty matchmakers came to speak to him. Jiang HuaiQing was so scared that he immediately shut the door and refused to meet any visitors.
Seeing how anxious he was, H ChengYu suggested they move somewhere else. The H family wasn''t based in the capital, but it wasn''t hard to get a house or two.
After thinking about it, Jiang HuaiQing agreed. He decided to live with H ChengYu for the time being. And for some reason, he decided to write to Shen Yu to tell him what had happened recently.
After reading Jiang HuaiQing''s letter, Shen Yu pictured the scene and couldn''t help butugh. "He''s shocked by the enthusiasm of everyone in the capital."
Shang JunLin finished reading the letter. "This emperor is surprised he''s still writing to you," he said with a smile in his voice.
"I didn''t expect it either. I thought he''d be too frightened when he learned who we are. I didn''t think he''d write for a while." Shen Yu was surprised to receive a letter so soon. "In the letter, he mentions their new address. Isn''t Your Majesty going to leave the pce in a couple of days? Why don''t we visit them?"
The Ministry of Works had made progress recently, and Shang JunLin nned to take a look. Shen Yu was the one who provided the form. Naturally, Shang JunLin would take him along.
Shang JunLin thought about it and agreed.
"He certainly won''t expect us to show up." Shen Yu winked slyly.
After Jiang HuaiQing moved to the new house, he breathed a sigh of relief at theck of visitors. Then he rxed and recuperated for a few days. He had no idea he was about to receive a big "pleasant surprise".
TL Notes:
I couldn''t ess two of my favorite dictionaries today which made everything so much harder! ( `) They only started working after I finished the chapter
expressive and human smoke and fire smell, the smell of cooking food; earthly vulgarity; refers to the emotions ordinary people experience in daily life
fantasy tale The Arabian Nights (ssic story); fantasy story
brag higher than the sky hearts/minds higher than the sky
closing themselves off and working in private lit. to shut oneself away and build a cart (idiom) / fig. to work on a project in istion, without caring for outside realities
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Yi Xiong
JianMing Xiong
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Chapter 77
Chapter 77
The Ministry of Works was busytely.
With new funds and the cement recipe, they were frequently in the emperor''s eyes, and they had to work hard to produce results.
His Majesty said he wanted to repair a certain road. Naturally that was where they focused their attention.
After the Minister of Works discussed things with his subordinates, he decided to close off the section of road and keep their efforts quiet until theypleted their task.
This was a decision he made after careful consideration. The cement form wasn''tplicated and no one was sure how His Majesty would eventually make use of it. To be safe, they couldn''t release any news until they received clear orders from the emperor.
The main funder of these efforts, Yan Zheng, only knew that the road was being repaired. He didn''t know what techniques were being used in the enclosed area. His goal had already been achieved, and he didn''t care about the details.
After a hectic period of work, the repair was finallypleted. The Minister of Works stood in front of the t surface and gave a sigh. "It really is better than before."
The person in charge of the repair was another official from the Ministry of Works. When he saw the minister, he walked over. "Your Excellency, this new road surface doesn''t absorb rainwater the same. If we''re going to build a lot of these roads, we have some problems to consider."
"This official will submit a memorial to His Majesty about it. With this road you''ve made a great contribution. I won''t forget it."
"Thank you, Your Excellency." Fu Xin couldn''t hide his happiness. He was just an insignificant official in the Ministry of Works. If he hadn''t studied road construction previously and won the attention of the minister, he never would have had a chance to show his ability by undertaking such an important task.
The Minister of Works patted him on the shoulder. "Good job. His Majesty attaches great importance to cement. As for the problem you mentioned, spend some time to think of a solution. His Majesty wille here to see the results in a few days. It''s up to you to make use of the opportunity."
Excited, Fu Xin kowtowed to the Minister of Works. "Thank you for your encouragement, Your Excellency!"
He knew the Minister of Works was giving him another big opportunity. There was no need for the minister to mention him at all. The person on top only cared about the final result and wouldn''t notice a minor official under normal circumstances.
Time passed quickly, and the day they were scheduled to leave the pce soon arrived. This time Shen Yu and Shang JunLin were going to see the road paved by the Ministry of Works, so they didn''t put on a disguise. They wore their usual clothes and took a carriage out of the pce.
"Come to think of it, we''ve traveled on this road rather frequently." Shen Yu lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out. "Who would have guessed that when I leave the pce with Your Majesty it''s usually to visit the dark prison."
"This emperor will take Ah Yu to other ces more often." Shang JunLin sat upright in the carriage. His eyes were always on Shen Yu.
"I was just talking casually." Shen Yu lowered the curtain and returned to his seat beside Shang JunLin. "Is Your Majesty going to rebuild this entire road eventually?"
"If the Ministry of Works is sessful, this emperor will rece the roads throughout the capital. Not just in this city, but official roads in other ces as well."
The carriage proceeded steadily, and Shen Yu leaned on Shang JunLin''s shoulder. "If Your Majesty is going to rece all the official roads in Da Huan, we''ll need better horseshoes. This kind of road is more convenient, but it will damage horse hooves over time."
Da Huan''s horses were shod with simple horseshoes. Shen Yu had read in the book that concrete roads wore down horseshoes faster.
"The officials in the Ministry of Works can study it when the timees." Shang JunLin was keenly interested in the benefits that woulde from improving the roads. As for other issues, they could be addressed in turn.
The carriage drove on for a while and then stopped.
The Minister of Works, who''d been notified of their visit, came up with several of his subordinates. The group saluted in unison.
"Greetings to Your Majesty."
Shang JunLin got out of the carriage first and then helped Shen Yu down. "No need for formalities. Just take this emperor there."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The Minister of Works stepped forward and led the pair to an area surrounded by a high fence.
Shang JunLin looked at the fence, which was as tall as a person, and said with a smile, "What''s the purpose of this?"
"This official thought it would be best to avoid prying eyes. To avoid any problems I enclosed the area."
Shen Yu nced around curiously. There were special guards posted at regr intervals. It was clear the Minister of Works had taken special care.
"Don''t worry, Your Majesty. This official posted notices at the fork in the road for travelers. I also arranged for people to guard the intersection from random pedestrians," the Minister of Works exined.
"This emperor saw them just now. You''ve done well." Shang JunLin put one hand behind his back and led Shen Yu with the other as they proceeded inside.
After they passed the barrier, they were immediately greeted with a straight, broad avenue. The blue-gray surface gave a feeling of neatness and tness. Shang JunLin had seen concrete before, but even so he was deeply impressed.
Unlike the patch he''d seen on Shen Yu''s estate, the Ministry of Works had paved the entire road. The visual impact was stronger.
Some people from the Ministry of Works brought over a small carriage. The minister went up to it and said, "Your Majesty, we''ve already performed some tests. Over the same stretch of road a carriage will not only go faster, the bumps are also greatly reduced."
Shang JunLin leaned to the side. "Does Ah Yu want to try it?" he asked in a low voice.
Shen Yu nodded.
The two got into the small carriage, and the driver was reced by the one brought by Shang JunLin. The carriage headed down the road without any of the usual jostling.
The carriage turned around and came back. Shang JunLin didn''t say anything, but his face revealed deep satisfaction.
"Your Majesty, this official has one more thing to report." The Minister of Works beckoned a man who was waiting to the side. "This is the official who''s made the greatest contribution to the pavement project. His name is Fu Xin."
Fu Xin had no idea the Minister of Works was going to introduce him to the emperor. Trembling, he bowed. "Thismoner greets Your Majesty and the noble monarch."
"Fu Xin, was it? You did well and will be rewarded." The result was better than Shang JunLin expected, and his dragon heart was pleased.
Fu Xin: "Thismoner humbly thanks Your Majesty."
Shang JunLin: "In the future, you''ll be responsible for the roads in other ces as well. If you need anything, tell the Minister of Works directly."
Fu Xin: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Fu Xin didn''t think he''d be directly entrusted with such an important responsibility. He felt excited and a little uneasy. He was just an ordinary person. Could he really fulfill His Majesty''s expectations?
"Your Majesty, thismoner has one more thing to say," Fu Xin remembered his previous business and hurriedly said, "It concerns the problem of water umtion. This pavement doesn''t absorb rainwater like the old roads. If Your Majesty wants to use this kind of road in arge area of the capital, we have to handle the problem of water runoff."
Shen Yu was surprised that someone had already thought of this. "Since you mentioned it, what''s the best method to solve this issue?" he asked with great interest.
"Replying to the noble monarch, thismoner has some ideas, but we won''t know if they can be implemented until we test them," Fu Xin replied.
Shen Yu liked Fu Xin''s rigorous attitude. "If you''re entrusted with finding a solution, are you confident you can do a good job?"
"Thismoner doesn''t dare to guarantee, but I''ll try my best," Fu Xin answered in a clear voice.
"Very good. I have a few proposals which I can give you as a reference when the timees. You can decide the exact method with the people in the Ministry of Works."
"There''s also the matter of horseshoes," Shang JunLin added. "You''ve probably seen that this kind of road wears down horseshoes more quickly."
The people of the Ministry of Works had noticed this, but they hadn''t given it much thought because horses hadn''t traveled on the road much so far. Only when His Majesty brought it up did they consider it seriously.
"This official was negligent. I''ll have someone look into it," the Minister of Works said, bowing his head.
"There are many more potential uses for cement. You can use your imagination and see what other possibilities ur to you."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After some exnation, Shang JunLin left with Shen Yu.
"His Majesty isn''t as terrifying as I thought," someone in the crowd said quietly.
"His Majesty isn''t a scourge of doom. Of course he''s not terrifying." The Minister of Works nced sideways at the person who spoke, thinking to himself that the others were lucky they''d met His Majesty when the noble monarch was present. He was apletely different person otherwise.
"The noble monarch isn''t like the rumors either. A dragon''s wisdom with a phoenix''s beauty. Clearly a good match for His Majesty, and he knows so much. The noble monarch took into ount things we never considered. He''s not what they say."
"Careful." Frowning, the Minister of Works interrupted his subordinates'' chatter. "Don''t stand around talking. We have work to do."
Although their discussion was interrupted, the image these people had of Shen Yu and Shang JunLin had transformed. They''d never met the pair before and could only form their opinion from what others said. Now that they''d seen them, they understood the gulf between rumor and fact.
As Shen Yu sat in the carriage he thought about his past life. Shen QingRan had also produced cement, but it was kept firmly in the hands of the King of Yue and sold for enormous profits. It was never really used to benefit themon people.
Shen QingRan knew a lot of things, and there was another person like him in the pce, Shen Yue. Both came from the same ce. Maybe he could find out other things that would benefit Da Huan.
"What is Ah Yu thinking?" Seeing that Shen Yu had been silent since returning to the carriage, Shang JunLin pinched the soft flesh on his face.
Shen Yu had gotten used to being handled like this from time to time. He collected his thoughts and said, "I was thinking about Shen QingRan."
"Your shu brother? What about him?" Shang JunLin didn''t have a good impression of Shen QingRan.
Shen Yu was silent for a moment. "Actually, the reason I know about cement has something to do with Shen QingRan. Does Your Majesty know what he said in hisst letter to the King of Yue?"
Shang JunLin wasn''t sure why Shen Yu suddenly asked this, but he replied, "Does this emperor need to read his letters? It''s in the King of Yue''s possession. If Ah Yu wants to know what it says, I can tell the Hidden Dragon Guard to take a look."
"Your Majesty, after we return to the pce I want to talk to Shen Yue."
"If you want to see her, just have her brought to Yuzhang Pce. Did something happen today? You seem distracted all of a sudden."
"I thought of something." Shen Yu shook his head and pushed his confused thoughts aside. "Are we almost there, Your Majesty?"
If Shen Yu didn''t want to talk about it, Shang JunLin wouldn''t force him. "Yes, we''ll be there soon."
Jiang HuaiQing was carrying a few books out to the courtyard to enjoy the sun. When he saw a carriageing from a distance he called to the house, "ChengYu Xiong, are you expecting visitors?"
"No." H ChengYu''s voice came from inside the house. "What''s the matter?"
"A carriage is headed this way." Jiang HuaiQing scratched his cheek. "It''s not here for us, is it?"
Just as the words left his mouth, the carriage began to slow down. Finally it stopped at the entrance to the small courtyard.
"Who is it? No one said they wereing." Jiang HuaiQing''s forehead was full of question marks. "ChengYu Xiong,e and see if you know them."
When two familiar figures got out of the carriage and approached, Jiang HuaiQing''s eyes widened. The rest of his words were stuck in his throat.
Why did His Majesty and the noble monarch suddenlye here without a single word?!!
TL Notes:
dragon heart refers to the imperial will, the emperor''s emotions
scourge of doom lit. severe floods and fierce beasts (idiom) / fig. great scourges / extremely dangerous or threatening things
A dragon''s wisdom with a phoenix''s beauty great handsome appearance; noble and handsome; a dragon''s literary talent and a phoenix''s appearance, outstanding
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Fu Xin
thismoner person of low social status (old) / I, me (used to refer humbly to oneself) / nasty person / vile character / viin
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Chapter 78
Chapter 78
After finding out who the two men really were, Jiang HuaiQing never dreamed his next meeting with them would happen like this.
He assumed their previous way of getting along woulde to an abrupt end. The next time they met, Shang JunLin would be the aloof and mighty emperor, Shen Yu would be the noble monarch of the imperial harem, and he would be a dutiful servant just like every other official in Da Huan.
Who would have guessed that after he made these mental preparations, the pair suddenly appeared at the gates of the small courtyard where he and H ChengYu had moved to hide from a stream of matchmakers.
For a while Jiang HuaiQing didn''t know what expression to put on his face.
His fear and aghastitude soared to an unbearable level. Stunned, he watched them walk inside. His mind wentpletely nk.
H ChengYu heard the voice outside suddenly fall silent. Worried that something had happened, he put down what he was doing and walked out.
Then he saw Shang JunLin and Shen Yu walking towards him.
H ChengYu came to a stop. Now he knew why the other man suddenly lost his voice. Sure enough, Jiang HuaiQing was standing there in a daze, staring at the two people. He didn''t respond at all.
Shen Yu, who also noticed Jiang HuaiQing''s reaction, felt a little happy inside. In his previous life, this man was his subordinate. Despite his youth, he hadyers of secrets he always kept to himself. Although calm and steady he seemed tock a spark of life. If not for the goal that Jiang HuaiQing nurtured inside, Shen Yu had the feeling he was ready to exit the world at any time.
In this life Jiang HuaiQing was differenthe had friends who shared his ideals. Shen Yu didn''t know if Jiang HuaiQing ever met H ChengYu in his previous life, but in this life they knew each other well, and H ChengYu looked after him intentionally or otherwise. In addition, the imperial examination had concluded sessfully and Jiang HuaiQing won high honors. He was full of enthusiasm and energy and had some of the youthful high spirits a person his age should have.
Amused by the look on Jiang HuaiQing''s face, Shen Yuughed. "What, are you so surprised to see us visit you? You can''t even say a word?"
"It''s not really a surprise." It''s more of a shock.
After Shen Yu spoke, Jiang HuaiQing returned to his senses.
H ChengYu came over to join them. "The two of you traveled a long way. Please forgive us for weing you like this. It''s our fault."
"Not at all, we decided toe here on a whim. When we heard you moved into a new house we wanted to congratte you."
Meng Gonggong, who was also dressed in civilian clothes, came forward with a congrattory gift.
"It''s a small token of appreciation. Please ept it, He Xiong, HuaiQing," Shen Yu said.
"We''re greatly honored that the two of you came to visit," H ChengYu said. He turned to the side and epted the present from Meng Gonggong. "Pleasee inside."
Jiang HuaiQing''s dazed brain finally returned to normal. "Yes, yes,e in."
Shen Yu walked ahead of them with Shang JunLin. Together they looked around at the small courtyard. The ce was quiet and secluded. Although it wasn''trge or especially luxurious, theyout was carefully arranged and elegant, revealing the heritage of an aristocratic family.
When the four people were seated, Shen Yu was the first to speak. "HuaiQing, you look surprised to see us here."
"I can''t deny what the noble monarch has said."
"While we''re outside, you can just address me and Ah Lin as usual," Shen Yu cut in. He looked at Shang JunLin, who was sitting beside him. "Isn''t that right, Ah Lin?"
Shang JunLin nodded. "No need to be formal outside."
Jiang HuaiQing wasn''t a stickler for etiquette, so he readily switched to less formalnguage. "Yu Xiong, I won''t try to hide it. I really didn''t expect to see you here."
"I thought as much. Ah Lin and I had some business outside the pce and decided toe by to see you." Shen Yu winked. "And maybe have a taste of the amazing food you''ve been raving about."
Shen Yu was referring to something Jiang HuaiQing had written about in a letter. Their new cook was from Jiangnan and he was exceptional at his craft. His style was different from what was usually found in the capital, especially when it came to desserts. Jiang HuaiQing knew that Shen Yu was fond of sweets and specifically mentioned it in his letter.
"We came over to sample it ourselves and save you the trouble of sending it to the pce," Shen Yu added.
At the end of his letter, Jiang HuaiQing wrote that if Shen Yu wanted to try the food, he''d ask the cook to make another batch for him and send it along.
"To be honest, when I wrote that letter I didn''t realize how difficult it might be until after I already sent it." He was in the habit of writing to his friend and simply forgot about Shen Yu and Shang JunLin''s identities. His tone was as casual as ever.
"I''m happy that you wrote to me the same as usual. I used to spend every day in the marquis'' residence and didn''t have any friends. That''s why I hope HuaiQing and I can get along like we did before."
"Lin Xiong and Yu Xiong, I''m grateful for your kindness. I''ll be bold enough to ept it. The two of you are the closest people I know aside from ChengYu Xiong." To be precise, he was more familiar with Shen Yu. Jiang HuaiQing''s instincts, like those of a small prey animal, had always told him Shang JunLin wasn''t someone to provoke.
That was why he''d never approached Shang JunLin carelessly. After spending time observing them, he fully understood that Shang JunLin''s gentleness and good temper were reserved for Shen Yu alone.
Some of the servants in the mansion had also served H ChengYu in Jiangnan. Seeing that friends of their host were visiting and hoped to enjoy Jiangnan-style cuisine, they immediately sent to the kitchen to begin preparing for a meal. They were determined to satisfy their guests.
Shen Yu and Shang JunLin weren''t in a hurry to return to the pce. When Shang JunLin saw that Shen Yu was curious about the food prepared by H ChengYu''s cook, he agreed to stay for dinner. He also secretly made ns to find a few royal chefs who knew different regional cuisines and send them to Yuzhang Pceter.
A small banquet took shape, and the guests and hosts enjoyed themselves. With Shen Yu to ease things along, the two sides soon returned to the friendly atmosphere they enjoyed in the past.
H ChengYu''s kitchen was just as skilled as Jiang HuaiQing said. The food was delicious, especially when it came to the desserts. They were small and delicate, sweet but not cloying, and the taste was exceptional. This part of the meal was especially popr with Shen Yu.
Almost half of the desserts on the table went into Shen Yu''s stomach. If Shang JunLin hadn''t been watching he might have eaten even more.
Not surprisingly, after all this indulgence Shen Yu waspletely stuffed.
When they returned to Yuzhang Pce, Shen Yu felt sick to his stomach and Shang JunLin helped him walk around the courtyard. "This emperor shouldn''t have been so soft-hearted. I let you eat too much."
Several times during the meal, Shang JunLin was defeated by Shen Yu''s supplicating gaze. His resolve weakened when he saw Shen Yu eating so happily and contentedly. But the end result of this leniency was that Shen Yu was too ill to sleep in the middle of the night.
The moon rose into the sky, scattering moonlight across the quiet earth. Everything in sight was veiled with ayer of cool silver. Somewhere in the hush of night were the chirps of a few insects.
After Shen Yu entered the pce, his days followed a consistent schedule. He rarely had a chance to see Yuzhang Pce at such ate hour. He looked up at the full moon in the night sky and sighed. "If I hadn''t been stubborn, I never would have seen such a beautiful view with Your Majesty. Your Majesty, look how full the moon is tonight."
Like a jade disc adorning a sable field, emitting a faint silver glow, illuminating the entire night by itself.
"Ah Yu is always reasonable."
Shang JunLin took Shen Yu''s hand and walked slowly along the path. A breeze was blowing softly, bringing a burst of coolness. They asionally whispered a few words to each other, enjoying this rare, quiet moment.
The next day Shang JunLin summoned Imperial Physician Gu to check Shen Yu''s pulse.
After a period of recuperation, Shen Yu''s health had greatly improved. Initially Imperial Physician Gu examined Shen Yu''s pulse every other day, but this gradually reduced to once every week. The bitter-tasting medicines were also eliminated.
Imperial Physician Gu easily diagnosed Shen Yu''s pulse and withdrew his hand. "The noble monarch has suffered some indigestion. This official will write a prescription for some pills. There won''t be any harm."
Shen Yu never thought he''d one day need to take medicine for such a reason. As he lowered his sleeve he asked, "The medicine won''t be likest time, will it?"
Shen Yu had dark memories of the medicine that Imperial Physician Gu prescribedst time. He never wanted to taste anything so vile again.
Imperial Physician Gu smiled faintly. "The noble monarch needn''t worry. The taste won''t be as unpleasant this time."
After examining his pulse, Imperial Physician Gu didn''t linger. He gave some instructions and then got up and left.
Mu Xi took the prescription and prepared Shen Yu''s medicine. This had always been her responsibility which she never left to anyone else''s hands. Meanwhile Shen Yu wrote down some notes about cement usage ording to the memories of his previous life. He wanted to organize the information so Shang JunLin could send it to the people in the Ministry of Works.
"What is Ah Yu writing?" After Shang JunLin left morning court, he went directly to Yuzhang Pce. These days, aside from the emperor''s study and the hall where court was held, Shang JunLin spent most of his time in Yuzhang Pce.
The servants in the pce had once been surprised by the level of favor Shen Yu enjoyed, but now there was no surprise at all. The only thing that would surprise them was if His Majesty didn''t dote on the noble monarch.
"All this? I want to sort through my notes and give them to the Ministry of Works. Maybe they can produce more things." Shen Yu spread out what he''d written to show Shang JunLin.
After reading it, Shang JunLin pondered. "Cement has more uses than this emperor thought."
"Your Majesty,e here and let me lean on you." The memo was almost sorted. Now that Shang JunLin was back, Shen Yu didn''t want to get up.
Shang JunLin sat down as requested and Shen Yu immediately leaned against him.
Shang JunLin put his arm around the other man. After a while he said, "The gift Ah Yu gave this emperor is more useful than I imagined. How should this emperor repay Ah Yu?"
Shen Yu: "All I did was put forward some ideas. The exact implementation is thanks to the effort of the Ministry of Works. Instead of repaying me, Your Majesty might as well do something for them."
Shang JunLin: "What does Ah Yu suggest?"
Shen Yu: "Thinking about what the Minister of Works saidst time, their department is different from other ministries. They need officials who can master various skills and crafts. Your Majesty might hold a special examination to recruit talents for the Ministry of Works."
For a country to grow and thrive, it needed all-round development, especially when it came to innovation. This was the truth Shen Yu realized when he read that book.
"It''s worth considering. The Ministry of Works is truly understaffed. This emperor will summon the minister to discuss itter." Shang JunLin lifted his hand and pinched Shen Yu''s face. "What about Ah Yu? Doesn''t Ah Yu want anything?"
"Your Majesty has given me a lot already. I just put forward some ideas. Only time will tell if they actually benefit Da Huan. If Your Majesty really wants to give me something, you can consider owing me a favor. If Da Huan ends up benefiting, Your Majesty can grant me a request someday."
"Very well."
While they spoke, Mu Xi brought over the medicine. When Shen Yu saw the dark medicinal liquid he frowned.
Shang JunLin smiled with amusement. He took the medicine from Mu Xi. "You can go."
Mu Xi bowed and retreated.
Shang JunLin approached with the medicine and Shen Yu immediately backed away.
He couldn''t help himself. Seeing Shang JunLin''s posture, he thought of the peculiar taste of the old medicine, and he wasn''t sure what kind of mood Shang JunLin was in right now.
"Why is Ah Yu hiding?" The smile in Shang JunLin''s eyes grew, and he stopped Shen Yu from retreating further. "Didn''t Imperial Physician Gu say this medicine wouldn''t be as unpleasant to take as before?"
TL Notes:
suffered some indigestion (of food) to retain in stomach due to indigestion (TCM)
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Chapter 79
Chapter 79
Thanks very much to reader B. and k. for the ko-fi! <3 <3 <3
Thanks also to reader F. and S. who donated when I was on break! <3 <3 <3
With no way to retreat, Shen Yu could only let Shang JunLin approach him. "It seems that Imperial Physician Gu already knew how bad his medicine tastes."
"After you get well you won''t need it anymore." Because of his poor health Shen Yu had to take all sorts of medicine every day, and Shang JunLin ached to see it. That was the reason he indulged Shen Yu with so many sweets.
"Your Majesty is only saying that to make me feel better." Shen Yu knew his own body, and there was no way around it. He would have to take a variety of prescriptions for the rest of his life.
"This emperor will find someone to cure Ah Yu. If no one in Da Huan can do it, this emperor will search other countries. The world is vast. This emperor believes a cure for Ah Yu can be found."
These weren''t empty words. Shang JunLin had already sent people to search far and wide for famous doctors, but he hadn''t discussed it with Shen Yu. He didn''t want to say anything until he was certain he wouldn''t falsely raise Shen Yu''s hopes.
When you truly have a person in your heart, you can''t help but pay attention to everything about them. Shen Yu''s illness was painful for Shang JunLin.
He''d asked Imperial Physician Gu for every detail. Imperial Physician Gu told him that as long as Shen Yu''s illness remained, he couldn''t guarantee Shen Yu''s lifespan. Throughout history, people with this kind of health deficiency rarely lived as long as others. Shang JunLin was the emperor, but not even he could overturn life and death.
Shang JunLin refused to ept this. He sent teams of people to seek out famous doctors. He''d give anything to cure Shen Yu.
All this was done without Shen Yu''s knowledge.
Shen Yu lifted his fingers to Shang JunLin''s forehead and smoothed the lines between his eyebrows. "Your Majesty shouldn''t worry. I''ll take good care of myself. I''ve had this sickness for so many years. To be honest, I''m used to it. If I actually get better someday I won''t know what to do with myself. Please don''t frown. I''ll be good and take my medicine."
Shen Yu drew closer and took Shang JunLin''s hand. He drank the medicine and showed Shang JunLin the empty bowl. "All gone."
Then Shen Yu pressed his lips together. "Imperial Physician Gu was telling the truth. This medicine''s a lot better than thest one."
Except for the time Shen Yu had a sudden attack of sickness, Imperial Physician Gu''s medicine wasn''t that bad. Shen Yu only bothered toin about it in front of Shang JunLin. When Shang JunLin wasn''t around, he drank the bitter-tasting concoction without changing expression.
Shang JunLin felt a warm yet cool touch on his forehead. When he was about to speak, Shen Yu interrupted. "Although it''s not that bad, I still want some candied fruit. Will Your Majesty bring some over?"
Seeing that Shen Yu was feelingzy and didn''t want to move, Shang JunLin got up and brought over the fruit that had been prepared.
Shen Yu leaned against Shang JunLin like a chick waiting to be fed by a bigger bird. "I want Your Majesty to feed me."
Shang JunLin had been feeling downcast because of Shen Yu''s health, but he was defenseless against this kind of coquettish tone. After feeding Shen Yu the candied fruit and some water, Shang JunLin''s low mood was swept away.
"Does Your Majesty have any ns this afternoon?" Seeing that Shang JunLin was back to normal, Shen Yu''s mood rxed as well.
"This emperor is meeting with the prime minister and the Minister of Workster. Aside from that, there''s nothing." Shang JunLin stroked the long, silky hair that fell behind Shen Yu''s shoulders.
"I n to bring Shen Yue here to speak with her. Would Your Majesty like to join me, or"
"Does Ah Yu want this emperor to stay?"
"That''s up to Your Majesty to decide."
"It''s rare to hear that from Ah Yu. This emperor will join you and call the ministers to the pce when you finish things here."
After the two decided they told Meng Gonggong to bring Shen Yue over from the dowager concubine''s quarters.
The dowager concubine lived in a pce that was rtively isted. After Shang JunLin ascended the throne he wanted to assign her a better location, but she refused. She''d lived a life of struggle in thete emperor''s harem. In her remaining years she wanted peace and quiet.
The dark prison was a terrifying experience for Shen Yue. It wasn''t untilter, when she was sent to the dowager concubine''s pce, that she finally found some peace. She wasn''t a total fool. Given time to reflect, she realized that she was now living in a historical period that didn''t ce a high value on human life. Here, imperial power was absolute. This wasn''t a world where love reigned supreme like in all those romance novels she''d read.
After all, she came from modern times. She had more knowledge and education than the people who worked in the pce. After serving the dowager concubine for a while, Shen Yue gradually won her approval.
"Shen Yue Jiejie, the dowager concubine wants to see you."
The clear voice of a young woman rang out from the doorway. Shen Yue quickly finished folding the clothes she was holding. "I''ll be right there."
Shen Yue didn''t dare to dy. She put down what she was doing and hurried to the other room.
When the dowager concubine saw Shen Yue, she smiled. "Someone''s here to summon you to Yuzhang Pce. The noble monarch wants to ask you some questions. Be sure to answer well. If it weren''t for the noble monarch''s help, you wouldn''t be working here now."
"This ve knows. Don''t worry, dowager concubine. This ve used to be ignorant, but that was in the past," Shen Yue said in an obedient voice.
The dowager concubine called Shen Yue over and gave her a few more words of advice before saying, "Go."
As Shen Yue followed the junior eunuch away from the isted pce, her nervousness and fear began to increase. It wasn''t until she was trained by the dowager concubine that Shen Yue came to realize how far she''d crossed over the line before. It was no exaggeration to say that she would have been executed if the noble monarch hadn''t directly intervened.
She''d been serving the dowager concubine for a while and it had taken her some time to ept her status. "Why is he able to do all those things when I can''t?" Even now she couldn''t help second-guessing her fate, but they were thoughts she couldn''t share with anyone else.
The journey from the residence of the dowager concubine to Yuzhang Pce wasn''t especially long, but it also wasn''t short. As they walked, many things passed through Shen Yue''s mind, but she reached no conclusions. When the young eunuch leading her suddenly stopped, she realized they''d arrived.
The gates to the majestic pce came into view. Compared tost time, Shen Yue''s attitude was drastically different.
"Your Majesty, what is Shen Yue''s current situation?" After handing her over to Shang JunLin to deal with, Shen Yu never asked about her again.
Shang JunLin toyed with Shen Yu''s fingers. They were white and slender like the finest lustrous jade, with defined joints and strong lines, not as soft as a woman''s. Shang JunLin liked Shen Yu''s hands very much, especially when they were gripping his clothes or himself.
A few images shed through his mind. Shang JunLin coughed softly and forced his attention back. "This emperor sent that person to the dowager concubine and exined that she would need some discipline''. Later on the dowager concubine sent a message saying that she''s changed a great deal. Ah Yu will find out when you see her."
They didn''t have to wait long. Meng Gonggong soon brought Shen Yue inside.
"This ve greets Your Majesty and the noble monarch." Shen Yue bowed ording to the proper etiquette.
Shang JunLin wasn''t the type to hold a grudge against a little girl. "You may rise."
Shen Yu observed the woman whose behavior and words were so different from before. She really did seem to have changed. From the moment she walked through the door she never once tried to look them in the eyes, and there was no trace of reluctance or resentment in her bearing.
"How have you been doingtely?" Shen Yu asked in a warm voice.
Because of the previous incident, Shen Yue felt some gratitude towards Shen Yu. She nced carefully at the emperor who was sitting beside him. Seeing no displeasure on the emperor''s face, she inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
"This ve is doing well. The dowager concubine has been very kind to this ve. The people in the dowager concubine''s pce are also easy to get along with."
"If you''re not used to it, you don''t have to call yourself this ve''." Shen Yu knew that in the world Shen Yue came from, everyone was equal and the rules were very different. He didn''t mind amodating her a little if it would help him gain her earnest cooperation.
When Shen Yue heard this, she looked at Shen Yu in surprise. As someone who was born and raised in modern times, she really wasn''t used to a world where she had to kneel and constantly call herself a servant or a ve. But by now she''d fully learned the meaning of the idiom, "Do as the natives do".
There weren''t many rules in the dowager concubine''s pce. The concubine didn''t like to see people kneel in front of her. Aside from having to refer to herself as this ve'', Shen Yue thought her current life was morefortable than her previous one.
"I called you here to discuss something. Recently the Ministry of Works is making ns to pave roads with concrete. If you have any suggestions of your own, you can put them forward. Da Huan will have its first female official soon. There''s a chance for you to change your status, if you want."
"Concrete roads? Women officials?!" Dumbfounded, Shen Yue stared at Shen Yu. She couldn''t tell which of the two things shocked her more.
This man was also a transmigrator. Did Shen Yu propose using concrete? And a woman bing an officialdid Shen Yu put forward that idea too?
"That''s right." Shen Yu leaned forward slightly. "You should think about what you might be able to do for Da Huan. If you have something to contribute, you can change things. The world is a big ce. It would be a pity if you have to stay inside the pce forever. What do you think?"
Shen Yu''s voice was soft and contained an almost imperceptible hint of persuasion. A tiny wisp crept into Shen Yue''s heart. She couldn''t help thinking about it. Did she really want to spend the rest of her life like this? After transmigrating, did she want to be a pce maid and nothing more? Her old life was a mess, but now she had a second chance. Did she want to live the same as before?
"The way I acted back then was outrageous. I even wanted to destroy you. Why are you willing to give me another chance?" Shen Yue didn''t understand. She knew how much of a jerk she was in the past. What Shen Yu was proposing made no sense.
"It''s because youe from the same ce. That''s why I''m willing to give you another chanceas long as you''re willing to use your knowledge to help Da Huan."
Shen Yu looked at Shen Yue. His dark eyes almost seemed to glow, tempting the woman to step inside a new world.
Shen Yue stood there in a daze. Then she suddenly knelt down and gave Shen Yu a deep salute. "I''ve done a lot of things I shouldn''t have. But I also know that an apology without actions is worthless. I''m willing to spend the rest of my life making up for my mistakes."
By no means was Shen Yu a person who would easily forgive someone who did wrong. He was willing to give Shen Yue another chance for specific reasons. First, Shen Yue might have really changed. Second, Shen Yue''s face looked like his, and he couldn''t help thinking that Shen Yue had some sort of connection to himself. Third, Shen Yue''s origin was unusual, which was the most important point.
His knowledge of the other world came from two sources, the book he''d read and Shen QingRan. He wasn''t the same as Shen Yue, who''d lived in that world. He was curious about that ce and wanted to know more. It would be even better if he could bring some of that world''s knowledge to Da Huan, in addition to flood control methods and cement.
After their talk, Shen Yu asked Shen Yue to go back and think about things. He''d nted a seed. Now he just had to wait for the seed to break through the soil, sprout, and grow tall.
Shang JunLin summoned the prime minister and the Minister of Works and told them about Shen Yu''s suggestion. If Da Huan was going to implement a new type of examination it couldn''t be achieved in one day, but he wanted them to start thinking about it.
When he returned to Yuzhang Pce it was already dark. Shen Yu was sitting on a soft couch reading a book. Shang JunLin walked over, took the man in his arms, and pulled Shen Yu''s hand into his own.
"Ah Yu seems extremely tolerant of Shen Yue."
"I''m mostly concerned about where she originally came from. The dowager concubine must have gone to a lot of effort to temper her personality." His fingers were being gently pressed and squeezed. Shen Yu rxed and leaned against Shang JunLin''s arms. "Is this what Your Majesty expected when you sent Shen Yue to the dowager concubine?"
"This emperor thought she might reveal some clues about thete wife of the Zhenbei Marquis, so I asked the dowager concubine to take her in." Shang JunLin inteced his fingers with Shen Yu''s. "Ah Yu shouldn''t underestimate anyone who was able to survive the previous emperor''s harem. The dowager concubine lived in thete emperor''s harem for years. She''s seen every type of person there is. To her, Shen Yue is nothing at all."
"It''s fortunate that Your Majesty''s harem is clean. If not" Shen Yu paused. If Shang JunLin''s harem wasn''t empty, would he have agreed to enter the harem?
Maybe, but his rtionship with Shang JunLin certainly wouldn''t be like it was now.
"There was never any chance of that," Shang JunLin said. He took Shen Yu''s chin, making him turn to look at him, and lowered his head to print a kiss on Shen Yu''s lips. "This emperor doesn''t want anyone else. In this life it''s enough to have Ah Yu."
TL Notes:
Do as the natives do from When you enter a vige, follow the local customs (idiom); do as the natives do / When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
dowager concubine tifi Concubine of thete emperor
jiejie older sister; amon way to address an older woman of the same generation as you
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Chapter 80
Chapter 80
"I believe in Your Majesty." Shen Yu certainly trusted Shang JunLin. Even if Shang JunLin changed someday, in the past and right now, he was what he said.
As for the future, Shen Yu didn''t want to think about it.
As if sensing his misgivings, Shang JunLin''s kiss moved to the peak of Shen Yu''s lips. "Ah Yu, my heart will never have a ce for anyone but you."
Before he met Shen Yu, his heart was no more than a wastnd. It was the arrival of Shen Yu that made his emotions blossom. This heart full of flowers bloomed for Shen Yu alone.
As if tasting something delicious, he lightly traced the petals of Shen Yu''s lips. Their pale color gradually darkened to dark red, and the tip of his tongue slipped past the teeth, lithely seeking and exploring the warmth inside.
"Your Majesty" Shen Yu met Shang JunLin''s stormy kiss, clutching the ck fabric under his hands.
All his other senses disappeared. Shen Yu let his eyes close and lightly moved the tip of his tongue.
The man''s actions paused. Then as if he was feeling encouraged by something his attack became more and more fierce.
It was like a mutual chase or a game of chess with initiative passing back and forth between them, neither willing to give in. Shang JunLin held Shen Yu''s chin, but at some point his hand moved to the back of Shen Yu''s head, sping him tightly, giving him no room to shrink away.
The wind and rain of the storm eventually came to an end. Shang JunLin''s breath touched Shen Yu''s lips. They were both breathing a bit unsteadily. Shang JunLin didn''t want to let go. Without moving away he waited for his breath to slow down.
Shang JunLin sighed softly. "Ah Yu is so eager tonight."
"Your Majesty is excited too." Shen Yu felt it clearly. Just now his mind was totally absorbed in the kiss. Only when he returned to his senses did he realize how dangerous their current position was.
"This emperor won''t do anything. Let me hold you close for a while." As he said these words, his lips softly brushed Shen Yu''s skin.
After expending so much energy, Shen Yu was toozy to move. It wasn''t the first time he''d been in this kind of situation, but right now the atmosphere was subtly different. Shen Yu couldn''t have said why, but even though he was tired he still wanted to be close to Shang JunLin.
Shen Yue was escorted back to the dowager concubine''s quarters by the people from Yuzhang Pce. When the dowager concubine heard about her return, she asked a servant to bring Shen Yue over.
The elderly maid who served the dowager concubine was puzzled. "Why is the dowager concubine so interested in Shen Yue?"
"That person? Ah, the older you get the more you enjoy the liveliness of young people. It''s pleasant to spend time with Shen Yue now, isn''t it?" The dowager concubine leisurely admired her nails. "You see, that child actually knows a lot of different things."
The dowager concubine''s hands were well-maintained. Her nails were painted with intricate designs, which made her hands even more beautiful.
The elderly maid poured a fresh cup of tea for the dowager concubine. "Indeed, she''s a lot more likable than when she first arrived. The dowager concubine is good at training people. You were even able to change her entric temperament."
The dowager concubine picked up her tea cup and took a sip. "She''s young and it''s normal for young people to take a wrong turn. His Majesty sent her to me to help discipline her. I think she must be useful somehow. If it really was impossible to teach her, I wouldn''t have bothered to get involved."
"That''s true. The dowager concubine has encountered many people over the years. His Majesty is a good man. He''s always appreciated the dowager concubine''s past kindness. If it weren''t for His Majesty, we wouldn''t be able to live such a rxed life." The elderly maid sighed.
She was an old woman who''d served the dowager concubine since she first entered thete emperor''s harem. Her mistress wasn''t the type who relished fighting for power and profit, and it hadn''t been easy for her to survive the rain of blood and turmoil. It was good to be able to live in such calm and quiet these days.
"When I acted back then, it was because I saw how difficult it was for that child in the harem. Besides, thete empress sheltered me a great deal. After everything that happened, it wasn''t easy for that boy to grow up in such a murderous ce. Besides, I didn''t do much. He fought for everything himself. If he''s willing to remember my past kindness, it''s out of the goodness of his heart. It doesn''t mean we should try to seek advantage for ourselves in return, understood?"
The dowager concubine''s tone was light, but the meaning of her words was heavy.
"This ve understands." The elderly maid felt a shiver in her heart. She knew that some gossip must have reached the ears of the dowager concubine. "This ve will pay close attention to our people here in the pce and make sure they don''t step out of line."
"Good." The dowager concubine couldn''t help thinking of the events of many years ago. When thete empress was still alive, she and the emperor were deeply in love. As their son, Shang JunLin was truly the favored son of heaven.
When the dowager concubine went to the empress'' pce to pay her respects back then, she often saw Shang JunLin there. He tried so hard to look like a mature little adult, reading his books beside the empress. Who would have thought that the beloved son of the empress would someday have to crawl through hell itself?
After thete empress died, treacherous ministers instigated the emperor to disregard years of affection between husband and wife. He executed more than one hundred members of the empress'' family in one night. In a single day the motherless Shang JunLin lost the support of his powerful maternal family. The fate of a prince with no ability to protect himself was all too easy to predict.
At the time, the dowager concubine wanted to take the child and raise him at her side, but the emperor forbade anyone from doing so. The dowager concubine had no status in the pce. There was only so much she could do in secret to help.
The next time she met Shang JunLin, she could no longer see any trace of the child he''d once been. He was vicious and cruel, a ruthless avenger who''d returned from hell.
She didn''t know what happened between thete emperor and empress, but it was enough to make the emperor eradicate the empress'' family in one night and withdraw all favor from his only legitimate son, which indicated how serious it was.
Unfortunately, everyone who knew the details had been disposed of. The dowager concubine investigated quietly for a long time but never found a single clue.
"Dowager concubine, Lady Shen Yue is here."
The dowager concubine sighed and set aside her thoughts. "Send her in."
When Shen Yue walked inside, she bowed respectfully to the dowager concubine. This person had given her a new life. Shen Yue respected her from the bottom of her heart.
The dowager concubine called the woman in front of her, and then took her hand and patted it. "I''m relieved to see you came back in one piece."
"Dowager concubine" Shen Yue felt warmth flood her heart. She''d never received much care from adults when she was a child. The dowager concubine was the first person to give her so much attention, finally showing her what it was like to receive an elder''s careful teaching.
The dowager concubine noticed Shen Yue''s fondness and smiled softly.
"His Majesty and the noble monarch asked me about something, but I don''t know how to choose." Shen Yue described what happened in Yuzhang Pce, skipping over the part about transmigrating from modern times.
After listening, the dowager concubine felt happy for Shen Yue. "This shows that His Majesty and the noble monarch value you. I''ve also heard that His Majesty ns to employ female officials. This is an opportunity. I know how many wonderful ideas you have. For you to be stuck here in my isted pce would be a waste of talent. Go ahead and do it. You''re still young and can take a chance. The world is an unfair ce for women to begin with. It wasn''t easy for His Majesty and the noble monarch to do something for women."
"Yes, a woman should be more than just an essory for a man." Shen Yue agreed. Despite living in ancient times, the emperor was willing to recognize the ability of women. Shen Yue thought this was something to admire.
"Dowager concubine, I feel a little worried. Do you think I can do a good job?" Shen Yue hesitated. It wasn''t that she didn''t want the opportunity. After all, who would want to live their life in the shadows? But she was a little afraid. If she agreed, would she be able to endure the hard work?
"Good child, don''t be afraid. His Majesty and the noble monarch made this offer and they''ll naturally help you. If you trust me, I''m willing to do my part as well. Every journey starts with a first step. There''s nothing to worry about."
Shen Yue nodded heavily. "I see!"
The next day Shen Yu received Shen Yue''s reply.
Shang JunLin had gone to morning court. Shen Yu closed his eyes andy in bed for a while before sitting up.
There were clean clothes over to the side. Shen Yu dressed himself slowly. When he got out of bed, his legs were so weak that he almost sat back down.
Last night he got too caught up in things. He shouldn''t have agreed to help Shang JunLin with his legs.
Shen Yu felt a little pain and frowned. If he didn''t count that time in the bath, this was the second time it happened. They didn''t go all the way, but it still felt so strange that Shen Yu couldn''t ignore it.
Mu Xi was waiting in the outer room. When she heard him moving around she brought in some hot water.
"Young master, Shen Yue sent you a message. She said she''s willing to agree, but she hopes she can stay with the dowager concubine."
Shen Yu washed up and Mu Xi helped himb his hair. When he was done he sat down on the soft couch, enduring the pain, and let out a slow sigh of relief.
"I see. Tell her to sort out the information she thinks might be useful first and then send it over." Shen Yu felt worn out today. He didn''t really want to deal with business.
"Very well. Would the young master like to eat? His Majesty ordered the small kitchen to have some food ready."
"Bring it in. Have someone set up a small table. I''ll eat here."
Mu Xi swiftly ryed Shen Yu''s orders. After a short time, the small kitchen presented the meal.
Shen Yu picked up the chopsticks. "Hmm? Are there new people in the small kitchen?"
There were several dishes on the table that Shen Yu didn''t recognize.
The servant in charge of delivering the food answered, "His Majesty looked for imperial chefs in the pce who know different regional cuisines and sent them here. Today the small kitchen has presented new dishes alongside ones the noble monarch eats frequently. The noble monarch can see if they''re to your liking."
Shen Yu tried them one by one. These dishes weren''t quite the same as what was usually served in the pce, but the taste was excellent. After just one or two bites, Shen Yu''s appetite was piqued. He even ate more rice than usual.
When Shang JunLin returned from court, Shen Yu was finishing up his meal. Seeing that he''d enjoyed the food, Shang JunLin asked the pce servants to add another bowl and set of chopsticks and swept away the remainder of the food.
"Why didn''t Your Majesty tell them to bring in fresh dishes?" Shen Yu leaned against the cushion behind him without making room for Shang JunLin.
Years of military service had made their impact on Shang JunLin, who ate quickly. Last night they yed around until after midnight. Shen Yu didn''t wake up until it was almost noon, while Shang JunLin still managed to get up early and go to morning court.
After a while, Shang JunLin finished eating. He took a handkerchief from Meng Gonggong and wiped his mouth. "Ah Yu left so much food weren''t you saving it for this emperor?"
Shen Yu looked away. "Why would I leave anything for you?"
"Very well, Ah Yu didn''t intentionally leave any food for this emperor." Shang JunLin, who''d eaten his fill, was happy to banter with him. "It''s just that this emperor was extremely hungry, you see?"
Meng Gonggong led the servants in to take away the empty dishes and the small table.
Shang JunLin sat down on the soft couch, pulled Shen Yu close, and kissed his cheek. "Ah Yu, you can''t make trouble with me because ofst night. Last night you clearly agreed."
"I''m not making trouble. I''m just a little sore."
Last night the atmosphere was so good that Shen Yu reacted to Shang JunLin''s kisses for the first time, and that caused the man to get a little excited. Later, Shen Yu couldn''t resist and ended up helping Shang JunLin with his hands. As the two were getting heated on the couch, the man gazed at him with those deep eyes, and a devil made Shen Yu offer to let him use his legs.
Then things got out of hand.
"This emperor looked this morning and it didn''t seem to be hurt. I used the ointment sent by Imperial Physician Gu. Isn''t it better thanst time?"
TL Notes:
Every journey starts with a first step from Everything that happens proceeds from nothing to something
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Lady (Shen Yue) gniang Also used in Ch 26
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Chapter 81
Chapter 81
Shen Yu had only a vague memory of this. At the time, his thinking was rather muddled. Now that he thought about it, it seemed like there really was some sort of slippery feeling.
His thoughts drifted back to the night before.
There was a soft bed beneath his body, and on the other side was a breath that was scorching hot. He was like a fish tossed on the surface of the ocean, rising and falling with the wind and waves.
In the midst of the confusion, a man''s deep voice sounded in his ear: "Ah Yu, this emperor has the ointment sent by Imperial Physician Gu. It won''t be as sore this time"
Something that was icy cold but also zing hot.
The wind and waves grew more and more fierce.
Shang JunLin saw a crimson blush crawling up that porcin white skin and felt temptation scratching at his heart.
He''d seen Shen Yu when he was serene and self-possessed, and he''d seen him sink into despondency. Both sides of this man made his heart surge with love.
"I''ll tell Imperial Physician Gu to send over more ointment," Shang JunLin said quietly in Shen Yu''s ear. "Fortunately this emperor kept it close at hand."
"How will it look if Your Majesty asks Imperial Physician Gu to make more of it?" Shen Yu nudged Shang JunLin, not wanting to be so close to him.
"Why? It''s his duty to take proper care of Ah Yu''s body."
Shen Yu looked at him askance. "Including this?"
Suppressing a smile, Shang JunLin nodded.
Shen Yu: ""
He was speechless.
"Well, this emperor was just teasing. I''m not so dizzy with lust that I''d give Imperial Physician Gu a direct order." Shang JunLin smiled and pinched Shen Yu''s earlobe.
Shen Yu''s legs were still sore, and he didn''t feel like continuing this topic with the party who was responsible. "Your Majesty, did you decide what official position you''ll grant to Young Lady Fang and the others?"
The pce examination results had been announced several days ago, and the other sessful candidates had already begun to take up their posts. Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu would soon be appointed to serve in the Imperial Hanlin Academy. Fang JiaYi, the second highest-ranking schr, was the only one who hadn''t been assigned.
Originally, Shang JunLin intended to send her to Hanlin Academy like all the other top scorers, but the ministers strongly opposed it. Serving in Hanlin Academy was the starting point for people who''d eventually join the cab. The ministers thought it sufficient to find some meaningless position for Fang JiaYi. There was no need to put her in Hanlin Academy.
An even greater number of ministers wanted Shang JunLin to withdraw his order to make her an official in the first ce. They couldn''t ept the idea of serving in court alongside a woman. Not all of them were actual woman-haters, but it was difficult to change their existing prejudice so quickly. Before all this happened, the idea that a woman could be an official was just a fantasy.
As he considered this topic, Shang JunLin rubbed his aching forehead. "They didn''t have any problems with the others, and they were even willing to let H ChengYu and Jiang HuaiQing receive high-ranking assignments. But with Fang JiaYi they refuse to relent."
Shen Yu: "Where do they want to assign Young Lady Fang? The order has already been announced to the public. It can''t be rescinded."
Shang JunLin: "They want this emperor to make her ady of the second rank or some other title."
Shen Yu: "A title without actual power. That way they avoid attracting negative attention and achieve their goal at the same time. Two birds with one stone, it''s a good proposal."
Shang JunLin: "At present, the prime minister is the only member of the cab who''s agreed to let Fang JiaYi be an official. The other two still won''t give in."
Da Huan''s three-member cab had enormous power, which reached its peak during the reign of the previous emperor. After Shang JunLin ascended the throne, he revoked a lot of its authority, but the cab remained a powerful institution.
In addition to the prime minister, the other two members of the cab were also from old aristocratic families. If Shang JunLin wanted to take action that might be harmful to their interests, the cab ministers were the first obstacle in his way.
Both sides refused to budge, and now things were at a stalemate.
Despite Fang JiaYi''s existence as a special case, the triennial Qionglin Banquet was scheduled to take ce as usual.
In previous years the banquet was organized by officials from aristocratic families. This year, because of Fang JiaYi, Shang JunLin delegated the matter to the Ministry of Rites.
On the one hand, the Qionglin Banquet was arge feast meant to congratte the top scorers of the triennial imperial examinations. On the other hand, it was an opportunity for iing officials to be familiar with the ranks of Da Huan''s current ministers ahead of time.
To signal the banquet''s importance, a prince of the imperial family usually attended. Shang JunLin didn''t have any children, and he''d previously sent all of his brothers and rtives far away, which meant he either had to send a minister to attend on his behalf or go in person.
"The Qionglin Banquet? Is Your Majesty going to attend?" Shen Yu asked.
"This emperor means to go, and Ah Yu wille with me."
Shen Yu knew why Shang JunLin was going personally. Too many strange things had happened during this year''s imperial examinations. The emperor''s presence at the banquet would not only underscore the importance of the exams, it would also reassure the iing officials and force the aristocratic families to tone down their bluster.
Shen Yu was a man, which meant that if Shang JunLin wanted to take him along no one would object. Even if they did, Shang JunLin would just ignore it, and doing so would offend Shen Yu, who was deep in the emperor''s favor. It would gain nothing and everyone knew it.
After the relevant preparations werepleted, the examinees got the news.
"This year His Majesty is going to attend with the noble monarch. I''ll finally have the opportunity to see the noble monarch I''ve heard so much about."
"Aren''t you more excited to see His Majesty in person?"
"Do you think it''s going to be hard to meet His Majesty after joining the court as an official? What''s really rare is being able to see the noble monarch."
"I heard the exam fraud was discovered in time because of the noble monarch. Otherwise we all would have been in trouble."
"His Majesty is willing to take the noble monarch to the Qionglin Banquet? It must be true what they say, His Majesty really values him."
"I thought the harem wasn''t allowed to interfere in politics. Even if His Majesty dotes on the noble monarch, he shouldn''t bring him to that kind of asion, right?"
"What''s wrong with it? His Majesty took the noble monarch to the pce exam too."
"Speaking of which, I don''t think any officials criticized His Majesty for that."
"No, they''re all focused on the second ce scorer, Young Lady Fang. Nobody cares about anything else."
"It''s so strange that His Majesty actually wants to appoint a female official."
"That''s not something for people like us to worry about. Let''s pay more attention to matters at hand."
"You mean the Qionglin Banquet, right? I wonder if it''s really like the poem says. Do you think Young Lady Fang will be there? I wonder what she''s like."
"She''s a determined, capable woman who isn''t afraid of people with power. In my opinion if she joins the court as an official she''ll definitely be effective."
The speaker had a good impression of Fang JiaYi. He''d witnessed the farce at Yingxing House involving the King of Yue and thought she did a better job in that situation than most men.
At the Fang residence.
Minister Fang had known his daughter would face enormous resistance if she tried to be an official, but he didn''t think it would be so difficult from the very start.
Minister Fang sighed and looked at his daughter, whose eyes were steadfast. "This will all be resolved for good after the banquet."
After the Qionglin Banquet, it would no longer be possible to dy the appointment of new officials. Although it looked like the aristocratic families had sessfully overwhelmed Shang JunLin, the fact was that Shang JunLin didn''t want to stomp them down with too much force.
"Father, you''ve already done so much for me. I''ll be able to travel this road on my own in the future."
From the first stirrings of the dream inside her, Fang JiaYi knew her path would be uneven, rough, and full of thorns. She''d never dared to tell anyone about it because she knew how unimaginable and shocking it would sound. She thought her dream was doomed to remain a dream for the rest of her life. Instead, against all her expectations, she had the chance to make it a reality.
How strange that the first people to tell her she wasn''t out of her mind were the two men who stood at the pinnacle of Da Huan''s power structure. From that moment on, she made up her mind to ze a new path for all women!
The day of the Qionglin Banquet soon arrived.
Shang JunLin changed into a less formal imperial court robe. Shen Yu wanted to experience the atmosphere among the schrs, so he didn''t wear the garments that represented his status as noble monarch.
His white, wide-sleeved court gown was covered with a light blue gauze mantle, and his long hair was unbound and fell softly behind his shoulders. His facial features were delicate, his eyes were dark and bottomless, his face wore a polite smile. With a folding fan in his hand, this elegant young man was as smooth and polished as jade.
The Qionglin Banquet took ce outside the pce in a special hall. Shen Yu and Shang JunLin got into the carriage and rode slowly out of the pce.
As Shen Yu sat in the carriage he nced at Shang JunLin. "We should thank Young Lady Fang. Otherwise Your Majesty would have been criticized by the officials for taking me to the pce examination."
"True. With Fang JiaYi to distract them, they''ve decided to ignore the rest of the pce exam."
These days Shang JunLin was usually in Yuzhang Pce when he approved memorials. Shen Yu asionally nced at them and found that most were about Fang JiaYi. Shang JunLin didn''t care enough to deal with them, so he had people pick them out and set them aside. By now the pile was so big it would take days to read.
"Your Majesty can assign the less important memorials to your officials to deal with. If Your Majesty is worried about the aristocratic families, you could promote a group of officials from clean backgrounds," Shen Yu suggested.
"The cab is supposed to handle such things. In recent years, however, the influence of the aristocratic families has grown. If this emperor lets the cab deal with everything, things may not go well. What Ah Yu says is reasonable. After this emperor trains a group of officials who can be used, I won''t be as busy as I am now."
When Shang JunLin first ascended the throne, he suffered many losses in secret at the hands of the old families. Later, when their ambition became excessive, he used bloody methods to suppress them, gradually consolidating court power into his own hands.
Jiang HuaiQing continued to live with H ChengYu while they waited for their assignments to be announced. Jiang HuaiQing originally nned to rent a house of his own, but H ChengYu persuaded him not to.
"Aren''t you used to living here, HuaiQing? Or do you think I''m annoying?" As H ChengYu said this, his eyes and expression drooped slightly, giving the impression of an abandoned puppy.
Jiang HuaiQing immediately felt guilty. He hurriedly exined, "No, how could I think you''re annoying, ChengYu Xiong? I''m just afraid I''m causing you too much trouble."
"How could HuaiQing cause trouble? You''ve obviously helped me a lot," H ChengYu interrupted. "What''s more, you pay for your own food and board. You also help out with things at home from time to time. How could you cause me too much trouble?"
H ChengYu looked at Jiang HuaiQing quietly for a moment. "If you already had your own house and wanted to move out, I wouldn''t say anything. But right now there isn''t even a ce you''re thinking about moving to. What''s more, I''m used to having you around. If you really leave, I''m afraid I won''t be able to adjust for a while. When our assignments are announced, HuaiQing, you can consider it again."
Jiang HuaiQing thought about it. He was ustomed to living and eating with H ChengYu these days. If he really moved out, the new ce might not be asfortable, and it would certainly take time to adapt.
As H ChengYu said, although he lived in his friend''s house, it wasn''t like he didn''t contribute his share.
The two attended the Qionglin Banquet together.
One was the zhuangyuan and the other was the tanhua. The moment they came in they were surrounded.
Some people wanted to talk to H ChengYu, while others were looking for Jiang HuaiQing. The two were gradually separated by the crowd.
This was the opportunity Yi JianMing''s attendants had been waiting for. They exchanged nces and sent a person to quietly follow.
Shen Yu got out of the carriage, separated from Shang JunLin, and walked into the crowd.
Jiang HuaiQing was talking to the people who kepting up to him. Suddenly he was tapped on the shoulder. He turned around and met a pair of smiling eyes.
" Yu Xiong?"
TL Notes:
Two birds with one stone one move, two gains / shoot two hawks with one arrow / kill two birds with one stone
criticize (the emperor) impeach, use If the emperor or anyone else did something contrary tow, morality, etc., an official might write a memorial to call them out for it. This could involve the Imperial Censorate mentioned in previous chapters
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Hanlin Academy Imperial Hanlin Academy, from the Tang dynasty through 1911. An institution of elite schrs who performed secretarial and literary tasks for the imperial court (Wikipedia)
Qionglin Banquet A banquet for new jinshi which took ce after the pce examination, originally held in Qionglin Garden. Baidu quotes a famous poem about it ( by ) which might be the one mentioned in this chapter
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Chapter 82
Chapter 82
Thanks very much to reader G. for the ko-fi! ()
Shen Yu nodded his head.
A schr standing to the side saw Shen Yu. When the man observed how impressive Shen Yu''s demeanor was, he felt surprised.
He was one of the better-informed people in this year''s examination and recognized most of the other examinees, but he''d never seen this young man in blue. If he had, there was no way he would have forgotten him. "May I ask who this gentleman is?" he asked.
"This is a good friend of mine. Just call him Young Master Yu. I have something to attend to. Please excuse me for a while, sorry."
Seeing that one of Jiang HuaiQing''s friends hade looking for him, the crowd of well-wishers couldn''t keep him any longer. Jiang HuaiQing agreed to meet themter and excused himself.
He struggled his way out of the crowd and walked over to Shen Yu, ncing cautiously around him.
"Are you looking for something?" Shen Yu pressed the handle of his fan to his chin. "After seeing that it''s me, you''re not satisfied?"
"How could that be?" Jiang HuaiQing blinked. "It''s just that it''s rare to see you alone. Did that person note along?"
So he was looking for Shang JunLin.
"He''s here too, of course. How could Ie without him? He stepped away. I know you don''t feel rxed in his presence so I asked him to see to his own business for a while," Shen Yu said.
Since Shang JunLin was attending the banquet in person, there were details he needed to confirm. A few ministers also came over to speak to him. Inparison Shen Yu waspletely at leisure.
The two walked to a ce that wasn''t as crowded. "I didn''t think you and that person would reallye here," Jiang HuaiQing said.
"The situation this time is a bit unusual. Young Lady Fang''s score shocked them and they''re still making a fuss about it." Shen Yu didn''t mind giving him some details. "That was why they relented and agreed to give you and He Xiong a higher official rank."
"After all, before all this happened no one thought a woman would rank in the top three." Jiang HuaiQing gave a bashful smile. "To be honest, I was hoping to at least take second ce."
Shen Yuughed. "Before the exam, I actually bet His Majesty that you''de first, but His Majesty won twice over."
"How could Yu Xiong have such a high opinion of me?" Jiang HuaiQing, who hadn''t expected this, felt startled. "After losing to both ChengYu Xiong and Young Lady Fang, I have to ept the results."
Shen Yu was curious what this year''s examinees thought of women bing officials. "What do all of you think about Young Lady Fang?"
"ChengYu Xiong and I have the same opinion. I think Young Lady Fang is a good candidate. A lot of the others were convinced when they read the essay she wrote. They have some misgivings about women as officials, but they don''t firmly oppose it."
Jiang HuaiQing sorted out what he''d heard recently and continued, "To be honest, ites down to the fact they published all the essays. The truth is so obvious they can''t deny it. A lot of people, myself included, felt inferior when we read Young Lady Fang''s essay."
Fang JiaYi''s exam answers were original and insightful. She deeply explored aspects that other candidates hadn''t considered. Among a crowd of essays, hers was novel and unique, which really opened people''s eyes.
After Jiang HuaiQing read it, he gained new insight and discussed itter with H ChengYu. Both of them admired Fang JiaYi, a woman, for writing such an essay.
"When I saw her interact with the King of Yue that time, I knew she had hidden depths." Shen Yu''s eyebrows arched in a smile when he thought of how unlucky the King of Yue was that day. "A woman stood up and sought justice for herself and others who were hurt. Even though her opponent was a member of the imperial family she still didn''t back down."
"Right, even if you include men, how many people would be as brave as Fang JiaYi?" Jiang HuaiQing had been there also. He admired her, which was the reason he remembered Fang JiaYi when they met againter.
Shen Yu cast an apparently casual nce behind him. "Let''s find a ce to sit for a while," he suggested.
Jiang HuaiQing had no objection.
The hall where the Qionglin Banquet was held was enormous and richly ornamented, with carved beams and painted rafters. The gardens were beautiful and there were pavilions at regr intervals where people could sit and rest. The two chose a pavilion with no one else present and walked inside.
The two entered the pavilion and sat down, appearing to have no intention of leaving for the time being. Seeing this, the people following them exchanged nces. One quietly left while the other stayed to continue watching.
After listening to the report, the young master frowned. "You''re sure you saw him? He''s not with that H ChengYu?"
Yi JianMing''s friends had always considered him their leader. When they saw him toppled by a poor boy from nowhere, they decided to teach him a lesson.
"This servant saw him clearly. The man he''s with is shorter than Mr. H, and his clothes are a different color. Oh, and he hasn''t tied up his hair yet."
"Do you know who he is?"
"No, but I heard Jiang HuaiQing call him Yu Xiong''."
"Surname Yu''." The young master nced at the man beside him. "Is there a family named Yu in the capital?"
"Not as far as I know, and no one with that surname passed this year''s examination."
"Somebody from nowhere" the young master held his chin and said. "No one to be afraid of. Let''s go and have a look."
"You don''t want to ask JianMing Xiong first?" The other man hesitated. "And this is the Qionglin Banquet. If something goes wrong"
"Don''t be so timid. We won''t actually do anything to that Jiang person. We just want to make friends with him. How could we do anything at the Qionglin Banquet? We''re not that stupid."
Unlike Yi JianMing, these young masters were carefully trained by their families. Their reasons for taking part in the imperial examination were straightforward. They wanted to rank in the top three so they could enter the Hanlin Academy and prepare to join the cab in the future.
At first everything went ording to n, but three "surprises" showed up out of nowhere to ruin everything. Why did the H family in Jiangnan suddenly decide to enter government service? It was beyond their control. However the other two included a woman and a schr from a poor family with no background, so they had room to maneuver.
Shen Yu and Jiang HuaiQing chatted for a while. Suddenly they heard the sound of footsteps approaching. When Shen Yu turned his head and saw several young masters dressed in fancy clothes, he could guess what they were up to.
Jiang HuaiQing was a little confused when he saw them. These people had clearly sought them out on purpose. "Yu Xiong, are these your friends?"
"I don''t know them, do you?"
"Not I"
"Meeting someone is fate. Just because we don''t know each other yet doesn''t mean we won''t be acquainted in the future. Isn''t that right, Lord Tanhua?"
With these words, the group entered the pavilion.
Shen Yu looked at each of them and found that one was an old acquaintance he''d tangled with several times in his previous life.
Jiang HuaiQing sensed the malice in these young masters and frowned. "Who are you?"
The man who seemed to be their leader found a seat and sat down. "My surname is Zhao. The two people with me are surnamed Dian and L. We want to get to know the Lord Tanhua better, that''s all."
"But I don''t want to know you." Jiang HuaiQing had a bad feeling about these people and wanted to avoid them.
Young Master Zhao wasn''t expecting Jiang HuaiQing to speak so directly and felt a little impressed. He thought it would be easy to impose on someone from a humble background. Instead the man mmed the door in his face as soon as he introduced himself.
With a cold expression, Jiang HuaiQing didn''t hesitate to chase them away. "If there''s nothing else, please leave."
Young Master Zhao lost his temper. "You need to learn what''s good for you. We decided toe over and make friends because we look up to you. Otherwise do you think there''s any chance that you, an impoverished brat with no background, could gain a foothold in the capital just because you''re the tanhua?" he threatened.
One of hispanions echoed him, saying, "You''re always tagging along with Young Master H, but he''s just from the H family in Jiangnan. If something goes wrong do you think they''ll be able to do anything about it? Instead of choosing him you should find some better friends. If you''re with us, things will go a lot easier for you in the future."
"That''s my business not yours. You don''t need to worry about it!" Jiang HuaiQing''s voice became colder and colder. "Besides, all of that is up to the court ministers and His Majesty to decide. Or do you think you have more power than His Majesty?"
"We didn''t say that." Who would dare to buckle that hat on their head?
"Then what are you saying?" Shen Yu waved his fan. "It sounds like you''re trying to say you have a lot of influence?"
Until this point, Young Master Zhao and his friends were focused on Jiang HuaiQing. It was only when Shen Yu spoke up that they gave him some attention.
"Who are you?"
"I''m HuaiQing''s good friend. And I can''t say I like seeing you push people around with your power. Are all the aristocratic families in the capital this unprincipled?" Shen Yu deliberately pretended to be an outsider. "What an eye-opener."
Because the Zhenbei Marquis was so biased against his di son, Shen Yu rarely attended gatherings in the capital. Not many people knew him. After he entered the imperial harem, there were even fewer chances to meet him. It wasn''t surprising that these people didn''t recognize Shen Yu.
If everyone knew him, he wouldn''t dare to wander around the banquet without a disguise.
Young Master Zhao reminded himself of the reason they came here. He took a deep breath and suppressed his rising anger. "It''s just that we admire Mr. Jiang''s talent so much. We only want to be friends."
"It doesn''t look like you want to make friends with that attitude. It''s more like you want revenge." Shen Yu tilted his head, pretending to be confused. "Or is this your unique way of making friends in the capital?"
Young Master Zhao was so angry he could hardly catch his breath. He pointed at Shen Yu and began to stutter, but after a while the only thing he managed to say was, "You"
Seeing the situation deteriorate, the watcher who hesitated at the beginning secretly called over a servant boy. In a low voice he gave some instructions. The boy quietly withdrew.
Shen Yu saw the servant boy follow the path and disappear, but he pretended not to notice.
The servant boy hurried over to Yi JianMing and told him exactly what happened in the pavilion. Yi JianMing''s face changed color multiple times after hearing it. "Those fools," he said, cursing.
They chose to do this at the Qionglin Banquet, the worst imaginable time. Were they deliberately trying to set him up?
But he couldn''t just let them continue. He was the one who''d brought them here. If something happened, he would immediately get the me. He quickly excused himself from the people he was talking to. With an ugly expression on his face, Yi JianMing rushed to the ce the boy told him about.
When Yi JianMing arrived, a red-faced Young Master Zhao was angrily confronting someone. Opposite him, Jiang HuaiQing was at ease, like he was enjoying a rxing stroll.
"Shut your mouth!" Yi JianMing adjusted the expression on his face and walked over to Jiang HuaiQing and Shen Yu. "Sorry, I apologize for their behavior. If they said anything disrespectful I hope the two of you will overlook it."
"Not at all, not at all. We wouldn''t dare to be unhappy with your noble friends." Shen Yu opened his fan, concealing half his face. "I really don''t want to vanish without a trace, though I don''t know how they''d do it."
"How could" Yi JianMing gave those people a re. He couldn''t imagine why they would have said such a thing! Why were they so stupid? How could they let themselves be provoked and say something like that?!
"Who will vanish without a trace? This emperor had no idea there are people who can make someone disappear under my very nose."
TL Notes:
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
(Surname) Yu Y
Zhao
Dian
L
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Chapter 83
Chapter 83
A majestic voice came from behind them. Yi JianMing turned his head. The moment he saw that personing towards them, incredible panic welled up inside.
He couldn''t help regretting it. Why did he bring that Zhao person here and go along with it when they suggested dealing with Jiang HuaiQing? He knew that in the capital the aristocratic families held up the sky with one hand, but he forgot that imperial power stood above everything. It wasn''t the nobles who decided everyone''s fate, it was the true master of Da Huan, Shang JunLin.
Seeing Yi JianMing''s face turn ugly, the others began to realize the seriousness of the situation. They tried to remain calm. Then they remembered all the things they shouldn''t have said.
Several of them knelt down in panic.
Shang JunLin nced at the ministers behind him. He walked up to Shen Yu. "This is what you call an outstanding son of the aristocracy, Minister Yi?" he asked in a deep voice.
There was a subtle note of sarcasm in these words.
The face of this official turned red, then white with fright. He quickly knelt down to admit his guilt. "It''s because of this minister''sx discipline. Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Not long before, Minister Yi and several other officials from aristocratic families were discussing with Shang JunLin the schrs who passed this year''s exam. Aside from Fang JiaYi, of course, they wanted the best possible cement for the children of aristocratic families. They never imagined that one of these noble sons would stir up trouble before they could reach a decision.
Minister Yi''s heart was bleeding. The Yi family had carefully trained Yi JianMing. Not only did he not win first ce, he was involved in this kind of incident too. What a waste. His Majesty was already unhappy about the influence of the nobility and consistently supported people from humble backgrounds to counterbnce them. What a fiasco to let His Majesty hear such things in person.
His Majesty heard it with his own ears which meant there was no chance to remedy the situation. No, actually he didn''t hear it. After all, the emperor hadn''t heard the young master say it directly. The truth was still open to question.
After making these calctions, Minister Yi looked at the person who spoke just now. In addition to Jiang HuaiQing, there was a person who seemed like a promising young man.
The lower half of the young man''s face was hidden by a fan, revealing only his exquisite eyebrows and eyes.
When he sensed someone''s gaze, Shen Yu looked over. His eyebrows curved but there wasn''t a trace of a smile in his eyes.
For a moment Minister Yi fell into a daze. Then he abruptly realized this young man was none other than Noble Monarch Shen. He must have left the pce with His Majesty.
Why was he here with Jiang HuaiQing? What kind of rtionship did they have?
A series of questions ran through Minister Yi''s mind, but he didn''t dare to assume anything. All of this could be an ident. It might also have been set up in advance.
"They really need some proper discipline. Today at the Qionglin Banquet they dare to quarrel with the tanhua appointed by the imperial court. In the future, when these young masters be officials, they''ll have even more power in their hands. Will they do even more things that should not be done?" Shang JunLin''s tone was icy.
"This minister is guilty."
"This student is guilty."
"Since you know your guilt, you can''t escape punishment. Otherwise won''t the victims say that His Majesty is biased towards the nobility? Or question the authority of His Majesty over the aristocratic families?" Shen Yu''s hand hidden under his sleeve hooked Shang JunLin''s fingers. "Your Majesty, don''t you think so?"
"What the noble monarch says is correct. Today this emperor and the noble monarch happened to be present. Otherwise no one would have known the tanhua was bullied. Minister Yi, why don''t you tell uswhat''s the penalty for threatening and insulting Da Huan''s officials?"
It looked like His Majesty wasn''t going to let this go. Minister Yi and the other kneeling aristocratic officials were in utter despair. There wasn''t time to worry about poor schrs or women bing officials right now. The most important thing was making sure His Majesty didn''t seize this chance to cut them down!
It wasn''t until now that Young Master Zhao realized how much trouble he''d caused.
The color in his face drained away. His family was dependent on the Yi family. If Yi JianMing was implicated because of him, or if other aristocratic families were dragged into it, the entire Zhao family was finished.
"Your Majesty, everything that happened is my responsibility. Young Master Yi had nothing to do with it. Begging Your Majesty to understand!" As Young Master Zhao took all the me on himself, he was so agitated that he loudly knocked his forehead on the ground a few times.
"It''s only because I admire Young Master Jiang''s talent so much. I wanted to get to know him better. When I was rejected, I lost my temper and spoke out of turn. It really has nothing to do with Young Master Yi."
The other young masters responded simrly, ming themselves for the incident.
While Shang JunLin''s gaze swept over those young masters, several aristocratic officials exchanged nces. They sensed some room to maneuver.
"Your Majesty, I hope you will confirm the truth of this matter," one said.
Shen Yu smiled coldly. "Is the minister suggesting that I would nder Young Master Yi? I don''t know Young Master Yi at all. I have no grudges or grievances against him. I''m from an aristocratic family myself. Why would I lie about what happened?"
Of course, Shen Yu knew these people would never meekly admit they were at fault. In order to minimize their losses they were bound to line up a few scapegoats to take the me. That was why, during the argument just now, he deliberately got them to mention Yi JianMing. Otherwise why would he bother talking to these people?
Jiang HuaiQing had sensed his intentions and cooperated.
"This official doesn''t dare."
"I think you''re very daring. It''s not that easy to be an official'', So what if you''re the tanhua? You don''t have any backers in the capital. Do you really think you can seed here?''. Those are all things Yi JianMing said himself. How is it credible for you to say he''s ignorant of everything?"
Shen Yu lowered his fan and leaned against Shang JunLin. "Your Majesty, don''t let them ruin the Qionglin Banquet for everyone. Send these people elsewhere for now. When the banquet is over you can deal with them as you see fit."
Shang JunLin looked down at the ministers kneeling on the ground. "What do the ministers think?"
"Your officials ept the decree." They''d already said everything they could. What else could they do right now? Fortunately it would be handled after the Qionglin Banquet ended. They had some time to react.
"Very well. Get up."
Guards came in and escorted Yi JianMing and his group away. Shang JunLin took Shen Yu with him. Jiang HuaiQing followed behind.
The remaining officials looked at each other. Instead of immediately following, they huddled together to discuss countermeasures in low voices.
"Do you think what happened today was an ident?"
"That no longer matters. Whether by ident or coincidence, it has already happened, and the noble monarch stumbled into it. After what happened in the past, do you still think the noble monarch''s an easy man to deal with?"
"We sent someone into the harem to restrain His Majesty''s temper. Instead he''s making things worse!"
"Well, let''s not talk about that now. We have to decide how to deal with the current situation," Minister Yi interrupted.
"Let''s talk to the two ministers in the cab and see what can be done."
"I thought that Jiang HuaiQing would be easy to handle. I wasn''t expecting him to get with the noble monarch. Tell your people not to move against him unless they''repletely sure. Some lessons need only be learned once," Minister Yi instructed.
"Right."
Meanwhile, when H ChengYu heard what happened, he apologized to the person he was talking to and hurried over.
"HuaiQing, are you all right?" He pulled Jiang HuaiQing to him and looked at him up and down. Fortunately he seemed to be fine. H ChengYu felt relieved.
Jiang HuaiQing let his friend inspect him. Seeing that H ChengYu was worried, heforted him. "Everything''s OK. His Majesty and the noble monarch are here. No one will try to do anything to me."
H ChengYu felt chagrined. If he was there, those people wouldn''t have dared to attack Jiang HuaiQing. "I shouldn''t have let you go alone."
"It''s really fine. His Majesty and the noble monarch are both here." Jiang HuaiQing pointed ahead.
Only then did H ChengYu release Jiang HuaiQing''s arm and salute the two men. "Greetings to Your Majesty and the noble monarch."
"No need to be so polite." Shen Yu took Shang JunLin by the arm and jokingly said, "Usually you two are together all the time. When I saw HuaiQing alone, I wondered why you weren''t with him."
"I wasn''t paying attention and we were parted by the crowd. Thanking the noble monarch for your assistance with HuaiQing."
"To be honest, we should thank him. If not for what happened today, I don''t know how much longer your appointment would be dyed. The noble families will want to protect Yi JianMing and the others, which means they''ll have to make some concessions." Shen Yu didn''t expect that such a small amount of effort would turn things around so much.
When they reached an intersection in the path, the two groups separated.
After the incident at the banquet, a few things urred to Jiang HuaiQing. "ChengYu Xiong, when you didn''t want me to move out, was it because you were worried the aristocratic families would make trouble for me?"
"That''s one of the reasons," H ChengYu admitted. "You don''t have to think about it too much. What I said before was the truth. The main reason is that I''m used to living with you."
"I''m not thinking about it too much, but" Jiang HuaiQing sighed. "It''s just that I''ve been imposing on ChengYu Xiong for a while."
"You don''t have to feel like you''re imposing on me by living in my house. Those people won''t move against me because of my family. And after today, they won''t dare to do anything rash."
H ChengYu suddenly stopped and faced Jiang HuaiQing. In a low voice he added, "I''m the eldest di son of my family. I was taught from an early age I''d be responsible for the family in the future. When I was a child, I had such a heavy workload that my younger brothers and sisters were ordered not to disturb me. Every time I tried to spend time with them the elders immediately called them away. The time I spend with HuaiQing is something I could only wish for in my childhood."
Jiang HuaiQing pictured a young H ChengYu, a child who wanted to be close to his younger brothers and sisters but couldn''t because of the heavy weight on his shoulders. His heart softened and he took a step forward to embrace H ChengYu.
"If ChengYu Xiong doesn''t mind, you can consider me your younger brother in the future."
H ChengYu stiffened. Slowly he put his hand on Jiang HuaiQing''s back. " OK," he said hoarsely.
The Qionglin Banquet officially began. Shang JunLin led Shen Yu to the main seat, said a few words of encouragement, and opened the banquet.
With Shang JunLin present, both the current and iing officials were on edge. Shang JunLin knew that everyone felt restrained in his presence. After the necessary etiquette, he led Shen Yu away.
When they departed, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.
There weren''t many people outside the banquet hall. Shen Yu held Shang JunLin''s hand as they strolled along the path.
"Your Majesty, do you think H ChengYu pays too much attention to Jiang HuaiQing?" Shen Yu said in a vague way. "I don''t think HuaiQing has noticed at all."
"They can handle their own affairs. Instead of caring about them, Ah Yu should care more about this emperor." The only reason Shang JunLin paid attention to Jiang HuaiQing was because of Shen Yu. He didn''t care at all about the feelings between his officials.
"How would Your Majesty like me to care more about you? Should I ask if you feel hot or cold once a day? Wish you good health morning and night?"
"That''s not necessary." Shang JunLin stopped suddenly and drew Shen Yu into his arms. "As long as Ah Yu is less distracted by other people."
Shen Yu was caught off guard and fell into the man''s arms, smelling the scent of ambergris on his body. His lips curved in a smile. "Then I''ll think of Your Majesty once every morning, once again at noon, and once again at night, sound good?"
TL Notes:
a promising young man lit. orchids and jade trees (idiom); fig. a child with splendid future prospects; worthy followers
Should I ask if you feel hot or cold ask people whether they feel hot or feel cold; be solicitous about sb.''s health; give them one''s assiduous and thoughtful attention; inquire after sb.''s well-being
ambergris A solid, waxy substance produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. It''s rare and expensive and has been used in perfumes since historical times (Wikipedia)
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Chapter 84
Chapter 84
Shang JunLin still wasnt satisfied. Is that all? Ah Yu wont think about this emperor the rest of the time?
Then how often should I think about Your Majesty?
This emperor thinks about Ah Yu every moment of the day. Shang JunLin gave a strong hint.
Ah, I see, Shen Yu drawled. Then, in Your Majestys opinion, I should think of you all the time as well?
Shang JunLin nodded haughtily. Mm.
Shen Yu lifted his head from Shang JunLins arms. His eyes were smiling. Your Majesty, do you know what you look like right now?
Shang JunLin had already achieved his goal and was in a good mood. He ced a hand on Shen Yus waist and gently rubbed him. It doesnt matter what this emperor looks like. What matters is that Ah Yu doesnt forget the promise you made to this emperor.
What promise was that? Shen Yu was about to ask when he realized Shang JunLin was referring to what he said a moment ago. Shen Yu buried his face in the mans arms. I understand. Ill think about Your Majesty even more every day, he said in a muffled voice.
Shang JunLin put his hand on Shen Yus back and traced down his long hair. A feeling of satisfaction rose in his chest.
They stood in the dim light, far away from the bustle of the world,pletely wrapped up in each other. The atmosphere between them was so warm and harmonious that no one coulde between them.
They held each other silently. After a while Shang JunLin let go of Shen Yu and the two continued along the path.
After what happened today, the aristocratic families will probably rx some of their resistance to Fang JiaYi. It was clear that Shang JunLin had the whip hand now. Even if the nobles objected, they couldntin as loudly as before.
This emperor gave them a chance to back down. They can act as they choose. As Shang JunLin spoke of the aristocratic families his voicecked emotion.
Shen Yu didnt want to spoil Shang JunLins mood. He lightly changed the subject. I saw the youngdy from the Fang family a little while ago. She was surrounded by a crowd of schrs, perfectly at ease. The other people werent half as calm as she was.
Fang JiaYi had chosen to wear neutral colors today. She wasnt dressed in the ornate, cumbersome skirt of ady, nor was her hair arranged with borate hairpins. Her identity as a woman was clear, but she perfectly fit in with the atmosphere of the Qionglin Banquet.
This emperor also noticed that she has a good rtionship with the zhuangyuan and the tanhua. When Shang JunLin was sitting high above the banquet, he kept an eye on what the people below him were doing.
Fang JiaYi was more willing to talk to Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu. The two didnt act differently towards her just because she was a woman. Other people tried to behave naturally, but they always revealed traces of awkwardness in their words and behavior.
The atmosphere of the banquet was lively, and the students clustered together discussing schrly topics. The more daring ones went up to ministers and asked them questions.
Some of the aristocratic officials felt so uneasy they could hardly sit still. The emperor was free to leave his seat at will, but they couldnt. No matter how anxious they were to smooth things over for Yi JianMing, they had no choice but to sit there and force themselves to smile. They couldnt show the slightest hint that something was wrong.
Minister Yi rapped on the table. Did you send a message to those two ministers yet?
Dont worry, Your Excellency. Someone has already gone.
Fang JiaYi, H ChengYu and Jiang HuaiQing were seated next to each other because they had simr scores on the exam. Fang JiaYi, who was closely observing everything, noticed that some of the aristocratic officials had disappeared at some point. In a low voice she asked, What happened just now? A few of the officials have strange expressions on their faces, and Young Master Yi isnt here either. I remember seeing him when I arrived.
The incident had been suppressed for the time being, which meant Jiang HuaiQing couldnt talk about it openly. He did something and His Majesty happened to see it, he whispered vaguely.
That sentence was enough of an exnation for Fang JiaYi. The two tacitly agreed to change the subject.
Meanwhile, two cab ministers were notified about the incident at the Qionglin Banquet. The two went to the usual ce they met to discuss things and sat down together.
The two cab ministers happened to belong to the Feng family and the Duan family. Among the noble families of the capital, they were eminent voices.
After taking their seats, the two dismissed their subordinates.
Minister Feng: What can His Majesty mean by this?
Minister Duan: Its obvious that His Majesty is forcing us to concede. Otherwise, ording to His Majestys usual behavior, he would have disposed of that person on the spot. Normally he wouldnt have given us any time to react.
Minister Feng: Thats true, His Majesty hasnt changed at all. He never listens to advice.
Minister Duan: If he listened, he wouldnt be His Majesty. Dont you remember what happened when he took the throne? Thete emperor asked him to allow the King of Yue to remain in the capital for training. Instead His Majesty sent him away at once despite the opposition of his ministers. How many officials did he deal with back then?
Minister Feng: The King of Yue is useless too. Otherwise we wouldnt be in such a difficult situation.
Minister Duan: If you ask me, hes wanted to end the King of Yues life for a long time. When he imprisoned the King of Yue, he assigned all of the me for the fraud on the King of Yue and took advantage of the fact that no one could refute him. If the King of Yue wants to turn things around at this juncture, it will be even more difficult.
Minister Feng: Those people have contacted us. They said they want our help. Should we take action?
Minister Duan: Theres no rush. When the right timees, everything will be clear.
Minister Feng: What about the imperial examination? Do we really have to do what he wants?
Minister Duan: What can we do about it now? Hes determined to promote poor schrs to oppose us, and now hes even gone to the point of allowing women to be court officials. Sooner orter hes going to self-destruct.
At morning court the next day, there was less opposition than usual during the discussion about women entering the court as officials. Although Fang JiaYis assignment was still undecided, everything else was basically settled.
The weather grew warmer and warmer, and Shen Yu was able to spend more time outside. Imperial Physician Gu said that he should walk around more when the weather was suitable.
Shang JunLin paid close attention to Shen Yus health. When he heard Imperial Physician Gu say that more activity would be good for Shen Yu, he took Shen Yu outside for a walk whenever there was time.
Shang JunLins original n was to have Shen Yu learn martial arts to keep fit, but Shen Yu t out refused. This was his new life. He was going to make himself asfortable as possible.
In the evening, after they ate, Shang JunLin put his work aside and took Shen Yu for a walk in the small garden outside Yuzhang Pce.
The Feng and Duan families? Shen Yu paused. He remembered a bit about them. In his previous life, they secretly allied themselves with the King of Yue. They did a great deal for that man before he seeded in taking the throne.
The Feng and Duan families have lived in Da Huan since its founding, but they were in their heyday at the end of the previous emperors reign. At the time, the emperor was under the sway of traitors and sycophants. Power fell out of his grasp, and various families on the sidelines vied for the scraps. Of all of them, the Feng family and Duan family profited the most.
Seeing that Shen Yu was interested in hearing more, Shang JunLin continued, When this emperor first ascended to the throne, I disposed of quite a few people. The Feng family and the Duan family were in the middle of everything and extremely well informed. This emperor wasnt able to deal with them thoroughly.
At the time, the imperial court was in chaos. Thete emperors weakness led to havoc. Capable ministers were forced to resign or framed for crimes and executed. Most of the people left behind were traitors or coborators. Shang JunLins foundation in the court was unstable. He took the throne with military power, and there werent many civilian officials he could use. After he spilled enough blood to wash the court clean of treacherous ministers, countless positions needed to be filled.
Shang JunLin had no choice but to temporarily make use of officials from the aristocratic families who remained loyal. But this led to endless trouble. The nobles were in ascendance, which would eventually threaten imperial power.
After he took the throne, Shang JunLin attached great importance to the imperial examinations and promoted schrs from humble backgrounds to important positions. This was done to strengthen other factions in the court. Only when the various forces were bnced could long-term stability be maintained.
Based on what Shang JunLin just said, he was ready to severely suppress the aristocratic families and break their arrogance. Right now the prime minister is the only cab member who doesnt belong to one of the aristocratic families. The nobles control the other two positions. Which minister has Your Majesty chosen as a recement? Shen Yu asked.
Fang Jun.
Both the prime minister and Minister Fang are Your Majestys people. If theyre in the cab, it will be much more convenient for Your Majesty to do things.
Shen Yu lowered his eyes and pondered. Given the book he read in his previous life, the help of Shen Yue, and what he learned directly from Shen QingRan, he was certain he coulde up with a lot of new things that would benefit Da Huan. But if the aristocratic families interfered, those things would just be tools for the aristocrats to seize more power and profit.
In Shen Yus previous life, Shen QingRan introduced many inventions, but the aristocratic families hoarded all the benefits. It led to chaos throughout Da Huan. Shen Yu didnt want to expend a lot of effort if it would only benefit the aristocrats.
This emperor still hasnt announced Ah Yus proposal to reform trade. The timing isnt right.
Theres no hurry. Not all big changes can happen overnight. Whats more, the cement business is just beginning. Things will go smoother after we iron out the problems.
Shang JunLin sighed with emotion. Ah Yu understands this emperor so well.
Your Majesty, when will Jiang HuaiQings appointment be announced? Shen Yu was eager to find out what path Jiang HuaiQing would walk in this life without the misfortunes that afflicted him in the past.
It will be soon. If there are no idents, both of them will enter Hanlin Academy.
Although their official rank wouldnt be very high, the most important thing was the significance of entering Hanlin Academy. It was like having half a foot in the cab.
Jiang HuaiQing didnt feel worried about the dy. Although his official appointment hadnte yet because of the controversy over Fang JiaYi, he was in a good mood every day.
H ChengYu sent a letter to his family saying that hed been appointed zhuangyuan and probably wouldnt be able to return to Jiangnan for a while. Even if he received an assignment in the countryside in the future, he wouldnt be sent to Jiangnan as an official.
After handling some business, H ChengYu walked out of the house. HuaiQing, didnt you say a while ago that youre running low on paper and pens? A new shop just opened. Do you want to take a look?
Jiang HuaiQing was organizing his and H ChengYus books. It was a sunny spring day, a good time to let them air out in the sun.
When the books were spread out for sunbathing, they upied almost the entire courtyard. Some of the books had been brought from home while others were purchased after they got to the capital. When Jiang HuaiQing heard his friends words, he turned back and said, Ill go.
His pens and paper had already run out. Lately he was using H ChengYus supply. Jiang HuaiQing was embarrassed to keep taking advantage of his friend.
In the sunlight, the tall, jade-like young man dazzled the eyes. Startled, H ChengYu shook his head. He pressed his lips together and walked over.
Shen Yu fell into a dream about his previous life. He hadnt dreamed about his past for a long time. Maybe it was because hed been thinking about it recently that he had such a dream.
In the dream it was raining. He was lying in bed, and the nket seemed to weigh a thousand catties. It was so heavy that he couldnt breathe.
Tap, tap, tap. The sound of footsteps was getting closer and closer. Shen Yu struggled to open his eyes, and then he saw the King of Yue. The man was dressed in imperial coronation robes. He stood beside the bed, staring down at him with dark eyes.
Shen Yu, dont you see? No matter how unwilling you are, this emperor took the throne exactly as ordained. This is destiny, and you cannot change it
No, no!
Shen Yu struggled to get up but couldnt move at all. He broke out in a cold sweat.
Ah Yu, wake up.
A familiar voice came through the heavy curtain of rain. With difficulty Shen Yu opened his eyes and was startled by the face looming over him.
Shang JunLin saw the panic in his eyes and moved back a little. He touched Shen Yus sweaty forehead. Why is Ah Yu so afraid of this emperor?
TL Notes:
Apologies for not posting sooner! Its been a hectic semester and I was worried about my grades, so that had to take priority. Also, my beloved pet died which was stressful and distracting. Fortunately everything is going really well now and I expect to have more time. TY for bearing with me ()
Is that all? Ah Yu wont think about this emperor the rest of the time? , Is that the only time? What about the other times? Will Ah Yu stop thinking about this emperor? The tl during this exchange is a bit loose. When I tried to make it more urate it sounded really stilted in English
Shang JunLin had the whip hand from the handle was in the hands of Shang JunLin To have someones handle in your hands is amon idiom which means you have evidence you can use to coerce or negotiate with someone
(the King of Yue is) useless be not worth educating; cannot be trained; hopeless of attainment by means of education or training; unpromising
go through a lot of effort only to benefit the aristocrats from didnt want to make wedding clothes for the aristocratic families To make a wedding dress for someone else is amon idiom which means to do something you hope will benefit yourself, only for someone else to benefit from it instead
catties jin, catty / (PRC) weight equal to 500 g / (Tw) weight equal to 600 g / (HK, Mysia, Singapore) slightly over 604 g
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Minister Feng
Minister Duan
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Chapter 85
Chapter 85
Im not afraid of Your Majesty. Isnt Your Majesty already clear about that? Shen Yu asked. As Shang JunLins hand rubbed his forehead, the trembling from the dream gradually subsided.
He didnt know why he suddenly had the dream or if it was some kind of sign. What he did know was that he would never allow the ending of his previous life to happen again.
Hed changed the ending of that book once, and he could change it a second time!
This emperor knows Ah Yu isnt afraid. In this world, this emperor fears only one thing, that someday Ah Yu will be afraid of me. Shang JunLin helped Shen Yu sit up. What kind of nightmare did Ah Yu have? You were so startled when you saw me.
It truly was a nightmare. In the dream, the King of Yue was dressed in clothes simr to Shang JunLins. When Shen Yu woke up and saw Shang JunLin wearing the same clothes, for a moment he couldnt tell whether he was awake or still dreaming.
Shen Yu looked towards the window. Is it raining?
Clearly it waste afternoon, but the room was gloomy and dark. Outside there was a faint sound of rain. Everything ovepped too closely with the dream, and Shen Yu fell into a daze.
It began to rain after you fell asleep. This emperor will help you up. Do you want to call for hot water?
Shen Yus forehead was dripping with sweat. Shang JunLin touched him and found that his hair was wet too. Shen Yu had always cherished cleanliness, so he undoubtedly felt ufortable.
Shen Yu began to notice how overheated and unkempt he felt. He didnt know how much he sweated during the dream, but his inner robe was soaked through and clung to his skin. It felt awful.
Yes, Id like to wash. As if exhausted by the struggle in his dream, Shen Yus arms and legs were weak. When he tried to get up he stumbled a little.
Meng Chang, prepare hot water.
Shang JunLin gave the order, then picked up the fox fur nearby and wrapped Shen Yu in it. Be careful you dont catch a chill.
Shen Yus whole body was wrapped in the fluffy fur with only his face exposed. His white cheeks were tinted a light crimson color. By contrast his lips were so pale they were almost colorless.
Shang JunLin held the man in his arms and grasped his cold fingers. Shall this emperor send for Imperial Physician Gu to examine you? he asked uneasily.
Shen Yu nodded almost imperceptibly. Despite napping for more than an hour he felt exhausted. Because of the dream, he was more tired than if he hadnt slept at all.
Shen Yu nestled in Shang JunLins arms. His eyelids drooped, and from a distance it looked like he was fast asleep.
Meng Gonggong ordered the pce servants to prepare hot water, then knocked softly at the door. Your Majesty, the hot water is here.
It was the first time hed requested hot water in the middle of the day. Meng Gonggong didnt know the exact situation in the room and didnt dare to rush inside.
After hardly a moment, he heard Shang JunLins voice: Come in.
Yes, Your Majesty.
Meng Gonggong turned to admonish the servants who were carrying the hot water. After you enter, keep your wits about you and your head down. Dont look at things that shouldnt be seen. If you step over the line in front of His Majesty, dont say I didnt warn you!
Yes, sir. Yes, sir, the pce staff answered.
During their service in Yuzhang Pce they experienced several bloody storms. Later they were instructed by Xiao Meng Gonggong. They didnt dare to think any untoward thoughts.
After giving thesemands, Meng Gonggong gently pushed the door open. He bowed his head and led the servants inside.
There was a screen in the room which meant the specific situation on the bed couldnt be seen. Meng Gonggong told the servants to set down the bathtub. He was about to excuse himself when Shang JunLin stopped him.
Meng Chang, go to the imperial hospital and send for Imperial Physician Gu.
Meng Gonggong was taken aback. What, call the doctor? No matter how many questions were running through his mind, he didnt ask anything. This ve will go at once, he replied.
Dont keep anyone to wait on us. Send them out.
Yes, Your Majesty. Meng Gonggong couldnt read much from Shang JunLins tone. He didnt dare to be careless and immediately did as he was told.
After dismissing the others, he happened to run into Mu Xi who was bringing over medicine.
When she saw that Meng Gonggong was in a hurry, Mu Xi asked, Meng Gonggong, what happened?
Ah, Lady Mu Xi. Are you here to deliver medicine to the noble monarch? Meng Gonggong stopped, thought about the possible situation in the room, and advised her, Dont go in yet. Wait for His Majesty to summon you.
Mu Xi suddenly became nervous. Did something happen?
Dont be nervous, girl. His Majesty just ordered some hot water. Im afraid its better if you dont intrude at the moment.
At noon, why As Mu Xi suddenly realized something her face began to burn. This ve understands. Thanking Meng Gonggong for the advice.
Meng Gonggong saw that she got the message and hurried away to do what Shang JunLin ordered.
Shang JunLin carried Shen Yu to the side of the bathtub and tested the water with his hand. The temperature is good. This emperor will lower you in.
Shen Yu, who was snuggled into Shang JunLins arms, gave a very small nod.
Shang JunLin peeled him out of the fox fur, and then he gently lowered the young man into the water.
Shen Yu reclined against the side of the tub. Soothed by the hot water he began to rx little by little.
There was more blood in his lips, and his skin became pale pink in the steam. Shang JunLin took a handkerchief and carefully wiped Shen Yu down.
His skin was extremely pale, the exact shade of the finest quality translucent jade. It was also extremely tender. Even the slightest touch left a mark.
Shang JunLin had once pressed plum blossoms into that skin. Now the flowers had disappeared, but his fingers could feel the warmth of Shen Yus skin through the thin veil of the handkerchief.
After recovering a little, Shen Yu folded his arms on the edge of the tub. He rested his cheek against his hand and said, Im afraid Im the only person in the world who can make Your Majesty personally wait on me in the bath.
Shang JunLin felt Shen Yus forehead with the back of his hand. His temperature was normal. The waters getting cold. Does Ah Yu want more hot water or do you want toe out?
After enjoying the steam for a while, Shen Yu felt dizzy again. Im done soaking.
Shang JunLin took him out of the tub, dried him, dressed him in a clean inner garment, then wrapped him up in the fox fur again.
Shen Yu stopped Shang JunLin when he tried to put him back in bed. I dont want to lie in bed anymore. Your Majesty, please help me find an outer robe. I want to go out for a walk.
Shang JunLin paused slightly. Very well.
After taking a bath and changing into clean clothes, Shen Yu felt much more at ease.
Shang JunLin told the pce servants to remove the hot water. Mu Xi came in with hot medicine, and Shen Yu drank it down.
Shang JunLin fed him a piece of candied fruit.
Shen Yu evaluated himself carefully and didnt detect any signs of illness. I dont think anythings wrong with me. Theres no need to make Imperial Physician Gu take a special trip.
Shang JunLin wasnt as rxed. Its better to let Imperial Physician Gu take a look.
Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Gu has arrived. The voice of Meng Gong sounded outside the room.
Since the man was already here, Shen Yu wouldnt refuse.
On the way over, Imperial Physician Gu heard a vague mention from Meng Gonggong, but when he entered the room and saw Shen Yu, he knew it was something else. After carefully taking Shen Yus pulse, the physician began to frown.
Shen Yu thought that he simply had a nightmare, nothing more. When he saw Imperial Physician Gus expression, he realized that wasnt the case.
Shang JunLins heart sank. Whats wrong with the noble monarchs health? he asked directly
Theres something wrong with his pulse. Imperial Physician Gu pondered his words for a moment. Has the noble monarch experienced any physical abnormalitytely?
Shen Yu thought about it carefully and replied, I just had a nightmare, nothing else.
The condition of the noble monarchs pulse has changed a little from before. This official will need to consider the details. For the time being, theres no problem. This official will prescribe a medicine to calm the noble monarchs nerves. You need to ensure you rest well. If you continue to be troubled by nightmares, its not beneficial for your health.
Imperial Physician Gu wrote a prescription and gave it to the pce servants. This official will need to study the noble monarchs condition more. For the next while, Ille to check your pulse once a day. I hope this will be convenient for the noble monarch?
Without waiting for Shen Yu to answer, Shang JunLin said, Well do as Imperial Physician Gu says.
Shen Yu wanted to say they didnt need to go through any trouble, but when he saw the worry in Shang JunLins eyes, he swallowed his words.
Although it was raining outside, Shen Yu still wanted to go for a walk. Shang JunLin strolled beside him through the rain, holding an umbre in one hand and leading Shen Yu with the other.
A soft breeze was blowing, bringing gentle gusts of coolness with it.
This was the real world, and itcked the dull sensation of the dream. Even as they walked in the rain there was a different feeling.
The sudden spring rain caught many people off guard.
After all, no one expected a storm given how sunny and clear it was in the morning. Why did it suddenly rain so heavily?
Jiang HuaiQing looked through the window at the ceaseless rain. He pulled H ChengYus sleeve and said, ChengYu Xiong, our books wont get soaked, will they?
Hed decided to bathe his books in the sun this morning because of the good weather. He never thought it would begin to rain just as they arrived at the newly opened four treasures of the study shop.
When he saw the rain, Jiang HuaiQing immediately wanted to go back.
It was H ChengYu who stopped him, saying that the people at home would bring the books inside. Even if they went back immediately, there was nothing they could do. Only when he said this did Jiang HuaiQing change his mind.
Nothing will happen, H ChengYu replied in a good temper despite how many times this question had been asked. I know theyre your precious books. I told the servants to watch over them.
In fact, a servant could have sunned the books from the start, but Jiang HuaiQing insisted on doing it himself. H ChengYu couldnt persuade him, so he had to let Jiang HuaiQing do it.
Im almost done choosing. What about you, ChengYu Xiong? He had to admit the shop rmended by H ChengYu was really good. The quality of pens, ink, paper, and inkstones was excellent, and the price was reasonable. Jiang HuaiQing bought more than he nned.
Lets wait for the rain to lighten up before heading back.
Jiang HuaiQing looked at the rain outside and nodded.
The shop had a specially arranged resting ce inside. The two sat for a while and left when the rain started to subside.
Since they hadnt brought an umbre, they borrowed one from the shopkeeper. Fortunately it was big enough to shelter both of them.
H ChengYu held the umbre in one hand and carried his purchases in the other. Seeing that Jiang HuaiQing was some distance away, he said, HuaiQing, stay closer to me or youll get wet.
Jiang HuaiQing looked up and saw the umbre above his head was nted towards him. H ChengYu, who was holding the umbre, was soaked through on the other shoulder. Jiang HuaiQing quickly ducked closer. Why didnt you say so sooner, ChengYu Xiong? Look, your shoulders already wet.
H ChengYu chuckled. Its fine. You didnt get soaked, did you?
Youre actuallyughing? Forget it, Ill lean closer to you. Dont hold the umbre over my head again.
H ChengYu looked at the young man whose body was half-leaning against him. Its OK, he said quietly.
The sound of their conversation gradually faded in the rain.
After the heavy rain fell, the world looked new and everything seemed to be washed clean. Shen Yu and Shang JunLin strolled through the garden and saw that the rain was diminishing.
Shen Yus mood gradually began to recover from the nightmare. Thinking of the man who was silently apanying him, he paused his steps.
Shang JunLin stopped too. What is it?
Shen Yu looked up at Shang JunLin. This man had the same facial features as the King of Yue in his dream, and he was also dressed in imperial robes, but the feeling he gave Shen Yu waspletely different.
Under the hazy rain and fog, Shang JunLin heard the clear voice of the young man:
Your Majesty, would you like a kiss?
TL Notes:
four treasures The four treasures of the study refer to tools for painting and calligraphy, namely brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. The specific type of brush, ink, paper, etc. that was most highly valued varied in each dynasty
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Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Shang JunLins gaze suddenly became aggressive.
Instead of answering, he immediately lowered his head and captured the young mans lips.
The taste was just as sweet as he remembered. The lips were sucked with a slight force, and the mans breathing became heavy. He ced one hand behind Shen Yus head, giving him no chance to back away.
The kiss was long and intense. Shen Yu, not to be outdone, moved closer to join the dance.
At some point his hands began to tightly grasp the mans clothes. He leaned back slightly, and his face was forced up to ept the mans increasingly fierce attack.
Shen Yu didnt close his eyes. He could see the mans erged face and a sliver of the umbre shade over his head.
The pattern on the umbre seemed to rotate. Everything before him became hazy and strange, and the force against his lips grew stronger and stronger.
Shen Yu gradually closed his eyes. He wrapped his arms around the mans powerful waist.
Beneath the rain and mist, a blue umbre concealed a sensuous scene.
Meng Gonggong and Mu Xi fell far behind the pair. They could only see the two standing close together and the umbre that tightly covered them.
After an unknown amount of time, the kiss ended and Shen Yu was slowly released. The man didnt withdraw. His breath pressed against Shen Yus lips.
Shen Yu returned to his senses, emerging from the strange and dazzling illusion.
He didnt push Shang JunLin away. The breath of the two people intertwined, and the umbre divided them from the world outside. At the moment, he couldnt think of anything; he could ignore everything. The whole world consisted of himself and Shang JunLin and nothing else, and he could indulge himself to sink into this small world for a short while.
The mans breath drifted over his face, apanied by small kisses falling like gentle raindrops, soft and soothing. Shen Yus heartbeat gradually calmed down.
The rain that continued to fall couldnt extinguish the exchange of affection under the umbre. In the end, Shang JunLin began to worry that Shen Yu would feel cold and offered to return inside.
Shen Yu felt hed had enough fresh air and didnt object.
When the rain stopped, the sun appeared high in the sky again. Shen Yu lifted his hand to shade his eyes. This is unusual weather.
He remembered that before his nap, the sun was shining brightly. After the rain shower, the sun returned again, as if it had also taken a nap in the afternoon.
Shang JunLin epted the umbre. He handed it to Meng Gonggong behind him, then reached out to touch Shen Yus clothes. He felt relieved when he confirmed they were still dry.
Your Majesty is wet. The water wasnt obvious on the ck clothes, but when Shang JunLin stood close by Shen Yu could see that his shoulder was wet. Your Majesty, please change your clothes first.
Meng Gonggong hurriedly brought in clean clothes. Shang JunLin saw the concern in Shen Yus eyes and decided not to refuse. He went over to the side to change.
Shang JunLin came out in fresh clothes, took Shen Yu in his arms, and smiled. Was Ah Yu worried about this emperor just now?
Shen Yu leaned back, felt the constant wave of heating from the mans body, and squinted his eyes. It wouldnt be good if Your Majesty caught a chill because of me.
After the two chatted for a while. Meng Gonggong came into the room. Your Majesty, Minister Feng and Minister Duan are requesting an audience, he said in a low voice.
In this contest between imperial power and the aristocratic families, it was time to bring down the curtain.
Your Majesty can return to work. Ill read by myself for a bit. Shen Yu had recovered his equilibrium. He wasnt a lonely little baby bird who waspletely dependent on Shang JunLin.
Seeing that Shen Yu meant this sincerely, Shang JunLin agreed. This emperor will go for a while. Ill return and apany you after handling this business.
The sky hadpletely cleared up, as if the rain just now was no more than a dream. As he thought of the eager and active young man under the rain and mist, Shang JunLin curved his lips in a good mood.
By the time he arrived at the imperial study, Shang JunLin had reverted to his usual foreboding manner. Meng Gonggong witnessed the change take ce and told himself the noble monarch was the only person who could soften His Majestys heart.
Minister Feng and Minister Duan knew that going to Shang JunLin on their own initiative was an indication the aristocratic families were willing to back down. In effect, they had already lost the confrontation.
Shang JunLin sat on his throne and gazed at the two aging cab ministers from high above. You came to see this emperor. Do you have important business?
The pair knelt down in salute. Only after they got up did they speak. We came because of the incident at the Qionglin Banquet.
Then you heard of it too? Shang JunLin rested his forehead against his hand. Tell this emperor how you intend to deal with it.
After Yi JianMing and others were brought away from the banquet, they were ced in solitary confinement. No one was allowed to visit them, and Shang JunLin had given no orders on how to deal with them. Their families couldnt sit still, so they had no choice but to ask the two cab ministers to intervene.
As Minister Feng and Minister Duan were well aware, the matter could be viewed as either big or small. Everything depended on Shang JunLins attitude. Since they didnt know what Shang JunLin intended, they werent sure where to begin.
Your Majesty, what those young people did really wasnt appropriate. However, we were able to confirm that they didnt actually do anything to anyone. It was just a bit of conflict between the two sides
They were extremely fortunate there hadnt been time for anything to happen. No matter what the young people said or what ns they had in mind, since nothing was actually implemented, there was room to turn things around.
Shang JunLin didnt interrupt the two men but let them finish. Then, ording to your argument, this emperor overreacted to a small matter?
This official wouldnt dare!
This official knows these juniors acted improperly, but theyll all meet in court in the future and will have to resolve this misunderstanding. Your Majesty might give them a chance to clear up this mistake face to face.
If everyone behaved in this way, how would the imperial court maintain its authority? This emperor believes the two ministers would not wish to see themselves disrespected like this one day, correct?
The more Shang JunLin refrained from expressing a specific opinion, the more anxious they became. Although theyd suspected this might happen before they came, they continued to struggle.
The conversation went on for two hours. When Minister Feng and Minister Duan left the imperial study, it was already dark.
The two people exchanged nces and saw the bitterness in each others eyes. After all, Shang JunLin had broken free of control and turned into a ruler they couldnt easily sway.
They didnt return directly to their homes, but went to the ce they frequently met. Some things could only be said in private.
Clearly we underestimated him. We should have known from the beginning that certain people are destined to be uncontroble. Minister Feng let out a long sigh.
Minister Duan frowned. But at the time, we had no choice other than him. The King of Yues foundation was too shallow, and he was never that ones opponent. Not to mention the other princes. The ones who had any ability topete no longer remain, and the rest were even worse than the King of Yue.
Minister Feng: What shall we do now?
Minister Duan: What else can we do? Weve gone over all this before. All we can do is abide by his wishes. Anyway, theres no need to rush. We arent the only ones who dont want a woman to enter the court. Wait and see. There are so many people in the world, and the number of people in opposition will only increase.
In their opinion, Shen Yu and Shang JunLin hadnt really thought about how shocking it was for Da Huan to have a woman be an official. This was something only a tiny minority of people could ept.
But there were some things that shouldnt be abandoned simply because not many people will ept it. Aplishing anything from scratch is difficult, and that had always been true without exception. The moment they made the decision they were ready to face all doubts.
After Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu returned to the house, everything was just as H ChengYu said. The servants had acted quickly. None of their precious books were caught in the rain.
After putting the books in order, Jiang HuaiQing took out the rice paper and ink he bought. Thinking of what he overheard in the shop and the encounter before, Jiang HuaiQing picked up his pen.
By the time he realized what he was doing, hed already written several pages. Jiang HuaiQing stared at the words on the paper and pressed his forehead. Well, since it was already written he might as well send it.
Shen Yu leaned back on the soft couch and a thought urred to him. He called Mu Xi. Last time you said that Shen Yue agreed to the n. What has she been up to recently?
Recently shes developed several new things, and theyve been highly praised by the dowager concubine. She sent some of them to our pce. Do you want to have a look?
Bring them over and Ill see.
Mu Xi gave the orders. After a short wait the pce servants came in with a few things.
Mu Xi picked up a square item in a wooden box and introduced it. Lady Shen Yue said this item is called perfumed soap. Its purpose is to clean ones hands.
Shen Yu took it from her. It had a light fragrance which was pleasant to smell.
Mu Xi also introduced some other items. They were all convenient things for daily life.
Shen Yu got up from the couch. Lets go. Well visit the dowager concubines pce.
Shang JunLin was busy with his official duties, and Shen Yu had nothing to do in Yuzhang Pce. He might as well wander around.
The pce where the dowager concubine lived was a distance from Yuzhang Pce. While Yuzhang Pce was bustling and prosperous, this pce embodied the phrase simple elegance throughout.
When the dowager concubine was informed of his arrival, she came out of the pce with her servants to meet him.
After exchanging greetings, the dowager concubine led them into the main hall.
I came here on a whim. My apologies for disturbing the dowager concubine. Shen Yu looked at the woman who was wearing simple makeup. She was in her forties with a well-maintained appearance, and there werent many signs of age on her face. Maybe because of her inner nature, she gave an impression of calm. This soft-looking, non-aggressive woman had survived countless storms in the harem of the previous emperor to live peacefully to this day.
Its no bother at all. The noble monarch came here because of that child Shen Yue, isnt that right? The dowager concubine called for Shen Yue.
I saw the things she sent to Yuzhang Pce. They were very novel, so I decided toe here to have a look. Shen Yu didnt hide his true intentions.
The noble monarch is talking about the items Shen Yue made, isnt that right? Shen Yue, that girl. Ever since she came to my pce she always likes toe up with new things. Its her good fortune to be so valued by the noble monarch and His Majesty. The dowager concubines tone revealed her fondness for Shen Yue.
The dowager concubine neednt worry. Shen Yue is the one who made those things, and shell be rewarded. Shen Yu had always been clear about rewards and punishments. He wouldnt dream of taking credit for what someone else had made.
Shen Yue gathered up the notes shed prepared in advance and brought them to Shen Yu. The notes were based on what she knew from her previous life. Because she wasnt sure what would be useful and what wouldnt, she simply wrote everything down and handed it to Shen Yu to decide.
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Shen Yu didnt stay for long. After receiving the notes, he said a few words to the dowager concubine and left.
After returning to Yuzhang Pce, Shen Yu looked at what Shen Yue had put together. It wasnt the same as what he remembered from his previous life. Shen Yue wrote about items that were convenient for daily life, particrly things that women might like.
As for how to use those things, that still had to be discussed with Shang JunLin.
Just as he thought of the man, Shang JunLin walked in.
What is Ah Yu looking at? Shang JunLin asked as he walked up to Shen Yu.
Looking at the information from Shen Yue. Shen Yu shifted to make room for Shang JunLin.
Shang JunLin bent over Shen Yu, wrapped him in his arms from behind, and looked at the paper Shen Yu was holding. Is this why Ah Yu treats Shen Yue differently?
Doesnt Your Majesty think these things will be useful? Shen Yu asked.
Shang JunLin caressed a lock of Shen Yus hair. Theyre quite useful, but how did Ah Yu know Shen Yue would be able to do this?
TL Notes:
overreacted to a small matter to make a big fuss over a minor issue (idiom), make a mountain out of a molehill
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Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Thanks very much to reader K. for the ko-fi!
Your Majesty, lets just consider it one of my little secrets. Shen Yu lifted his head and looked up at Shang JunLin from below. One as deep as any other Your Majesty chose not to delve into before.
Then Ah Yu understands how much youve concealed from this emperor. Shang JunLin closed in on Shen Yu and kissed his forehead. He said dotingly, Very well, this emperor wont look into it more deeply. Ill wait for the day youre willing to tell this emperor yourself.
Shen Yu was already stamped as his own. He had plenty of time to wait until Shen Yu opened his heart willingly.
Shang JunLin sat down next to Shen Yu and carefully read through the notes. None of these things are avable in Da Huan. Will they be difficult to make?
Not really. Shen Yue gave this list to me along with some recipes. Its just that most of them arent suitable for the imperial court to promote directly. Shen Yu took out another stack of paper, which contained detailed production information provided by Shen Yue.
Ah Yu can handle it. If you need people or anything else, just tell this emperor. Youve given me more than enough already. Take it into your own hands.
Shang JunLin put his arm around Shen Yus waist and thought of the things Shen Yu developed before. The ones from Shen Yue were more suitable for private individuals.
Thats fine. Shen Yu didnt refuse. Anyway, everything thats mine is Your Majestys too.
Shen Yue mostly wrote about items that would be popr with women, such as lip wax, soap, facial tonics. Shen Yu sorted them into categories and found an item that was a bit more interesting.
Alcohol.
A certain ratio of alcohol could be used as a disinfectant. Shen Yu remembered that the book described how Shen QingRans world possessed advanced medical arts. Shen QingRan himself had said that many diseases that killed people in this dynasty were easily curable in his time.
Your Majesty, this is something that might be used by the army. Shen Yu took out the recipe that described alcohol. If its possible to prepare the alcohol mentioned here, it could prevent a lot of unnecessary casualties on the battlefield.
Shang JunLin put down the memorial he was looking at and leaned over with interest. Alcohol? Meaning wine? It turns out that wine has this kind of effect?
Its a kind of wine, but its not the kind we usually drink. The general method of making it is described in here, Your Majesty. He handed the recipe to Shang JunLin.
Shang JunLin read a few lines and frowned slightly. The process was described in detail, but it used words hed never heard of before.
Such as distition, purification, dilution
Does Your Majesty want to call Shen Yue here to ask her about it?
Doesnt Ah Yu know about this too?
Your Majesty really thinks that Im all-powerful. Shen Yus eyebrows and eyes curved in a smile. I dont understand these things either.
Shen Yue thought Shen Yu was a person like her, someone whod crossed through time, so she wrote down everything from her previous life without concealment. She possessed some of the original owners memories, which was how she knew how to write Da Huans characters. Afraid that using modern simplified characters would cause trouble, she decided to write the notes with Da Huans characters.
The actual content wasnt lengthy, but she fumbled around for quite a few days before finishing. Thanks to the novels she loved in her previous life, she was more or less familiar with some of the necessary skills for transmigrators and remembered some useful things.
Shen Yue was apprehensive after she handed her notes over to Shen Yu. She didnt know whether any of it was relevant. If Shen Yu didnt find a use for her information, what would she do?
Fortunately, she didnt have to wait long before Yuzhang Pce sent someone to summon her.
The junior eunuch who led the way was the same one as before, but his attitude was a lot warmer this time. Shen Yue calmed down a bit.
After the junior eunuch led her into the main hall, he retreated quietly. Shen Yue steadied herself and formally greeted Shen Yu and Shang JunLin.
No need to be so polite. If Shen Yu cared to, he could give people a warm and weing feeling. Today I asked you here to ask about alcohol.
Shen Yue had anticipated something like this. She heard a lot about the current emperor from the dowager concubine and knew that he rose up from fighting on the battlefield. After considering this, she wrote the information about alcohol.
Making medicinal alcohol was a simple process in modern times, but that was because there were all kinds of precision instruments in that era. None of this existed in Da Huan. If you wanted to make alcohol, you had to make the corresponding equipment first.
Regarding purification and dilution, do you have any ideas?
Actually, it would be possible to use baijiu to get the alcohol we want, but that requires knowing what degree of alcohol is in baijiu. This ve doesnt know how strong the alcohol here is, so I can only choose another method. First we can make pure alcohol, then dilute it with water to a certain proportion.
Once again there were multiple words that werent used in Da Huan. Shen Yu lowered his eyes. Can you do it?
If I have the corresponding tools I can. Shen Yue was familiar with the process because shed once been obsessed with novels. She always fantasized about transmigrating someday and ended up learning about things that would be easy to make.
For example, the production of soap, perfume, and so on. Among other things, making perfume required alcohol.
Describe in detail what you need. This emperor will have someone provide it for you, Shang JunLin said in a deep voice.
Shen Yue rummaged through the original owners memory and found that Da Huan already had ss, but it wasnt the same as what she needed.
"
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Replying to Your Majesty, the things this ve needs are made of ss, but its not the thick colored ss on the market now. It has to be transparent. This ve knows how to make transparent ss and will write it down also.
Shen Yue sorted through the details she remembered. By the way, regarding the alcohol this ve mentioned, it must be prepared in strict proportion to the form in order to reduce wound infections.
This emperor understands.
The pce servants brought paper and pens and led Shen Yue into the side hall.
It might be better for Your Majesty to set up an independent department to study these novelties. The Ministry of Works cant do everything. If its handled by an independent group, they can work directly under Your Majesty and avoid interference from any other forces.
In the final analysis, the Ministry of Works was subordinate to Da Huan. There were multiple people inside with multiple opinions. It wasnt convenient to develop certain things under its roof. Shang JunLin thought for a moment and said, What Ah Yu says makes sense.
Shen Yue went to the side hall and wrote down all the methods she could think of. She even drew simple schematics that showed beakers and distition sks made of transparent ss.
After finishing everything, Shen Yue looked over the results of herbor and sighed to herself. She never thought she would actually transmigrate. The things she used to scold herself for because they were so useless had actuallye in handy.
When Shen Yue returned with her notes, Shen Yu was there alone.
The young man dressed in blue stood by the window with his back to her. His bearing was exactly the same as Shen Yue once imagined an aristocratic young master from ancient times would have.
Did he really cross over from modern times like herself?
Shen Yue couldnt help but wonder.
When Shen Yu turned around he saw the doubts in Shen Yues eyes. Is there anything youd like to ask me?
There were pce attendants waiting in the room. Shen Yue was much more cautious than before. She didnt ask him directly about transmigrating but said, Why did the noble monarch decide to give me this opportunity?
Shen Yu knew she would be suspicious and had already decided what to say. I used to be in poor health and rarely went out. My family was strict and I wasnt allowed to do much. If I knew about the things you do, I would have produced them before.
After saying this, Shen Yu gave a light sigh.
Shen Yue thought that shed touched on a sore point. She bit her lip. Sorry.
Theres nothing to apologize for, Shen Yu said. He changed the subject. Would you like to see the newly-paved concrete road?
Can I? Of course she wanted to see it. Setting aside everything else, the mere idea of leaving the pce was a huge temptation.
Shen Yu saw the hidden expectation in Shen Yues eyes and smiled slightly. Of course you can. When I make the arrangements, Ill send someone to call for you at the dowager concubines.
Then Ill be able to walk around the rest of the capital? Shen Yues mind was filled with the idea of leaving the pce. Shed totally cast aside her doubts about Shen Yu from a moment ago.
Besides, Da Huan had already built a concrete road. She had no reason to doubt anything. Shen Yu willing to help herwasnt it because of their shared affinity froming from the same ce?
When she thought of this, Shen Yue felt a little ashamed of suspecting him. She secretly decided to make something useful as soon as possible to repay Shen Yus kindness.
Yes, youll be given some free time when it happens. If youre worried because youre not familiar with the capital, I can send Mu Xi to apany you for a stroll.
Oh, great!
Shen Yue was overwhelmed with happiness. When she returned to the dowager concubines pce, the dowager immediately noticed it.
The imperial concubine called her in. What are you so happy about?
The noble monarch promised to take me out of the pce to see things. Ive never had a proper look at the capital. Shen Yues eyes revealed her yearning. This ce was the site of her second life. What was it like?
Leave the pce, eh. The dowager concubines eyes softened for a moment. Its just as well to go out and see things. Fang Rong, give Shen Yue some silver. You may go outside and have fun, but remember not to cause trouble for the noble monarch.
The dowager concubine didnt suspect anything unusual. Many pce maids entered the pce at a young age. They came from all over Da Huan and hadnt seen much of the capital. It was normal for them to yearn to see things outside.
Shen Yue solemnly nodded. I promise!
It wasnt difficult to make the items described in Shen Yues notes. Shen Yu owned multiple shops. After the items were finished, it was easy enough to put them in the shops for sale.
Your Majesty, were the official positions of Young Lady Fang and the other two decided today?
The matter had been dyed for more than ten days and today was the deadline. Shang JunLin wanted Fang JiaYi to enter the Hanlin Academy via the usual process, but the aristocratic families consistently fought him. Most of the positions they suggested for her were insignificant. It was obvious they wanted to stuff her somewhere unimportant.
Its been settled. As in previous years, she will join Jiang HuaiQing and H ChengYu in the Hanlin Academy. Shang JunLin put down his pen and rubbed his brow. As for the Yi family and the others, in light of the fact that the younger generation of their families were ignorant and acted in error, those who made mistakes will be punished.
What about Yi JianMing? Shen Yu walked behind Shang JunLin and massaged his temples. He could tell how much effort Shang JunLin had put into arranging this.
His examination result will be canceled as an example to others. This was the final result after the nobles were forced to concede.
It appears that Your Majesty has won this time. After such a long struggle, the dust has finally settled. Congrattions to Your Majesty.
Although there would certainly be problemster on, at least the first step was sessful. As for what happened with Fang JiaYis career in the future, that was ultimately up to her.
How does Ah Yu intend to congratte this emperor? Shang JunLin grabbed Shen Yus hand, pulled him closer, and sat him down on hisp. Close to his ear he whispered intimately, Speaking of which, youre the one who suggested all this. Ah Yus wish has been fulfilled. Shouldnt there be a reward?
TL Notes:
Sorry if there are extra typos, Im visiting family and working on chapters around the dinner table with lots of noise!
baijiu white alcohol A clear liquor usually distilled from sorghum or other grains. One of the six major distilled spirits in the world alongside brandy, whisky, vodka, rum, and gin
Transliterated names, ces, and titlesnew in this chapter:
Fang Rong Fng Rng
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Chapter 88
Chapter 88
Speechless, Shen Yu could only stare at Shang JunLin. Recently hed noticed that Shang JunLin liked to ask him for a reward whenever he found an opportunity.
No, rather than a reward, it was more urate to call it a request for intimacy. Shang JunLin didnt ask for anything in particr. It was just a way to get Shen Yu to take the initiative.
Shen Yu released the hand that was on Shang JunLins forehead and slowly lowered it. What kind of reward does Your Majesty want?
Ah Yu could take the initiative to kiss this emperor, Shang JunLin suggested with a bit of demureness. Of course he wanted more than a kiss, but he also knew if he teased Shen Yu too much hed get nothing at all.
Or you can let this emperor kiss you.
Your Majesty wants to do more than that, right? Shen Yu nced at him skeptically, knowing the oue.
Naturally, if Ah Yu is willing to do more, this emperor would be more than happy to oblige. The hand on Shen Yus waist slid lower with a clear suggestion.
Shen Yu pressed the mans hand before it could descend any further. Thats clearly what Your Majesty wants. Why does it sound like its all for me?
Shang JunLin pulled back the person who was about to escape from his arms. He rested his head on Shen Yus shoulder. Does Ah Yu not want to? he asked in a low voice. This emperor thinks of Ah Yu all the time. Does Ah Yu think of me?
Your Majesty Shen Yus breath became unsteady. Let go of me
Ah Yu obviously likes it too The rest of his words were lost in a sudden kiss.
The mes of the candles flickered, casting two interwoven shadows on the floor. Every so often, a soft murmur dissipated in the air.
Finally, Shang JunLin was satisfied with his reward, while Shen Yu reclined drowsily on the couch.
It was gettingte. For a long time Shen Yu had been taking medicine to help him sleep, and it was past the time he usually went to bed. He was already dozing off.
Shang JunLin didnt disturb him. He called for hot water to help Shen Yu wash, then carried him to bed. He pressed a kiss to the younger mans forehead. Go to sleep.
Shen Yu grabbed the sleeve of the man who was about to leave. Your Majesty isnt going to rest?
This emperor will return after changing my clothes. You can sleep first, Shang JunLin coaxed in a soft voice.
Shen Yu hazily realized that Shang JunLin was still wearing his court dress and released his hand. Still resisting the lingering sleepiness, he continued to look at Shang JunLin.
Shang JunLins heart immediately softened. He quickly changed his clothes, pulled back the quilt, and took Shen Yu in his arms. He patted him on the back. Sleep now, Im here.
With his eyelids getting heavier and heavier, Shen Yu couldnt resist any longer. He closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Shang JunLin looked at the peaceful sleeping face of the man in his arms, and his eyes darkened.
He recalled what Imperial Physician Gu said to him earlier in the day. Shen Yus illness appeared to be caused by congenital weakness, but there was a hidden secret underneath it. To put it inly, Shen Yus current physical condition had probably been inflicted on him by someone.
The anger in Shang JunLins chest couldnt stop roiling. Shen Yus congenital weakness was innate; nothing could change that. But he never thought an intentionally inflicted ailment was beneath it.
His Ah Yu, who endured so much suffering from childhood, had probably been targeted!
"
"
Every time this thought crossed his mind, he couldnt hold back the cruel thoughts that surged through him.
As if sensing something amiss, Shen Yu moved uneasily in the mans arms. Shang JunLin restrained his breathing, hugged the person closer, and kissed his forehead soothingly.
Shen Yu nestled into a morefortable position and became still again.
It was a dreamless night.
When he woke up, it was already light outside, and the familiar scent around him was gone. He thought Shang JunLin must have gone to court. He rubbed his cheek on the pillow and slowly sat up.
Mu Xi, who was keeping watch in the next room, heard the movement and asked from outside, Young master, are you awake?
Mm.
When she heard him reply, Mu Xi came in with fresh clothes and helped Shen Yu dress.
Shen Yu bowed his head and straightened his sleeves. Last night was the deepest hed slept since hed dreamed about the King of Yue. When he considered the difference from the previous day, he could only think of one thing that could ount for it.
Could doing that really help you sleep?
Shen Yu couldnt help but wonder.
After he finished washing up, Mu Xi told the kitchen staff to serve breakfast. They were all Shen Yus favorite dishes. Maybe because he was so well-rested, he ate half a bowl more than usual.
After breakfast, Imperial Physician Gu came in to check Shen Yus pulse. Due to the abnormal state of his pulsest time, Imperial Physician Gu had been visiting almost every day.
The noble monarchs pulse is back to normal. Youre no longer in danger. In ordance with Shang JunLins order, Imperial Physician Gu didnt say anything about the secret behind Shen Yus illness.
Shen Yu remembered what hed noticed earlier and decided to consult a professional. Imperial Physician Gu,pared with thest few days, I slept extremely wellst night. I wanted to ask you if the sleeping medicine is responsible or if there could be some other reason?
Imperial Physician Gu was certain about the effects of the medicine hed prescribed. Its reasonable to expect that the medicine prescribed by this minister will have an effect when its taken. Did the noble monarch do anything different yesterday?
Not really. The only thing that wasnt exactly the same might be that I carried on a bit with His Majesty. Does Imperial Physician Gu think there could be any connection?
As Shen Yus words fell, Mu Xi blushed. She knew His Majesty sent for hot waterst night. Also, when His Majesty left this morning he gave specific orders not to disturb the noble monarchs rest. Shed been in the pce for several months and knew exactly what that meant.
Imperial Physician Gu froze for a moment, then considered what Shen Yu meant by carried on with His Majesty. After a moment he said, That could be part of the reason. After one has vented some energy, it bes easier to fall into a deep sleep.
Shen Yu blinked. So such a thing is possible. Who would have thought that when Shang JunLin messed around with himst night, it identally had such good effects.
Before Imperial Physician Gu left, he adjusted his prescription ording to the current state of Shen Yus pulse.
Shortly after the doctor left Yuzhang Pce, Meng Gonggong, who was waiting for him outside, greeted him. His Majesty mustnt be kept waiting. Imperial Physician Gu, pleasee with this ve.
Imperial Physician Gu was used to being summoned by the emperor after he left Yuzhang Pce. He straightened his clothes and followed Meng Gonggong.
Shang JunLin looked up from a pile of memorials awaiting approval and looked at Imperial Physician Gu. How is the noble monarchs condition?
Replying to Your Majesty, the noble monarch is in good health. His pulse has now returned to normal.
Shang JunLin was concerned about the conjecture Imperial Physician Gu had shared previously about Shen Yus illness. Did you find the reason for the change in the noble monarchs pulse?
Imperial Physician Gu: The change is too subtle. If this minister wasnt so familiar with the noble monarchs pulse, I might not have noticed anything. Over the past few days this minister has seen the noble monarchs pulse return to normal little by little. This minister begs forgiveness for my ipetence. Im unable to determine the reason for the time being.
Shang JunLin: Regarding what you saidst time, that his illness was not a case of congenital weakness
Imperial Physician Gu: That was just a guess by this minister. If its indeed not congenital, that might actually be a good thing. There are very few examples where congenital deficiency has been cured. If theres an underlying, hidden reason, and the cause can be identified, this minister would be much more confident about finding a cure for the noble monarch.
Shang JunLin: Thank you for continuing to investigate, Imperial Physician Gu.
Its this ministers duty. Your Majesty neednt thank me. Imperial Physician Gu thought of what Shen Yu said just now. He hesitated, then said, The noble monarch asked this minister about something today, but this minister hasnt reached a conclusion yet. Your Majesty may wish to pay attention. After saying this, he recounted the conversation with Shen Yu in Yuzhang Pce.
Shang JunLin: This emperor was worried about harming Ah Yus health and didnt dare to do too much. Is Imperial Physician Gu suggesting it might be helpful?
Imperial Physician Gu: The noble monarch has recuperated well. As long as excess is avoided, theres no problem.
Shang JunLin: The ointment that Imperial Physician Gu sent to Ah Yust time isnt bad. You should make more of it.
Imperial Physician Gu: This minister will obey.
After hearing that Shen Yu was doing so well, Shang JunLin was in a good mood. He bestowed several rewards on Imperial Physician Gu and ordered Meng Gonggong to escort him home.
Imperial Physician Gu returned home to his mansion in a carriage from the pce. Behind it was a series of rewards following in a line. People in the street stopped to watch.
When Gu Huai heard themotion, he went outside and saw Imperial Physician Gu climbing down from the distinctive pce carriage, followed by several treasure wagons.
Is that
Its a reward from His Majesty, Imperial Physician Gu said as he got out of the carriage. He turned to Meng Gonggong and said, Thank you for your trouble.
Not at all. Imperial Physician Gu fully deserves it.
After the pce servants departed, Gu Huai helped sort through the rewards. Gege, youre really amazing. You received so many gifts again.
Its all thanks to the kindness of His Majesty and the noble monarch. Some of the things were awarded by Shang JunLin, while others came from Yuzhang Pce. Since they knew about Imperial Physician Gus interests, most of the things would be useful to him.
Is the noble monarchs condition better?
Its no longer serious. Imperial Physician Gu ruffled the boys head. Dont worry. Ill be fine.
After sorting through everything, Imperial Physician Gu took out the ingredients for making the ointment, intending to make another batch. His Majestys harem contained only one person, the noble monarch, but that didnt necessarily mean the required amount would be small.
As far as the ointment was concerned, hed learned the recipe after he first entered the imperial hospital. At the time Gu Huai was seriously ill and needed medicine with a lot of expensive herbs. In order to get the money to heal him, Imperial Physician Gu took on a lot of outside work. The owner of the pharmacy he usually patronized helped him a great deal. When the shop owner heard he was short of money, he told Imperial Physician Gu about the ointment as a quick way to make money.
That turned out to be true, especially ones that had an aphrodisiac effect. They sold extremely well. Later, when he wasnt as short of money, he stopped making it as often. Mainly because he was a little embarrassed and didnt want the child at home to know what he was doing. At the time, the pharmacy owner helped him sell the ointment. He kept his own name out of it as much as possible.
As for the ointment he gave Shen Yu, that was because of Shen Yus delicate physical condition. Imperial Physician Gu was responsible for Shen Yus health and intended to do his utmost. His Majesty appeared to have a vigorous appetite, and it wasnt easy for a mans body to receive intercourse. The noble monarchs body wasnt strong. If he was frequently injured because of marital matters, it would inevitably have a big impact on his health.
Today His Majesty brought it up. Imperial Physician Gu remembered the amount that was delivered to Yuzhang Pcest time. It wasnt that much, but it wasnt a little either. Should he give His Majesty a vague reminder to let the noble monarch get more rest?
Imperial Physician Gu sighed. He was just a doctor who treated patients. Why did he have to worry about the bedroom affairs of His Majesty?
He poured the freshly boiled ointment into a tray to let it cool. Imperial Physician Gu took out some previously prepared flower extract and mixed it in. He was so engrossed in preparing the medicine that he didnt notice Gu Huai enter the room.
Gu Huai was deeply interested in everything rted to Imperial Physician Gu. Seeing a neatly arranged row of jars of transparent cream, he picked up one of them and walked up behind Imperial Physician Gu. Gege, whats this?
Startled by the sudden words, Imperial Physician Gu lost his grip on the vial he was holding. Thanks to Gu Huais quick eyes and quicker hands, it didnt fall to the ground.
When did youe in? Imperial Physician Gu calmed himself down, then turned around and saw Gu Huai holding the half-finished ointment. The younger mans eyes were full of curiosity.
The doctors face blushed scarlet.
The author has something to say:
Imperial Physician Gu: Please help, what should I do if my child catches me making XXX items at home?
TL Notes:
identally had such good effects hit the mark by a fluke; but harvest exactly what one wishes; do sth. unintentionally; score a lucky hit
[ Project Page | Ko-Fi | Other trantions by Confectioner ]
Chapter 89
Chapter 89
How should he exin to Gu Huai what the ointment was used for?
Physician Gu blushed and snatched the box from Gu Huai''s hand, putting it aside.
Realizing his mistake, Gu Huai lowered his head and apologized, "I''m sorry, brother, I didn''t know I couldn''t touch that."
Physician Gu was one who preferred to be won over with kindness rather than sternness. Seeing Gu Huai admitting his fault, he couldn''t me him and couldn''t resist patting the boy''s head, "It''s okay. This medicine is for the Noble Monarch. Children shouldn''t touch things that are meant for adults."
"I''m not a child anymore, brother." Gu Huai sighed inwardly. He was about to turn eighteen soon, yet Physician Gu still treated him like a child. He enjoyed being spoiled by Physician Gu, but he didn''t want to be seen as a child forever.
He had already grown up, no longer the child who could be easily manipted. He could also protect his brother from the wind and rain and hold up the sky.
"Okay, I know you''ve grown up. Now go out and y. I''m almost done here."
Seeing Physician Gu''s firm attitude, Gu Huai didn''t want to make him angry and obediently left. However, he was curious about what Physician Gu was making and why he blushed when he asked.
After leaving the room, Gu Huai summoned a subordinate and described in detail what he saw in the box, asking, "Do you know what this is?"
The subordinate hesitated for a moment and said, "It seems to be something used to lubricate during sexual intercourse for men..."
After speaking, the subordinate quickly added, "Of course, this is just my guess, and it may not necessarily be true."
Gu Huai fell silent, but he couldn''t help but associate Physician Gu''s blushing with what his subordinate had said. He couldn''t be sure, but it was likely that what he saw was indeed what his subordinate had guessed.
When did his older brother learn how to make this thing? Judging from his brother''s proficiency, it''s obviously not the first time. Gu Huai carefully recalled their years of interaction, trying to find some clues from his memory.
Physician Gu still didn''t know that his secret was about to be exposed, so he focused onpleting thest step and putting the ointment in a small jade bottle. Looking at the finished ointment, Physician Gu breathed a sigh of relief.
This batch shouldst for some time. Next time, he should find another ce to make it. It''s too embarrassing to make it at home and be seen by Gu Huai.
The finished ointment was quickly delivered to Shang Junlin''s hands. Shang Junlin put it away and ced it in thepartment next to his bed for storing small items.
"What are you doing, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu walked in after watering the flowers and saw Shang Junlin bending over and doing something on the bed.
Shang Junlin straightened up and walked towards Shen Yu. "The ointment that Physician Gu sentst time is almost used up, so he sent some more."
"Did Your Majesty force him to make it?" Shen Yu saw through it at a nce. "Physician Gu is a good physician. Why do you always make him do this kind of thing?"
"All of this is for your health," Shang Junlin had his own reasoning. "Physician Gu is taking care of your body, so naturally, it should include all aspects."
"If Your Majesty didn''t force me to do it, we wouldn''t need these things," Shen Yu said with annoyance.
Since thest time, Shang Junlin always liked to make him do that thing, although they never actually did it, it made Shang Junlin satisfied.
The officials of the court could feel that the Emperor had been in a good moodtely.
The officials thought that Shang Junlin was in a good mood because he won them in the matter of appointing women as officials. Although they were unhappy about it, they couldn''t show it and were quite upset for a while.
Apart from them, other officials hoped that Shang Junlin''s good mood wouldst for a while.
He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing, and Fang Jiayi all entered the Hanlin Academy. Even if others were dissatisfied, the matter had been settled, and it was not appropriate to say anything more.
Fang Jiayi''s article spread among students, and except for a small number of people with a strong bias against women, other schrs had no doubts about Fang Jiayi''s ranking as second ce.
Seeing that there had been no movement outside for a long time, the nobles were furious. They certainly wouldn''t let it go and bought off a few schrs to spread the disadvantages of appointing women officials. But other schrs rose up against them, and the matter ended there.
"We have to thank Ah Yu for predicting this in advance, otherwise there would have been trouble." Shang Junlin held thetest confidential letter from the Hidden Dragon Guards and smiled.
"What happened?" Shen Yu prepared tea for the two of them and pushed one of the cups in front of Shang Junlin.
"The noble families really sent people to incite trouble among the schrs, but thanks to our preparations, nothing major happened. Look." Shang Junlin handed the letter to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu read it quickly and said, "They underestimated the power of themoners and didn''t understand what these schrs who had not yet entered officialdom were really concerned about. They had not yet been tainted by fame and profit and had their own aspirations."
In his previous life, Shen Yu dealt with these people a lot. In the eyes of officials, they might seem very simple and easy to manipte, but if you thought they were stupid and could be easily controlled, then you were wrong.
"As for the affairs of the court, rumors are always prone to distortion. We need to find a way to let the people in various ces know the urate situation of the court."
With downcast eyes and contemtive thoughts, Shen Yu was pondering how the reputation of the former Emperor had turned out the way it did. On one hand, it was due to intentional efforts by individuals such as the King of Yue. On the other hand, it was because of a huge information gap between the court and the local areas. There was simply no way for news of what the Emperor had actually done to spread to the ears of people in different regions. The information they received was what others wanted them to hear, making it easy for those with malicious intentions to manipte.
"Is Ah Yu talking about a newspaper?"
"Yes, and more. We need more detailed information, not only for the local areas to know about the court''s decisions and measures, but also for the court to know about the various situations in the local areas in reverse." In his previous life, Shen Yu had a nearly ubiquitous intelligencework in Da Huan, but it was different from what he proposed today.
This idea was still inspired by Shen Yue, whom he had unintentionally gained inspiration from thest time. If there could be a mutual exchange of information, reducing the time difference between them, it would be more advantageous for the court to control the local areas.
"What are your thoughts, Ah Yu?" After thinking deeply for a while, Shang Junlin felt that this method was indeed very beneficial.
"Your Majesty can discuss with the ministers. You cannot exploit me for everything." Shen Yu smiled as he looked at Shang Julin with his hands on his chin.
"You... "Shang Junlin was helpless. "Okay, I will first discuss it with the Prime Minister, and when wee up with a result, you can see if there is anything that can be modified."
"The Prime Minister and his colleagues are much better than me." Shen Yu only proposed ideas and did not want to bother with how they were implemented. The court officials were knowledgeable about Da Huan, and with the Emperor watching over them, the final method decided upon would not go wrong.
Shang Junlin saw that he did not want to participate too much and did not force him. He was willing to satisfy whatever kind of life his Ah Yu wanted.
"Your Majesty, many flowers have bloomed in the Imperial Garden. Shall we go admire them?" Shen Yu saw that the Emperor spent most of his days reviewing documents, and with the weather being nice recently, it would soon be hot. He wanted to take advantage of the cooler weather to go out more.
"Physician Gu also said that you need to move around more." Shang Junlin had no objections and took the things and brought Shen Yu out.
The evening sun shone on them, warm and cozy. Shen Yu squinted his eyes contentedly.
The Imperial Garden was full of various flowers blooming, decorating a sea of green with colorful flowerspeting with each other, making it a beautiful sight to behold.
The fragrant scent of flowers was carried by the breeze, and Shen Yu held onto Shang Junlin''s sleeve, "Your Majesty, how many types of flowers are here?"
"Most of the flowers that can survive in the capital city are here. Take a look and see if there are any you like. I will have Meng Chang transnt them for you another day," Shang Junlin was not interested in flowers and nts. The management of flowers and nts in the pce was usually entrusted to the pce servants.
Shen Yu walked around and asionally stopped when he saw something he liked. The more he was exposed to the fragrant smell of flowers, the more butterflies came around.
"Do you know that you can''t pick the flowers here? You''ve already picked a basketful. Who told you toe here?" Amotion came from ahead, and Shang Junlin frowned. Meng Gonggong quickly walked over, "Let me see what happened."
Soon, Meng Gonggong came back, "It was Miss Shen Yue who came to pick flowers. She was scolded by the passing chief maid."
Shen Yu paused his steps, "Shen Yue? How did shee to the Imperial Garden?"
He walked in the direction where the voice seemed to being from as he spoke.
"What''s going on?"
The man''s stern voice rang out, and all the pce women knelt down in unison. A slightly older pce woman bowed and said, "In response to Your Majesty, this pce maid may not have known the rules here and picked some flowers. I have already reprimanded her."
She didn''t know that Shen Yue knew them and was afraid that she would lose her life over a small matter, so she subconsciously defended herself.
Shen Yue looked surprised and nced at the pce maid who had just scolded her, then quickly lowered her head and admitted her guilt.
"You all can leave. You stay." Shen Yu pointed at Shen Yue.
Before the pce maid left, she nced at Shen Yue and wanted to say something, but was pulled away by Meng Gonggong.
"Get up. Why did you pick these flowers?" Shen Yu asked.
''I wanted to make fresh flower cakes for the Empress Dowager. I found the best ce where the flowers were in full bloom and didn''t notice that the flowers here couldn''t be picked. I plead guilty,'' Shen Yue replied.
"You''re a first-time offender, so forget it," Shen Yu looked at the basket of flowers beside him and was curious. ''You can make pies out of flowers?"
"Not just flowers, but also pies made from fresh flowers. If Your Majesty is interested, when I make them, I''ll send some to Yu Zhang Pce," Shen Yue lowered her head. In fact, she was still in the experimental stage and wasn''t sure if they would taste good.
On a whim, while strolling through the Imperial Garden, Shen Yu stumbled upon a new dessert and felt a surge of happiness.
After finishing the stroll, he returned to the Yu Zhang Pce where the kitchen had already prepared a meal.
Shang Junlin had once said that if anyone could make the emperor happy with their cooking, they would be heavily rewarded. Because of this, the kitchen staff tried different ways every day to make delicious food.
Recently, Shen Yu had a good appetite and ate more than he did when he first arrived at the pce. The losses from his previous illness were slowly being filled, and he had even gained some weight.
Shang Junlin held his hand, feeling just right.
Shang Junlin was satisfied with Shen Yu''s progress. After hisst illness, Shen Yu''s appetite decreased, and he became thinner and thinner. Shang Junlin felt helpless and could only order the kitchen to make more delicious food and find ways to get Shen Yu to eat more.
The imperial physician did not rmend that he consume too many supplements, such as Bird''s Nest, as his body could not handle too many tonics for an extended period. Therefore, they had to gradually nourish his body.
Shen Yu did not like to eat these tonics anyway, so Shang Junlin fed him once every ten days or so.
"Now that I can eat more, will I be fat if I continue like this?" At night, Shen Yuy in Shang Junlin''s arms and remembered his recent increase in appetite, frowning.
"Where did you be fat, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin grabbed Shen Yu''s wrist and pinched it. "You still don''t have much meat on your body."
Shen Yu looked at his wrist, which was a strong contrast to Shang Junlin''s. Thetter was strong and powerful, while Shen Yu''s was fair and thin, with little meat.
He turned around and adopted a posture facing the man, lying in his arms. His movements rubbed against the man''s waistcoat and revealed half of his chest.
Shang Junlin''s body was covered with a very symmetricalyer of muscle, which was just right and not exaggerated. You couldn''t see it when he was wearing clothes, but when he wasn''t, you could see the smooth muscle lines.
Shen Yu didn''t have much muscle in his body because of his physical condition. His flesh was soft and delicate in both of his lives. He was envious of Shang Junlin''s muscr physique, but he didn''t know that Shang Junlin loved every part of him.
Shen Yu poked at the muscles on Shang Junlin''s body and said, "His Majesty is still the best."
"If Ah Yu likes, you can look and touch as you please," Shang Junlin let go of Shen Yu''s hand and pressed it to his chest. He then wrapped his other hand around Shen Yu''s waist and said with deep meaning, "I love every inch of your body, Ah Yu."
Chapter 90
Chapter 90
The atmosphere between the two became ambiguous.
Shen Yu looked down at the man lying beneath him, and a hint of inexplicable emotion shed in his eyes. With his hand resting on the man''s chest, he could feel the strong and steady heartbeat, which made him curl his fingers slightly.
"Do you want to touch it, Ah Yu?" whispered Shang Junlin, as he took Shen Yu''s hand and slowly explored under his clothes.
Shen Yu pursed his lips and his fingers curled slightly. As they moved further down, he couldn''t help but re at Shang Junlin and use him, "Your Majesty promised not to do anything today."
Shang Junlin had no intention of doing anything, but with the beautiful man in his arms, it was hard to resist the temptation. Seeing Shen Yu''s using gaze, he had to reluctantly give up.
"Okay, I won''t bother you today. Rest if you''re tired," he said.
Shen Yu looked at him suspiciously, his eyes clearly asking, "Why are you being so easy to deal with today?"
Shang Junlin covered Shen Yu''s eyes and said, "Don''t look at me like that. I''m afraid I won''t be able to resist."
When a man is in the mood and has his lover in his arms, it''s hard to control himself.
Since Shang Junlin didn''t have any intentions, Shen Yu rxed and leaned against the man, closing his eyes. He was indeed tired.
"If Your Majesty likes, you can also touch me." Shen Yu murmured softly before falling asleep.
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Yu felt a tightening around his waist. The man leaned in close to his ear and whispered in a low voice, "Is Ah Yu deliberately trying to keep UsEmperors usually use this word to indicate their selves. awake?"
Shen Yu rubbed against the man''s chest but didn''t say anything.
Shang Junlin waited for a while, only to hear the young man''s calm breathing. He looked at the canopy above and sighed bitterly.
Whether it was intentional or not, he couldn''t do anything to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu slept soundly and woke up the next day, realizing that he was tightly held in someone''s arms. He could smell the familiar scent on the man''s body, he moved slightly.
"Ah Yu, are you awake?"
The man''s deep voice came from above, and Shen Yu let out a soft "um" in response.
Still feeling groggy from just waking up, Shen Yu was slow to react to anything, not even noticing when the man''s hand slipped into his clothes.
"I wanted to stay with Ah Yu today."
Shen Yu sat up and looked outside. It was dark and gloomy, and there was no sunlight, making the whole bedroom dim.
"Is it raining outside?"
"It was raining a moment ago, but it has stopped now," Shang Junlin held Shen Yu back in his arms, and wrapped him in a nket, "It''s chilly today, so don''t catch a cold."
Shang Junlin had actually gone to court that day but ended up hurriedly returning to Yu Zhang Pce after seeing the bad weather, worried about leaving Shen Yu alone there. He still had lingering fears about thest time Shen Yu had a nightmare and thought that if he were there with him, it would be better if he had another nightmare.
After fully waking up, Shen Yu got up from bed.
Shang Junlin stayed in Yu Zhang Pce all day and even refused to see any officials who came to meet him. Shen Yu gave the prescription given to him by Shen Yue to the people below, and not long after, they made the finished product, which was reported to Mu Xi.
"So fast?" Shen Yu was surprised.
"I was also surprised," said Mu Xi, handing a small box to Shen Yu, "they even sent some finished products."
The things in the box were smaller than what Shen Yue made, but they were made in various shapes and looked more exquisite and pleasing to the eye. They were the kind of things thatdies would like.
"Something like this," Shen Yu picked up one, "how many can be made in a day?"
"An experienced person can make around twenty or thirty."
Shen Yu yed with the small wooden box in his hand. There were enough people in the vige for the time being, so he could try selling them in the shop first.
"You can let them make a batch first, not too many, and put them for sale in the shop in the north of the city. Only sell a certain amount each day, firste first served. As for the rest, let me think about it."
"Alright."
The goods made in the vige were sent to Shen Yu first. He picked out what he could use and gave the rest to the pce maids in Yu Zhang Pce and sent some to the Imperial Concubine''s Pce.
"Have you been to the jewelry shop in the north of the city? They have recently released some new products that not only look beautiful but also work well."
"Are you talking about the various shaped soaps? I asked my older brother to buy me a piece, and it''s really good for cleaning hands. After washing, it smells good."
"And their new lip rouge, look, I used it today, isn''t it better looking than before?"
"Wow, it really is. The color suits you well."
"I also think so. They have many colors of lip rouge, and I have decided to buy from them in the future."
Considering some issues, Shen Yu temporarily only allowed the store to sell lip rouge and soap to the public, as these two items were rtively easy to make.
"Master," Mu Xi walked in with the ount book, "many customers want to buy more, and the shopkeeper sent a letter to ask if we should increase the daily sales."
"You can ask if they can handle the increased production, and if they can, we can increase the sales ordingly."
Shen Yu opened the ount book and looked at it. To be honest, the result of his work was far beyond his expectation. In just a few days, the profit of soap and lip balm was much higher than all the other productsbined. This shop had always been in a downturn, but with the two new products, soap and lip balm, it suddenly became the most popr jewelry store for women.
"The price is good and it sells well. I didn''t expect that," Shen Yu eximed.
Considering the uniqueness of the products and the fact that they were not easy to make, Shen Yu had set a rtively high price for them. Originally, the limited quantity was set for one day to avoid overstocking, but unexpectedly, the opposite happened.
"Besides the youngdies outside, there are also many people in the pce looking for servants to buy some. Don''t underestimate the purchasing power of women, Young Master," Mu Xi said with a smile.
"I was thinking too much. Let them take care of these things," Shen Yu had someone specifically in charge of managing the shop, so he didn''t need to worry about these things.
Before early summer arrived, the Ministry of Works had developed more uses for cement and put them into practice one by one. Shen Yu knew that to truly using this material on arge scale, it would take some time. With so many people in the Ministry of Works monitoring the situation, he and Shang Junlin only needed to wait for the final result.
"Your Majesty, the weather is getting hotter," even Shen Yu, who was sensitive to the cold, had changed into a thin shirt.
"When the weather gets really hot, I''ll take you to the summer pce for a while," Shang Junlin said, brushing aside the hair on Shen Yu''s face.
Da Huan had distinct four seasons. Winter was cold, and summer was particrly hot. During the hottest period each year, the emperor would take his concubines and ministers to the summer pce to escape the heat.
After Shang Junlin ascended to the throne, he spent a long time on the battlefield. When he returned to the capital, he was not very interested in going to the summer pce, so he had never been there until now.
After receiving Shang Junlin''s order, both sides started preparing early. The emperor going to the summer pce was not a small project and required a lot of preparation in advance.
After some investigation, Eldest Brother He finally learned about his younger brother''s situation.
The moment he received the news, he was so angry that he trembled. If it weren''t for the servant who stopped him, he would have gone straight to his father and asked for an exnation.
He had always thought that his brother was in some ce that they didn''t know about, but he never thought that it would be a dark prison.
A prison without seeing daylight.
Ha, how ridiculous. Obviously, his father knew the result a long time ago, why didn''t he tell them? Was he nning to rescue his brother from the beginning?
"Young master, calm down. It''s only a guess, it doesn''t mean that the second young master is really there. You can''t act recklessly. If something happens to you, who else will care about the young master?"
Master He barely regained hisposure. "You''re right. Keep investigating. If my younger brother is really there and my father is really not nning to do anything, don''t me me for rescuing him myself!"
He didn''t want to be bothered with the so-called big picture. The people giving orders hadn''t even shown their faces, and he didn''t know why his father was so obedient to them.
"The information has already been leaked," Shang Junlin turned around. "It looks like the He family is also nning to take action. The only question is, what will happen when they find out that their son has caused such a huge mess?"
The He family had been lying low for such a long time. Since they weren''t willing to take the initiative, Shang Junlin didn''t mind adding fuel to the fire.
"What about the King of Yue? Aren''t those people nning to do anything about his life or death?"
The King of Yue was almost certainly behind the scenes in the election fraud case, but those people hadn''t made any moves yet. This didn''t make sense.
"It doesn''t matter. If they don''t show up, the King of Yue will stay in the dark prison. If we''re anxious, they''ll only be more anxious."
They knew that it was a trap ahead, but what choice did they have besides jumping into it?
No, to be precise, they had no other choice but to jump.
Without making them wait any longer, Master He gave them a surprise.
"So, you''re saying that Master He took the secret order that he negotiated with the other side and went to the dungeon with the people arranged by them for Master He''s father?" Shen Yu raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Yes, that''s correct."
"How did hemand those people? Has the He family been waiting for these people all along without taking action in the capital?"
"Probably, otherwise with the people that the He family brought, they wouldn''t be able to stir up any waves." It wasn''t that Shang Junlin underestimated them, but the people brought by the He family were mostly servants and guards, and they didn''t bring many people to avoid drawing attention.
"The He family and the forces behind them probably never expected that all their ns would be ruined by the He eldest son''s desire to save his younger brother."
Shang Junlin smiled but didn''t speak. The He eldest son would never know that the information he thought he had painstakingly obtained was actually intentionally leaked to him.
"But I also didn''t expect that he could bring all those people back unscathed."
As they spoke, the leader of the imperial guards came to report: "Your Majesty, all the people have been captured."
Shang Junlin took Shen Yu''s hand and asked, "Ah Yu, do you want toe with me to take a look?"
Shen Yu shook the hand that was held, "Your Majesty seems to have not given me a choice."
Chapter 91
Chapter 91
They left the pce and headed towards the dark prison. There was a stretch of cement road leading to the dark prison, which made the ride smoother than in other ces.
Shen Yu lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. "It would be much more convenient if all the roads in Da Huan were paved like this."
"When there''s a chance in the future, I''ll take you to tour around Da Huan," said Shang Junlin.
"Okay, Your Majesty, you promised not to go back on your word."
The dark prison was brightly lit and surrounded byyers of imperial guards.
Shen Yu followed behind Shang Junlin and got off the carriage, feeling amazed. "This is probably the busiest the dark prison has ever been."
Indeed, in addition to the imperial soldiers, there were also many prisoners who had escaped from the jail. Shen Yu seriously doubted whether the dark prison could hold all these people.
On the other hand, upon learning that the secret order and manpower had been taken away by Young Master He, the head of the He family was furious. "Are you all idiots? You let him take away everything?! Didn''t I say that except for me, no one can touch these things?! "
"Master, this really can''t be med on us," the servant was almost in tears. "Young Master He was holding your letter and said you had ordered him toe. You also told us before that we needed to be vignt tonight and that Young Master He was sent by you."
This really could only be said that Young Master He had picked the perfect timing.
After all, he was his eldest son, and when the head of the He family was doing things, he would not deliberately keep him in the dark. Except for some things that he really couldn''t let him know, he would reveal a little bit to Young Master He about other matters.
The thing that happened this time was that the head of the He family had no guard up against the eldest son of the He family, and was easily tricked.
"Let me see the letter," he said.
The servant tremblingly took out a letter.
The head of the He family took it and after reading it, he almost burst outughing. The handwriting and tone of the letter were almost identical to his own, no wonder the servant didn''t suspect anything. In addition, the eldest son of the He family had created a time difference, and no one suspected him as he took the people away.
"Sir, what should we do now?" the servant asked.
"That scoundrel probably knows where his brother is. Take some men and try to retrieve him. If you can, there is still a chance. If you can''t..."
The servant didn''t dare to dy and immediately left. However, he had not gone far before he saw a group of imperial guards surrounding them.
Against the well-trained imperial soldiers, the He family had no resistance at all. The head of the family gritted his teeth and led a few trusted aides to retreat to the secret passage.
He had truly raised a good son!
In the end, the head of the He family and his "beloved" eldest son were reunited in the dark prison.
When Shen Yu and Shang Junlin arrived, everyone had already been captured.
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin walked into the dark prison, which was lit up with torches and as bright as day. It was the first time Shen Yu had seen the dark prison in such light.
The head of the He family and the eldest son were imprisoned next to the youngest son, and the King of Yue was held in another cell. The remaining prison escapees were either executed on the spot or imprisoned together.
The King of Yue had heard themotion in the dark prison early on and thought these people hade to rescue him. However, they did not stop at his cell and went directly to another location where they were caught by the hidden imperial guards.
From beginning to end, the King of Yue was stunned. He had been in contact with people outside and they had promised to rescue him today. He had waited eagerly but when they finally came, they didn''t even spare him a nce.
The interrogation was being handled by a dedicated official, and Shang Junlin and Shen Yu were only there to observe the situation.
The remaining matters were all clear at a nce. Young Master He, who was eager to save his younger brother, didn''t realize he had fallen into the trap set by the hunters from the very beginning. He led the people straight into it and was caught red-handed. He ended up being detained with Young Master He.
The leader of the imperial guards exined what had happened that night as he walked alongside the two of them. "ording to His Majesty''s orders, we secretly observed the eldest son of the He family while guarding all the exits of the dark prison. Sure enough, a group of suspicious people met with the eldest son of the He family and then came straight to the dark prison..."
After sending away the leader of the imperial guards, Shang Junlin brought Shen Yu to the ce where the King of Yue was being held.
"You knew it all along, didn''t you? I was able tomunicate with the outside world because you allowed it. You were waiting for this moment, weren''t you?" The King of Yue thought of many details as he calmed down.
Why was it that when he first entered the dark prison, he couldn''t contact anyone outside no matter what he did, but suddenly, one day he was able to? Besides that, there were many other strange things. At the time, he was in a hurry to leave and didn''t think much of it even if he noticed something was off. Now thinking back, there were many loopholes.
"The King of Yue is smart for once, but it''s a pity that even if they wanted to rescue you, they wouldn''t dare show themselves in person. They only dared to send some people from the unreliable He family," Shang Junlin sneered.
The King of Yue hated him, but now he had lost miserably and could only watch Shang Junlin stand in front of him as the winner.
He was an emperor who looked down on everything, while he was a prisoner who had fallen into the dust and his future was unknown.
Shen Yu was also looking at the King of Yue. The difference between the current King of Yue and the man in his memory from his past life was too great. It was so great that he began to doubt whether they were the same person.
Without the so-called halo of the protagonist and the praise that had been intentionally imposed on him, he was just an ordinary person.
Shang Junlin handed over the matter of the prison break to Fang Jun, who had hurriedly arrived, and took Shen Yu back to the pce.
Along the way, Shen Yu didn''t speak. After arriving at the Yu Zhang Pce, Shang Junlin directly carried him off the carriage.
"Are you still thinking about the King of Yue?"
Shen Yu shook his head and then nodded. He was thinking more about his past life. He thought that what he had seen with his own eyes and the book he had read after his death in his past life was the whole truth, but at this moment, he suddenly realized that both had misleading aspects.
Indeed, one should not rely too much on the so-called world plot.
Shang Junlin did not put Shen Yu down and carried him directly inside. As they passed by, the pce maids all bowed their heads.
Shen Yu struggled a bit and said, "Your Majesty, please put me down. There are so many people watching..."
"I am holding my precious subject, isn''t it right and proper? Not only can I hold him, but I can also kiss him, and..."
"Alright," Shen Yu interrupted, not wanting him to continue, "Your Majesty can hold me if you wish, as long as you don''t mind my weight."
"How could I mind Ah Yu''s weight? He should actually gain more weight, so it''s morefortable to hold him." Shang Junlin weighed the young man in his arms, and for him, Shen Yu''s weight was nothing.
Although Shen Yu had gained some weight during his illness, his weight was still much lighter than that of a normal person.
After taking down the He family, they finally traced the clues of the mysterious forces behind them.
Although they couldn''t find the real mastermind, it was still a great improvementpared to before when they had no clues.
During the recent purge of officials, many positions were emptied, and Shang Junlin arranged for officials from local areas to fill those vacancies. Gradually, new officials who passed the imperial examinations also entered the court. Everything seemed to be thriving.
The Grand Preceptor, who had nned the cheating in the imperial examination, was stripped of his title and exiled along with his nine rtives. His position was now vacant.
The noble andmon officials were fighting fiercely for this position in the court.
Especially the noble families, who had already suffered too much, would be greatly affected if someone not from their faction took the position.
As a group of new officials promoted by Shang Junlin gradually entered the court, the monopoly of the noble families over the court was finally broken, and the position of Grand Preceptor, due to the interference of the noble families, was still undecided.
These disputes did not affect the tranquility of the Hanlin Academy for the time being.
"Are you two here together again?"
Jiang Huaiqing greeted the person he was talking to with a smile and replied, "I hitched a ride on Chengyu''s carriage. You know, I''ve been a little short on moneytely."
It started with Jiang Huaiqing taking a fancy to a rare book that he really wanted, but he was afraid someone else would buy it if he waited, so he had to grit his teeth and buy it.
"I know, I know. Don''t forget to lend it to us after you''ve copied it."
"I won''t forget."
Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu were on duty together. At first, Jiang was a bit cautious and didn''t want to get too close to him, butter on, seeing that their colleagues were all easy to get along with, he became more casual in his behavior.
They still live together now, and theye and go together. The people in the Hanlin Academy know that they have a good rtionship and often tease them.
It took about ten days for Jiang Huaiqing to go from being embarrassed to facing it calmly.
"Oh, by the way, I think I found the file you asked me to look forst time. Do you want toe and take a look?"
"Thank you!" Jiang Huaiqing''s eyes brightened.
"It''s been decades, why do you need these things?" the person asked curiously.
"I admire the great schrs of the past and want to learn more about them," Jiang Huaiqing exined with a smile.
"Ah, I see. You are really interested in these things. I will keep an eye out for anything else that might interest you," he said without suspicion. After all, Jiang Huaiqing''s hobby of buying rare books had be well-known in the Hanlin Academy. It was quite normal for someone who would spend all his money on a rare book to be interested in the deeds of the great schrs of various eras.
Fortunately, he was good friends with He Chengyu and could asionally receive help from him.
asionally, Shen Yu could receive letters from Jiang Huaiqing talking about some interesting things in his daily life, and Shen Yu would write back.
For some reason, Shen Yu noticed that Shang Junlin didn''t seem to like talking about the King of Yue in front of himtely. Even if he asked, the topic would be diverted after a few sentences.
"Why does His Majesty suddenly not want to talk to me about things rted to the King of Yue?" After being sidetracked again, Shen Yu asked. He wanted to know if Shang Junlin simply didn''t want him to know about the King of Yue, or if he didn''t want him to know about other things either.
Shang Junlin rubbed Shen Yu''s neck and said in a hoarse voice, "I had a motive when I took you to the dark cell that day."
"Hmm?" Shen Yu was confused.
"I know that the King of Yue approached you when you were outside the pce, and I wanted you to see him," Shang Junlin said.
"Your Majesty," Shen Yu interrupted him, "Does Your Majesty care about this?"
Shang Junlin looked at him deeply.
The more he loved someone, the more he couldn''t tolerate any shadow of that person. Whether it was his domineering or his paranoia, he didn''t want anyone else to upy Shen Yu''s gaze or mind. He took Shen Yu to see the King of Yue to make him realize more deeply that the King of Yue was not worth his affection.
After a while, Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand. "I thought I could ignore what happened to you outside the pce, but I was wrong. I can''t help but care about everything that happens to you, and I can''t help but care about everything that happens to you."
"Did you really mean what you said to the King of Yue? Did you really just see him as a substitute for me?"
Chapter 92
Chapter 92
Shen Yu fell silent for a moment and asked, "Your Majesty, why do you know so clearly about what you said to me before I entered the pce?"
He knew he was asking a redundant question. With the Hidden Dragon Guards at hand, it was impossible to hide anything from Shang Junlin in the capital. Moreover, since he had been chosen to enter the pce, it was normal to be investigated.
"I know that the King of Yue once concealed his identity and approached you. Later, you had a conflict with him," Shang Junlin pinched Shen Yu''s chin and turned his head to face him. "Ah Yu, answer my question."
Shang Junlin''s eyes were pitch ck, staring at Shen Yu without blinking, and a chilling aura swept over him.
Shen Yu squinted ufortably, "Your Majesty, don''t you know my thoughts very well? Why do you care about the King of Yue? What is hepared to Your Majesty? There is nowhere on his body that canpare to His Majesty."
"As for what happened between me and the King of Yue, Your Majesty must understand my character. I cannot be sincere with someone who had impure motives from the beginning to approach me. How can I return his sincerity?"
Shen Yu knew that since Shang Junlin had asked, he could not resolve this matter himself. Regardless of his current feelings towards Shang Junlin, he did not want the King of Yue to be a thorn between them.
Between him and the King of Yue, they had cleanly broken off in their previous life, and there would be no involvement in this life.
"I know that the King of Yue is not a good person," Shang Junlin caressed Shen Yu''s chin carefully. "Ah Yu, I am not suspecting you of anything. I just..."
"I know," Shen Yu covered Shang Junlin''s mouth, "Your Majesty doesn''t need to say these things. Regarding the matter of the King of Yue, I should have exined it to you. When I said that sentence back then, it was actually just to provoke him. Now it seems like it may have been a prophecy spoken by fate. The only difference is that I have no interest in finding a substitute."
"If I love someone, I will do whatever it takes to get him. Even if I can''t, I will never do something as tasteless as finding a substitute. Besides, does the King of Yue even deserve it?"
Shen Yu''s eyes were arrogant and unrestrained. Shang Junlin knew that everything he said came from his heart.
Shang Junlin released his grip on Shen Yu''s chin and suddenly hugged him. "I understand, Ah Yu."
Shen Yu patted Shang Jun Lin''s back tofort him. "Your Majesty, don''t think too much about it. There is no past or future between the King of Yue and me."
Shang Junlin rested his head on Shen Yu''s shoulder. "Who is Ah Yu''s fate?"
"Of course, it''s Your Majesty. With His Majesty around, where else would it fall to? Your Majesty doesn''t have confidence in yourself?"
With Shen Yu''s precise answer, the haze that had covered Shang Junlin''s heart for days was blown away by the wind. He tightened his arms around Shen Yu, wishing he could melt him into his body.
Seeing that Shang Junlin wasforted, Shen Yu also breathed a sigh of relief. He didn''t want the King of Yue to be a barrier between them.
As summer approached, the weather gradually became hotter. The courtiers received news that they would be going to the summer pce this year and began to make preparations.
While preparing, they couldn''t help but be curious.
"Why is His Majesty suddenly going to the summer pce this year? In the past few years, when ministers proposed it, he always rejected it."
"His Majesty has never been one to indulge in luxury, but this time it might be because of you, my lord."
"Regardless of the reason, the Emperors of Da Huan have gone to the summer pce every year. To be honest, the summers in the capital are just too hot. If we can go there to escape the heat, that''s good enough."
The one speaking is the official who had previously rmended to the emperor several times to go to the summer pce to escape the heat. He thought that he would have to spend the summer in the capital until he was relieved of his duties, but he was pleasantly surprised by the sudden change.
As the weather grew hotter, Shen Yu''s clothes became thinner and thinner. His body temperature remained cool as before, making it especiallyfortable to hold him in his arms. Whenever he had time, Shang Junlin would hold him close.
This made Shen Yu suffer.
The man had a fiery temper, and in winter it was fine - he was like a human furnace. But in the summer, every time Shang Junlin held him for a while, he would break out in a sweat.
There was a smallke in the Yu Zhang Pce, with a pavilion built on it. Since the weather got hot, this became Shen Yu''s favorite ce.
The pavilion was decorated ording to Shen Yu''s preferences, with light-colored gauze hanging around and ice ced in the corners. The cool breeze blowing across the water brought a refreshing feeling.
After finishing his official duties, Shang Junlin returned to the Yu Zhang Pce and looked for Shen Yu, but didn''t find him inside. He went straight to the pavilion, knowing that the pce was never short of ice. However, the imperial physician advised that Shen Yu''s weak constitution couldn''t tolerate too much cold. Despite being afraid of the cold in winter, he was the one who craved coolness the most in summer.
After the pavilion was cleaned up, it became Shen Yu''s most frequented spot. Shang Junlin lifted the gauze curtain and saw Shen Yu half-leaning on the bed reading a book, with Xiao Meng Gonggong gently fanning him from behind.
The pce maid knelt down and saluted, and Shen Yu put down the book in his hand and sat up: "Has Your Majesty finished with your work?"
"Mmm." Shang Junlin walked over to Shen Yu and sat down next to him. Due to space constraints when setting up the pavilion, the couch inside was much smaller than the one in the Yu Zhang Pce, but Shang Junlin was satisfied with this small wish.
As soon as Shang Junlin leaned over, he brought a wave of heat, and Shen Yu moved to the side, but the man grabbed him.
"Where are you hiding, Ah Yu?"
"It''s so hot." Shen Yu refused to stick to Shang Junlin.
"There''s ice in the pavilion. Let me hold you for a while." Shang Junlin firmly grabbed Shen Yu''s waist and didn''t let him go.
"Don''t you feel hot, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu was helpless.
"Ah Yu''s body is very cool." Shang Junlin rubbed his cheek against Shen Yu''s.
"But His Majesty is very hot." Shen Yu leaned his body outwards, trying to get away from the man.
"In winter, Ah Yu likes to snuggle up in my arms. Why are youining now?" Shang Junlin held down Shen Yu''s back and pressed him into his arms.
Shen Yu gave up struggling and halfy in the man''s arms. After a while, his body temperature gradually lowered. Knowing that the man wouldn''t let him go, he found afortable position and took a book from the side to continue reading.
"How much ice has been used recently in the Noble Monarch''s Pce?" Shang Junlin asked Mu Xi, who was waiting by his side.
Mu Xi reported the amount strictly ording to Shang Junlin''s orders, and he nodded in satisfaction.
Shen Yu was speechless and knocked his head against the man''s chest. "Your Majesty has given my pce maids a deadly order, and yet you''re still worried that I will use too much ice?"
"Did Ah Yu forget about the incidentst time when you caught a cold from liking cold?" Shang Junlin pinched his ear.
Shen Yu lowered his head nervously. The weather had suddenly be hot in the past few days, and he couldn''t bear it. So, he asked the pce servants to add more ice to his sleeping quarters. If it wasn''t for Shang Junlin who noticed it in time and removed some of the ice, he would have probably gotten sick from being too cold. After that incident, Shang Junlin strictly controlled the amount of ice used in his pce.
Shen Yu looked at the book for a while and suddenly remembered something, "Your Majesty, is it only the privileged families in the capital who can use ice?"
"Some big merchants can also use it. Why do you ask?"
In the summer, most people in Da Huan used stored ice. The amount of work required to store it was huge, and only a small amount could be saved. Some families with the ability would store ice themselves, while those who didn''t have the conditions would choose to buy it. However, due to the quantity, the price was often higher, and ordinary people seldom bought it.
"I just thought of a simple method for making ice. If we can figure out how to do it, the people of Da Huan can use it too." Shen Yu''s method came from the book and was one of the benefits he gained from being the protagonist, Shen Qingran''s "golden finger."
"What method?" Shang Junlin became interested.
"Saltpeter dissolved in water can yield ice."
Shen Yu had someone bring saltpeter and water, and after experimenting with them, they did indeed produce ice.
As he watched the newly made ice emitting cold air, aplicated expression appeared in Shen Yu''s eyes.
In his past life, after the King of Yue obtained this method, the first thing he did was kill everyone who knew about it. He then arranged for a group of mute ves to make ice for him and sold it at a high price.
In his past life, Shen Yu didn''t know that the method for making ice was so simple. When he learned that the King of Yue had used mute ves to make ice, he thought that there was some secret that couldn''t be revealed.
"This method is indeed convenient." Shang Junlin felt the new ice and found that it was not much different from stored ice. Compared to storing ice in winter to save it for summer, saltpeter was much easier to obtain.
"With this method, ordinary households can also use ice in summer." Muxi was so amazed by what she saw that her mouth wouldn''t close.
The things have been given to Shang Junlin, and Shen Yu no longer interferes with how he uses them. It''s his business, as long as they don''t end up like the King of Yue, a tool for umting wealth.
He knew that Shang Junlin wouldn''t do that, or he wouldn''t have brought out these things.
Shen Yu wiped his hands andy back on the bed. There was now a pot of ice in the pavilion, making it even cooler.
The pce maids kept looking at the newly made ice, unable to hide their curiosity. Shang Junlin also stood by the ice for a while before returning to bed.
The news of the new ice-making method caused a sensation in the court. Everyone had experienced how hot the summer in the capital was. Those who were capable of storing ice would certainly store more in winter. Those who didn''t have this condition and wanted to use ice would have to spend a lot of money to buy it in the summer. If they could make ice in the summer, it would bring even greater convenience.
"I''m not publicly releasing the recipe for now," Shang Junlin changed out of his court attire and walked toward Shen Yu. "Let the court control it for a while. If the conditions are ripe in the future, we''ll see whether to make it public."
By having the court control the pricing, they could prevent the ice from falling into the hands of a small number of noble families and bing a tool for their umtion of wealth. It could also prevent some unscrupulous merchants from selling the ice at a high price to other ces.
"Your decision is good, Your Majesty," Shen Yu had no objection.
The date for going to the summer pce was confirmed, and the people of Yu Zhang Pce were also busy.
A group of people went to the summer pce, and Shen Yu was directly arranged to stay with Shang Junlin.
The summer pce was built on a mountainside, and a cool breeze could be felt as soon as one arrived. Shen Yu closed his eyes contentedly.
"Has His Majesty not arranged a ce for me to stay?" Shen Yu looked around at the decorations, many of which were obviously for imperial use.
"Of course, you''ll stay with me, Ah Yu." Shang Junlin didn''t give him a chance to refuse and picked him up, walking inside.
The pce maids lowered their heads and focused on their work.
Shen Yu was used to Shang Junlin carrying him around all the time, and he hugged the man''s neck. He blew a soft breath in his ear:
"I''ve always been staying on Your Majesty''s side. The ministers won''t say anything, right?"
Shang Junlin paused, his eyes darkening. He quickly ced Shen Yu on the bed and ran his finger over his cheek. "Then Ah Yu needs to behave well."
Chapter 93
Chapter 93
Shen Yu is the Noble Monarch and naturally should have his own residence in the pce. The quality of his residence will indicate his level of favor.
Initially, when arrangements were being made, the pce servants had designated a good courtyard for Shen Yu, but it was vetoed by Shang Junlin. Instead, Shen Yu was ced in his own residence.
While in the imperial pce, Shang Junlin had always regretted not being able to move Shen Yu to his own sleeping quarters. This time, he had the opportunity, and he wasn''t going to let Shen Yu stay in a separate courtyard.
Shen Yu''s words were meant to tease Shang Junlin. He couldn''t care less about what the officials thought of him. If he did care, he wouldn''t have chosen to enter the pce in the first ce.
Shang Junlin gently ced Shen Yu onto the bed and held him close, not allowing him to get up. "How do you want me to behave, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu asked.
Shang Junlin rubbed his finger over Shen Yu''s soft lips and applied a slight pressure, inserting his finger. "What do you think, Ah Yu?" he asked.
"Hasn''t spring already passed?" Shen Yu looked at Shang Junlin with clear eyes.
It took a moment for Shang Junlin to realize what Shen Yu was hinting at. He leaned over and covered the young man beneath him. "Why wait until spring, when you''re already by my side?" he said.
Shen Yu lightly touched the man''s finger with his tongue, as if it were an ident, effortlessly arousing the man''s desire.
"But Your Majesty is about to meet with the ministers," Shen Yu said innocently, blinking his eyes as if he hadn''t deliberately aroused the man''s desire.
Shang Junlin suddenly withdrew his hand, pressed Shen Yu against him, and fiercely kissed him.
The man''s kiss could never be described as gentle; it was like a storm, carrying a strong sense of invasion. Each movement indicated his desire to devour the young man.
Shen Yu was forced to tilt his head back, enduring the onught.
"Did Ah Yu take advantage of the fact that I can''t do anything now?" Shang Junlin bit Shen Yu''s lip and slowly pulled back.
Shen Yu''s face turned a light shade of pink, his lips looking like they were painted with rouge. His ck hair was scattered on the bed, slightly messy.
"It was His Majesty who started it," Shen Yu said.
The young man''s eyes were shining with tears, the corners of his eyes were red, and hey obediently beneath him. Shang Junlin almost exhausted all his willpower to resist and hadn''t really done anything yet.
"I''ll let you go this time." After speaking, Shang Junlin got up.
Shen Yu turned his head andughed softly. He didn''t know when he started to enjoy seeing Shang Junlin in such a helpless state.
"Does His Majesty need to handle anything?" Shen Yu''s gaze swept over from somewhere.
"No need."
After everything was settled here, he still needed to meet with the court officials once more, and this little bit of time was simply not enough.
Shen Yu had finishedughing enough and slowly propped himself up. Actually, he was also somewhat aroused, but it wasn''t as obvious as Shang Junlin''s. He just needed to take a break for a moment.
"I had Physician Gue over too. If you feel unwell, he can take a look at you." Shang Junlin straightened out Shen Yu''s hair.
Because of his work on Shen Yu''s physical condition, Physician Gu became the person most valued by Shang Junlin as the imperial physician. He was also brought along this time.
The Summer Pce allowed officials to bring their families with them, so Physician Gu didn''t feel at ease leaving Gu Huai behind in the capital, and brought him over. Other ministers also brought their wives and beloved children from home.
The Summer Pce, which had been cold and deste for many years, suddenly became lively.
After Shen Yu freshened up, he left the courtyard with Mu Xi.
This Summer Pce was built with the great efforts of several generations of rulers, and it was very luxurious. As the emperor, Shang Junlin lived in the best ce inside.
"Young Master, it''s so beautiful here." The surrounding scenery was unique, and Mu Xi was overwhelmed by it.
"Yes, in terms of enjoyment, who canpare to the royal family?" In this life and thest, Shen Yu had never been to this Summer Pce before.
Even when the former emperor was still in power, the Marquis of Zhenbei favored his concubine''s son. Even if he could bring his family over, he would never think of Shen Yu, the legitimate son.
It was Shen Qingran and Aunt Ru who were able toe here, thanks to the favor of the Marquis of Zhenbei.
After returning, Shen Qingran boasted in front of Shen Yu about his experience. At that time, Shen Yu thought to himself that he woulde and see for himself one day based on his own abilities. Now, not only has hee, but he has also moved into the most prestigious ce, yet he no longer feels the same as he did when he was young.
"Who did the Marquis of Zhenbei bring with him?" Shen Yu asked.
"It''s Aunt Zhou who used to have a bad rtionship with Aunt Ru," Mu Xi had inquired early on.
"Did Shen Qingran note?"
"No, he is still being kept by the Marquis of Zhenbei."
The Marquis of Zhenbei had been in a power struggle with the King of Yue for some time, and after spending a lot of effort to resolve the issue that Shen Qingran had stirred up, he was annoyed whenever he heard Shen Qingran''s name. How could he bring him out?
Shang Junlin brought nearly half of the officials with him, iming it was to escape the summer heat, but it was actually just a change of location to handle official affairs. There were still arge number of documents to be approved every day, and even more so now that he was not in the capital.
Shen Yu sincerely felt that being an emperor was not an easy job, as he saw how busy Shang Junlin was every day.
Even though he was in the summer pce, Shang Junlin still had a tight grip on the situation in the capital. The situation in the capital was ryed to the summer pce every day through a special channel.
The summer pce was smaller than the capital, and Shen Yu ran into the Marquis of Zhenbei several times. He didn''t know if it was intentional, but the Marquis of Zhenbei didn''t do anything each time he saw him, so Shen Yu ignored him.
Aunt Zhou, who was with the Marquis of Zhenbei, was warm and respectful to Shen Yu as if the incident where she had tried to harm him had never happened.
Shen Yu couldn''t be bothered to deal with them and gradually stopped going out.
"Master, many young lords, anddies have been trying to get close to the Emperor recently just because they think he can be easily influenced. Does the Emperor really think he can handle it himself?" Mu Xi came in, looking angry.
"The Emperor will handle it himself," Shen Yu said as he put the flowers that Shang Junlin had recently picked into a vase.
Shang Junlin recently learned something new, and every day he brings back some fresh flowers. Some of them can survive, so Shen Yu asks the pce maids to find a vase to take care of them, while the ones that cannot survive are dried and put into the books he has already read.
"Young Master, aren''t you worried at all?" When Mu Xi heard the news, she was almost desperate. She now fully recognized Shang Junlin''s existence and did not want anyone else to take away his favor.
Of course, she knew that as an emperor, he could not have only one woman in his harem forever, but she just could not ept that there was anyone besides Shen Yu by Shang Junlin''s side who said that they would not ept any new members in the harem.
She had been walking around outside a lot these days and had heard a lot of news. The emperor had already made it clear, so why were these people still dreaming of bing a member of the harem?
Shen Yu took the handkerchief and wiped his hands slowly, "Why should I worry? It''s their own business how they think. Can I control how they think?"
"If they really enter the pce, what will Young Master do?"
"I brought you all out to rx, why should I worry more than I do in the pce? Don''t worry, your worries won''t happen because your Master won''t allow them to."
Since Shang Junlin had promised him, there would be no chance for regret. As for those who thought of Shang Junlin, he did not mind doing what he said, and if they entered the pce, they could not me themselves for not being able to get out.
Shen Yu thought that these words would only spread in a small circle of servants, but he did not expect to run into someone even when he was just out for a walk with Shang Junlin.
"You look so beautiful, Miss, even better than that Noble Monarch. The emperor will definitely like you when he sees you."
"But..."
"Miss, please don''t hesitate. The young master said this is our best chance. If we seed, you will be a Monarch and won''t have to worry about being married off indiscriminately. Your aunt''s life in the mansion will also improve a lot."
"You''re right," the woman collected herself. "Are you sure His Majesty will pass by here?"
"Please rest assured, I have inquired about it. You just need to wait quietly here for some time, and His Majesty wille. Whether we seed or not will depend on you."
At the corner, Shen Yu nudged Shang Junlin with his elbow. "Is His Majesty really that popr? If I hadn''t followed you out today, would I have had a chance to have a good encounter with that woman in front?"
"Is Ah Yu feeling jealous?" Shang Junlin grabbed Shen Yu''s arm and pulled him close, whispering in his ear in a breathy voice, "From beginning to end, I only want Ah Yu. I thought you already knew that."
The conversation at the corner continued, but Shen Yu couldn''t hear it anymore. The sensation of wetness spread from behind his ear, inching forward until it reached his lips and stopped.
Shang Junlin''s lips were pressed against Shen Yu''s skin, and his hot breath washed over Shen Yu''s face.
"I thought they had given up," Shen Yu frowned. Shang Junlin had made his stance clear multiple times, but these people were still unwilling to ept it.
"They will never give up. With imperial power in front of them, no matter how I express my attitude, they will always hold onto this thought. Do you think they are after me? No, they are after the power and benefits that I represent."
"Are you going out to meet her?" Shen Yu knew very well that hardly any of the women who entered the harem did so willingly.
"If even Ah Yu is feeling jealous, why would I want to see her?" Shang Junlin suddenly picked up Shen Yu and walked away.
Leaves rustled down, and two women not far away turned their heads, only to see shaking branches.
"Did someone juste by?"
"I didn''t notice anyone."
Shen Yu was carried back to the bedroom, where Meng Gonggong came to greet him but was immediately dismissed. Meng Gonggong took all the pce servants with him and left the room.
Shen Yu was thrown onto the bed, and the man loomed over him.
Shang Junlin was half a head taller than Shen Yu, and he easily pressed him down. Shen Yu pushed against him, feeling ufortable.
Instead of backing off, Shang Junlin moved closer, his narrow phoenix eyes staring intently at the young man beneath him.
Shen Yu squinted his eyes and suddenly flipped over, pressing down on the man.
Shang Junlin was caught off guard, and a hint of surprise shed in his eyes.
Sitting on Shang Junlin''s waist, Shen Yu supported himself with one hand on his chest and held his chin with the other. "His Majesty is attracting bees and butterflies. I want to punish His Majesty."
Shang Junlin''s taut body rxed, and a glint of interest shed in his eyes. "How does Ah Yu want to punish me?"
"Then punish His Majesty for not being able to control yourself." Shen Yu finished speaking and leaned down.
His ck hair cascaded down, covering the man''s entire chest. The Adam''s apple of Shang Junlin rolled violently.
The sweetest and most torturous thing, nothing couldpare to this.
"Ah Yu, let me touch it..." Shang Junlin couldn''t hold back anymore, he turned over and pinned Shen Yu down, leaning down to kiss him.
The kiss went all the way down, apanied by gentle nibbling, finally stopping at a certain spot.
Shen Yu moved uneasily and suddenly felt enveloped in warmth.
"Don''t..."
----
Author''s note:
Hint: Ah Yu ying by himself + being unable to endure the advances of the emperor.
Trantor''s Note:
I''m changing Noble Monarch -> Noble Consort because I think this is a more suitable title than the former. And in my own opinion, Monarch is equivalent to a level like a King or Emperor and since SY is still a Monarch, not the empress, I don''t see why I use the word ''monarch''.
Reinstating Noble Monarch as the title y''all!
Chapter 94
Chapter 94
Shen Yu never imagined that Shang Junlin would do this for him.
Unable to grab onto the sheets underneath him, Shen Yu felt like he was in the eye of a storm, tossed high up and unable toe down. The flowers outside the window were in full bloom, their branches reaching into the room, shyly closing their petals.
After a long time, Shang Junlin let him go, his Adam''s apple rolling as he swallowed.
In a daze, Shen Yu saw this scene and waves of shock rose in his eyes, causing him to forget what he was about to say. Shang Junlin shifted his body upwards, finding Shen Yu''s lips and leaning in. Shen Yu turned his head to avoid it.
Shang Junlin grabbed his face, a storm brewing in his eyes.
"Why are you avoiding me?"
"His Majesty hasn''t brushed his teeth..."
"Why are you still being picky about your own things?" Shang Junlinughed.
Shen Yu didn''t reply, nor did he give him a kiss.
Shang Junlin left a trail of kisses on Shen Yu''s cheeks and neck, his heart itching with desire. He got up and rinsed his mouth with water, then leaned back in.
"Is it okay now?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he kissed Shen Yu''s lips urately.
"Ah Yu, I want you."
With the sound of sucking, the man''s voice was low and dangerous. Shen Yu struggled, his body was extremely weak, and he couldn''t escape from the man''s shackles.
"Mmm..."
A ce that had never been touched was suddenly visited by someone, causing Shen Yu to frown with unease.
The man''s kiss left his lips and moved to his eyebrows and eyes. "Ah Yu, rx."
Shen Yu couldn''t rx and his body became as tense as a wire.
Shang Junlin tried a few times but Shen Yu couldn''t adapt, causing both of them to sweat profusely.
Shen Yu bit his lip to ease the difort. Due to the pain, the color faded from his face, leaving only red lips, fair skin, red eyes, and tightly furrowed brows.
The kiss moved to his neck, and Shang Junlin took a deep breath, holding back his desire.
Earlier, Shang Junlin had worried that Shen Yu might not be able to easily ept him, but he did not expect it to be so difficult when it came down to it.
After his hand left, Shen Yu felt somewhat relieved. He reached out and touched the sweat on the man''s forehead. "Your Majesty, you need to take care of yourself."
"Ah Yu, how could you be so heartless?" Shang Junlin frowned, pulling himself closer to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu was firmly held by the man, and his heart trembled. He turned his face away and did not look at Shang Junlin.
Pressing his thumb against Shen Yu''s rosy lips, Shang Junlin''s voice became low and hoarse. "Ah Yu, can we change to another ce?"
Shen Yu pursed his lips.
"Ah Yu, you even despise your own things. I won''t force you. Besides here," Shang Junlin pointed to Shen Yu''s lips, his gaze darkening, "there are other ces where you can help me."
"I''m afraid you''ll have to work a bit harder today."
After saying this, Shang Junlin kissed Shen Yu''s lips again.
This time, the action was both urgent and fierce, and Shen Yu was thrown up by the rolling waves again. His tightly sped fingers were forcibly separated, and his fingertips were invaded as they interlocked with Shang Junlin''s.
As the sky gradually darkened, Shen Yu was dragged out of his half-asleep state by the man''s actions several times. He was so tired that he could barely move, but Shang Junlin was still in the mood for more, over and over again.
He had no restraint.
Shen Yu couldn''t remember when he fell asleep, but when he woke up again, it was already bright outside.
He felt refreshed, probably because he had been washed, his clothes were dry, and the bedding had been changed. Shen Yu moved and felt a sudden soreness all over his body.
"Hiss--"
Last night, Shen Yu wanted to kick the man off the bed, but every time he stretched his foot, he would be caught by the man who would y with him a few times. Shen Yu had no choice but to let him.
Shen Yu didn''t know about others, but he knew that Shang Junlin''s energy was definitely not something a normal person could have. Last night, he may have been stimted, and it took longer than usual.
It was not just exhaustion. Shen Yu rubbed his sore wrists and tried to sit up.
Shang Junlin walked in with hot porridge and saw Shen Yu trying to sit up.
The young man''s face was flushed, his eyes were dull, and his lips were especially rosy, with ayer of water shine, like a ripe fruit, tempting people to pick it.
In his movements, his thin clothes slid off, revealing mottled skin.
Shang Junlin hurried over to the bed and put the porridge aside, helping Shen Yu to sit up.
"Are you hungry?"
Shang Junlin timed it right to bring the porridge back, and Shen Yu had just opened his eyes.
"A little bit." Shen Yu looked exhausted after almost a sleepless night.
Knowing that he liked cleanliness, Shang Junlin asked a pce maid to bring hot water.
After washing up, Shen Yu put on his outer clothes and moved to the soft couch. He didn''t feel veryfortable all over his body, and his mood was not very good.
Shang Junlin fed Shen Yu spoonfuls of porridge until he finished it all. Seeing that he was still feeling unwell, he asked, "Do you want to sleep a little longer?"
Shen Yu didn''t want to sleep anymore.
Shang Junlin apanied him for a day, and in the evening, he was called away by a minister for a meeting.
Shang Junlin hesitated to leave and Shen Yu pushed him gently, "Your Majesty, you should go attend to your official duties."
Shang Junlin had no choice but to leave.
When he returned, Shen Yu was already asleep on the soft couch under the candlelight. Shang Junlin stared at his face for a while, then gently lifted him up and put him on the bed.
Perhaps he was too tired from the previous night, Shen Yu did not wake up even though he was being moved around.
The next day, Shen Yu was still feeling unwell. Shang Junlin called for the court physician to check on him.
After examining Shen Yu''s pulse and ncing at Shang Junlin, the court physician lowered his head and carefully chose his words.
"If you have something to say, just say it," Shang Junlin held Shen Yu and kneaded his fingers with one hand.
The court physician took a deep breath and said in a calm tone, "The Noble Monarch''s body has not fully recovered yet. You need to exercise more restraint in your sexual activities."
Shang Junlin''s hand movement paused.
"...I understand."
After the court physician left, he shook his head while thinking on his way back. "His Majesty has really been working hard."
Shen Yu remained ill for three days before finally recovering on the fourth day.
"Have you heard any rumors about entering the harem these past few days?" Shen Yu brewed himself a pot of tea and asked Mu Xi.
"No, His Majesty gave those families with such intentions a warning, so they are at least pretending not to have any such thoughts." As for what they really think in their hearts, Mu Xi agreed with what her young master said. She could hardly be bothered with what was in their minds.
Since Shang Junlin had resolved the matter, Shen Yu no longer asked any more questions.
"Young Master, a swing has been set up, would you like to go for a ride?" Mu Xi suggested, seeing that Shen Yu was feeling better today.
Shen Yu had been staying indoors for a few days and felt that he should go out for a walk.
The swing was hung from an old tree, which had many branches and leaves, blocking the sunlight from overhead. Shen Yu took a book of misceneous notes and read it slowly as he swung.
"Who dares to trespass?"
There was a loud noise outside, and Shen Yu pulled himself out of the book, asking, "What''s going on?"
"I don''t know," Mu Xi looked confused. "I''ll go check it out."
After a while, Mu Xi came back, looking a little uneasy. "It''s a woman, she''s making a fuss about seeing the emperor."
The establishment of a new department for the Independent Ministry of Labor had already been put on the agenda, and Shang Junlin had been busy with this matter recently, currently in a meeting with the Prime Minister and others.
"Did she say why?" Shen Yu put down his book.
"No," Mu Xi shook her head. "She wasn''t summoned, and the guards wouldn''t let her in. She insisted oning in, so I had her sent away."
Even in the pce, seeing the emperor was not something you could just do as you pleased. Shen Yu and Shang Junlin''s residence was heavily guarded, and if there was no summons, the guards would not let anyone in.
Ordinary people wouldn''t dare to barge in for no reason and disturb the emperor, it was a serious crime.
Shen Yu got up from the swing; "Take me to see."
Before he even got close, Shen Yu heard the woman''s gentle voice. This voice gave him a sense of familiarity, and when he got closer, it was indeed the person he had met a few days ago.
After that day, Shen Yu ended up worse off for his trouble and was nearly caught. Seeing this person now, he suddenly felt a faint pain somewhere.
That day, besides not getting in, he had done everything he shouldn''t have, and in the end, Shen Yu was so tired that he couldn''t even lift a finger.
"What''s going on?" Shen Yu coughed lightly, interrupting the confrontation over there.
"Your Excellency." The guard bowed and saluted. "This woman said that His Majesty had left something with her, and she wants to return it to His Majesty in person, but she wasn''t summoned, so I couldn''t let her in."
"How could His Majesty have left something with you?" Shen Yu looked coldly at the woman standing outside.
The woman bit her lip. "I met His Majesty at Jade Pavillion that day, and the thing was lost there."
"If you give me the item, I will deliver it to His Majesty for you," Shen Yu said. He had no intention of letting the woman in, as she clearly had impure intentions toward the harem.
"I can''t. I must personally hand the item to His Majesty," the woman stepped back, her eyes turning red.
"What is your intention, to return the item or to see His Majesty? If it is the former, give me the item, and if it is thetter, I advise you not to waste your effort," Shen Yu squinted his eyes. The woman''s intention was obviously thetter.
She had been waiting in the woods untilte at night but did not see anyone. The next day, she heard that His Majesty was furious and warned against any improper thoughts toward the harem. She then identally found the jade pendant that had fallen from His Majesty. At that moment, she realized that her opportunity hade.
She had heard that Noble Monarch Shen in the pce was a very capable person. Her brother had warned her not to mess with this person if she failed to achieve her goal. But she did not expect that the Noble Monarch would be so direct in speaking to her.
As he looked into her clear eyes, it seemed like all her scheming wasid bare.
"How can you nder me like this, I just want to return the jade pendant that His Majesty left with me. I have no other intention," the woman denied her hidden motives.
"Jade pendant? His Majesty left the jade pendant with you?" Shen Yu''s expression was unreadable, and the woman felt a bit uneasy but still nodded.
"No wonder. His Majesty lost a jade pendant a few days ago. It turns out that you picked it up." It had just been casually hung around his waist, so he did not care when it was lost. It was only when Shen Yu noticed that he was missing a jade pendant that he realized it was lost.
"Since it is a lost item, there is no need to retrieve it. However, it is His Majesty''s personal item, and it is not appropriate for it to be in the hands of outsiders. Mu Xi, take the jade pendant," Shen Yu said.
Mu Xi walked up to the woman, ignoring her struggles, and took the jade pendant back, handing it to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu did not even look at it and threw it on the ground, instantly shattering it into pieces. "Things that have been contaminated by others should be destroyed."
Chapter 95
Chapter 95
"This is what His Majesty wears. Aren''t you afraid of His Majesty ming you for destroying it?" The woman was taken aback by Shen Yu''s abnormal behavior and her face changed dramatically.
"If it''s broken, it''s broken. His Majesty only cares if I had fun while breaking it," Shen Yu turned around and spoke in a slightly cold tone, "Send thisdy back."
The n fell through before it even began. The woman was unwilling to let it go and looked at the broken jade pendant with resentment shing in her eyes.
What''s worse than having something she desired so much being easily obtained by someone else? She had been waiting for an opportunity, but it was ruined so easily, and in this way.
She knew that Shen Yu was warning her not to touch things she shouldn''t. But why? Shen Yu was just lucky enough to enter the pce first, why was he showing such a high-handed attitude?
"Your Excellency, does His Majesty know that you are so jealous? I just wanted to return His Majesty''s jade pendant, and you just broke it..." The woman spoke with a soft voice.
Shen Yu stopped in his tracks and looked coldly at the woman, "I thought everyone knew that I am not someone to be trifled with. Don''t let me catch you with any improper thoughts in the future, otherwise..."
The pressure in the young man''s eyes was like a mountain pressing down on her. The woman had no doubt that if she dared to do anything, her fate would be the same as that of the jade pendant.
She was too hasty. She almost forgot about the incident where a woman deliberately fell on His Majesty and was still being held in the Jade Pavilion.
Realizing her mistake, fear began to surface in her heart. Even if she had more ambition, she was still an unmarried woman who couldn''tpare to Shen Yu in terms of knowledge.
"What''s themotion?" A man''s deep voice came from behind.
Shen Yu turned his head and saw Shang Junlin walking towards them from another direction.
He was originally discussing matters with the prime minister and several other ministers when he suddenly received news that a woman was causing a disturbance and demanding to see him. She even imed that she wanted to return his personal belongings. However, Shang Junlin immediately dismissed the messenger and had no intention of meeting with the woman. If it weren''t for hearing that Shen Yu had gone out, he would never havee out.
"Your Majesty." Everyone present saluted.
Shang Junlin waived their courtesy and walked straight to Shen Yu, without even looking at the tearful and beautiful woman whose tears were about to fall.
"Is Ah Yu feeling better today?"
Since that night, Shen Yu had been unwell. Shang Junlin was extremely worried, and only after having Doctor Gu examine him and confirm that he was fine, did he finally rx. He did not dare to let anyone disturb him for these few days.
Shen Yu had actually rested well for a few days, and his spirit had gradually recovered.
When he arrived, Shang Junlin had already roughly understood what had happened. It was just a woman he didn''t know, and he didn''t want to bother with it.
Shen Yu nestled into Shang Junlin''s arms. "Your Majesty, I dropped your jade pendant. Will you be angry with me?"
"As long as Ah Yu didn''t mean to drop it, it''s just a piece of jade," Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand and brought it to his eyes. "Did Ah Yu get hurt?"
Shen Yu was originally a bit unhappy, but Shang Junlin''s actions made himugh. "It was just a jade pendant. How could I get hurt?"
"If you don''t like it next time, you can let the people around you smash it. You don''t have to do it yourself." Shang Junlin pinched Shen Yu''s fingers.
"That woman..." Shen Yu nced at the woman outside.
The woman had finally seen Shang Junlin and had wanted to do something. If she could nt a seed of discord between Shang Junlin and Shen Yu, it would be even better. But who would have thought that Shang Junlinpletely ignored everyone else, not even giving her a nce.
The woman''s face was pale, and she seemed to be about to copse at any moment. However, no one felt any sympathy for her weakness.
Several of the women who came out of the pce are not simple. They can see through the true intentions of these women at a nce. Since their purpose has not been achieved, and the emperor has not punished them, why are they pretending to be victims?
"Bring them back and have them copy the female precepts as punishment. Order their family elders to take good care of them. I don''t want to see the same thing happen again."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"Also," Shang Junlin slowly rubbed his fingers and said, "Don''t let these peoplee to bother the Noble Monarch again next time, disturbing his mood. I will hold you responsible."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The Emperor allowed these people to bring their families here as a grace, but who knew they would have so many ulterior motives behind their backs.
Of course, Shen Yu knew that not only this woman but there were also others with simr thoughts. Whether it was for power or something else, there would always be people who would throw caution to the wind.
Shang Junlin was decisive and gave no face to that woman. In no time, everyone in the pce knew that the daughter of the Minister of Revenue had attempted to get close to the emperor but was instead disgusted by him.
The Minister of Revenue flew into a rage and ordered, "Lock up this embarrassing thing. Without my permission, no one is allowed to release her!"
He knew his daughter had some ulterior motives, and to be honest, he was also tempted. Looking at how well Shen Yu was being treated now, he could only imagine how great it would be if his daughter gained the emperor''s favor after entering the pce.
Because of this little scheme, he did not stop his daughter''s actions, but he never expected that Shang Junlin would be so ruthless.
Now everyone knows what his daughter did, and she is ridiculed both overtly and covertly. The Minister of Revenue was born into a prestigious family and had already paved the way for himself to be the Minister of Revenue. How could he have ever imagined experiencing such humiliation?
"His Majesty is trampling on the face of my Tan family," the Minister of Revenue mmed down a cup of wine.
"Not only that, but our Emperor is a man with a n. Do you really think he is only targeting the Tan family? Obviously, he wants to use this matter as an example to warn us not to have any wrong intentions!"
"The emperor has had prejudices against the aristocratic families for quite some time now. Originally, we nned to send more rational and well-informed women from the aristocratic families into the pce to ease tensions between the two sides. However, who would have thought that the emperor would be so infatuated with a man that he wouldn''t want anyone else? Our ns had to be shelved."
Allowing those rumors to spread was also a test for them. Previously, the emperor rarely had contact with women from aristocratic families and could easily see them anytime he wished. Perhaps if he liked them, he would change his mind.
The emperor did not pay attention to those private rumors. Just when they thought they saw an opportunity, the emperor struck a heavy blow and shattered their illusions. It was not a tacit approval, but rather an opportunity to resolve the issue all at once.
After this incident, no one dared to have such thoughts, and even if they did, they would not show it. Each family would restrain their own members and subordinates, as they could not afford to lose face.
After a bout of anger from Shang Junlin, Shen Yu never encountered simr incidents again. Mu Xi also said that no one dared to discuss such things privately anymore.
Shen Yu was quite satisfied with this result. Anyone would be unhappy if their people were always being watched by others.
Even during the hottest time of the year, the temperature in the pce was not too high, and it was even a bit cool at night. Shang Junlin could finally hold Shen Yu without being repulsed.
Every three days, the imperial edicts from the capital would be delivered to the pce. Today was the day for their delivery, and Shen Yu watched as Meng Gonggong directed a group of eunuchs to bring the edicts into the study, and then to carry the finished edicts out of the pce.
"Why are there so many edicts this timepared to before?" Shen Yu asked in surprise as he walked in and took a nce.
"Those aristocratic families who stayed in the capital received the news from the pce. I estimate that more than half of these edicts are rted to that incident."
Shang Junlin finished signing the edicts in his hand and ordered, "Meng Chang, sort these out and put the less important ones aside."
Meng Gonggong skillfully went to distribute the papers. Shang Junlin led Shen Yu out of the study.
"The people in the capital have already started using ice. The Ministry of Public Works has asked Us for the recipe for making ice, but We have not given it yet."
Now, those who have been arranged to make ice are people from the imperial estates, which belong to Shang Junlin personally. Shang Junlin specifically ordered that the recipe for making ice should not be leaked.
"Your Majesty, don''t give it to them yet," Shen Yu suddenly thought of another use for saltpeter: making weapons with high killing power.
"After the establishment of the new department, I want to put the recipe there." Shang Junlin was referring to the Ministry of Investigation and Research that the court was preparing, which would be independent of all government departments and directly under the emperor''s jurisdiction.
In the beginning, it was agreed that officials entering the Ministry of Investigation and Research would not have the same power as the six ministries. There were not many objections to this n, except for the Ministry of Revenue.
Because of the establishment of the Ministry of Investigation and Research, it would inevitably require a lot of money. The Minister of Revenue was more concerned about the money in the national treasury and wanted to spend every penny on the knife''s edge.
"I want the Ministry of Investigation and Research to bepletely separate from the court. If the profits from the things produced can be used as the next research cost, they will not be restricted by any power in the court. I want a pure Ministry of Investigation and Research that will not have too many entanglements with other officials." Shang Junlin spoke of his n.
Shen Yu thought it was good.
"Is the Deputy Minister of Revenue impeaching me again?" Since that incident, the Deputy Minister of Revenue had not been pleased with Shen Yu. He could find fault with anything Shen Yu did, and he had not hesitated to distort the facts.
"Ah Yu, don''t worry, We will avenge you." Shang Junlin had also had his eye on the position of Deputy Minister of Revenue for a long time.
The two strolled to thekeside, where the lotus flowers were in full bloom. A delicate boat was parked by the shore. Shen Yu led Shang Junlin over. "Does His Majesty know how to row a boat?"
"A little."
That meant he knew how to.
"Your Majesty, shall we row the boat?" Seeing the interest in Shen Yu''s eyes, Shang Junlin did not refuse. Meng Gonggong wanted to call a few guards who knew how to row a boat, but Shang Junlin refused.
He got on the boat first and then helped Shen Yu onto it.
The boat was notrge, just enough for two people. Shang Junlin rowed the boat to the center of the water and stopped.
Shen Yu reached out to pick a lotus seedpod not far away and sessfully picked one. He opened it and fed one to himself.
It was very sweet.
Seeing that he liked it, Shang Junlin rowed the boat closer and picked some more, and ced them next to Shen Yu.
"Ah Yu likes them. When we go back, we will ask the kitchen to make some lotus seed pastries for you."
"Is there any in the pce?"
"Of course, there are many different varieties of lotus flowers in the pce."
The weather in the pce was cool, even when the sun shone down, it was not too hot. Afraid that Shen Yu would get sunburned, Shang Junlin picked a lotus leaf and held it over Shen Yu''s head.
Shen Yu ate the lotus seeds, which were sweet in his mouth. He peeled one and held it up to Shang Junlin''s mouth, saying, "Your Majesty, have some too."
Shen Yu''s hand was very white and under the sunlight, his fingers appeared crystal clear. As he held the snow-white lotus seed between his fingertips, it was unclear which was more enticing, the lotus seed or his fingers.
Shang Junlin''s Adam''s apple bobbed up and down.
Chapter 96
Chapter 96
Shang Junlin lowered his head, holding a lotus seed in his mouth along with Shen Yu''s fingers.
He lightly bit down before releasing it.
"It''s very sweet."
It''s unclear whether he was referring to the lotus seed or something else.
Shen Yu''s hand was withdrawn, as if scalded, and his face gradually turned crimson under the increasingly aggressive gaze of the man.
"Try it, Ah Yu," Shang Junlin said, leaning down and embracing the youth, kissing him deeply.
Shen Yu had just eaten the lotus seed, with its sweet, nectar-like vor lingering in his mouth, tempting the man to suck harder.
The sweet fragrance of the lotus seed swirled between their lips, and Shang Junlin pressed down on Shen Yu, deepening the kiss.
The lotus leaves, at some point, tilted to one side, covering the faces of the two.
After the kiss ended, Shang Junlin slightly pulled back, maintaining some distance between them.
One of his hands still rested on Shen Yu''s back, supporting him so he wouldn''t copse.
Shen Yu was breathing heavily, with a hint of rouge at the corner of his eyes, causing Shang Junlin''s eyes to be even more darkened.
"Ah Yu..."
Sensing Shang Junlin''s interest, Shen Yu turned his head and said, "Your Majesty, Meng Gonggong, and the others are still on the shore."
"Lower your voice, Ah Yu. They won''t notice us," said Shang Junlin, brushing aside the messy hair on Shen Yu''s face with his hand, his fingers lingering.
"No," Shen Yu refused without thinking. "Does His Majesty want me to lie down for a few days again?"
"I won''t go overboard likest time, okay?" Shang Junlin knew he had gone too far that day, although he didn''t actually go all the way, he had bullied Shen Yu inside and out.
Shen Yu looked around. They were surrounded by lotus leaves, far from the shore. Whatever they did, no one on the shore could see them.
"The imperial physician told His Majesty to control yourself, didn''t he?" Shen Yu remembered that night and didn''t want to agree to it.
He didn''t mind this kind of thing, but if it was going to be likest time every time, he''d rather not. His body couldn''t take Shang Junlin''s rough handling.
"Ah Yu, how long has it been since I bothered you?" Shang Junlin lowered his head and rubbed against Shen Yu like a clingy big dog.
Shen Yu was annoyed by his actions.
The two of them were tightly pressed together. Any reaction would be easily noticed by the other. Shang Junlin felt something andughed softly, leaning his head on Shen Yu''s shoulder.
"Do you want it too, Ah Yu?"
"I don''t want it." Shen Yu red at him. If it weren''t for him rubbing against him, would he be like this?
"Okay, Ah Yu. I promise, just once, okay?" Shang Junlin was relentless, his warm breath spraying all over Shen Yu''s neck.
Shen Yu was helpless and gave in, "Just once, and only with your hands."
Shang Junlin''s eyes lit up like a dog that had just been given a piece of meat.
The unmanned boat swayed gently, creating ripples in the water beneath it.
Shen Yu bit his lip, trying to stifle any sound as the man''s lips roamed up his neck, swallowing every noise he made.
The sun was gradually setting.
The pce attendants waiting on the shore asionally looked anxiously toward the center of theke. Mu Xi grew restless and asked, "Meng Gonggong, should we go and look for His Majesty and Noble Monarch?"
It had been so long, and there was still no sign of them.
Meng Gonggong was also unsure of what to do. His Majesty had not given any orders, so they could not act recklessly.
"Let''s wait a bit longer. If His Majesty and the Noble Monarch have not emerged before it gets dark, we''ll send someone to look for them."
As the boat rocked, Shen Yu struggled to avoid the man''s kiss. "His Majesty promised only one-"
"I didn''t lie, Ah Yu. Behave yourself." Shang Junlin nibbled on Shen Yu''s tender skin around his neck, coaxing him in a husky voice.
It was true that he hadn''t lied, but it had taken longer than expected.
Shen Yu was so angry that he bit Shang Junlin.
The man hesitated for a moment before bing even more ruthless.
Just as Meng Gonggong was considering whether or not to send the guards to look for them, a boat slowly appeared before their eyes.
Meng Gonggong led the way to greet them.
Shang Junlin carried the young man wrapped in a ck outer garment off the boat, and Meng Gonggong quickly instructed his men to secure the boat before following behind Shang Junlin.
"Your Majesty..." Meng Gonggong began.
"Let''s go back first." The man''s voice was filled with satisfaction.
Meng Gonggong wisely remained silent and followed behind Shang Junlin.
Unintentionally, he saw an arm hanging out of the ck outer garment. The fair skin was covered in red marks. Meng Gonggong quickly looked away, focusing on his breathing and not daring to look anymore.
Shen Yu couldn''t fall asleep, his leg was hurting, and what surprised him, even more, was that Shang Junlin actually carried those small bottles with him.
"Why would His Majesty bring these?"
Shen Yu leaned back on the bed, ying with the jade bottle in his hand. He took it out of Shang Junlin''s clothes, and just one bottle would have been enough, but Shang Junlin actually brought several!
The jade bottles were slender, held by fair and slender fingers, and seemed to have some kind of alluring meaning. Shang Junlin thought of just now, when a pair of hands held him, the skin on the palms was delicate, and the touch was slightly cool...
A taste that grows on you.
"Your Majesty?" Shen Yu stopped when he saw Shang Junlin lost in thought.
Shang Junlin coughed lightly. "I just thought it would be more convenient to carry them with me."
Convenient for what? Shen Yu didn''t want to delve into it.
Suddenly, Shang Junlin reached out and held Shen Yu''s hand, wrapping his hand and the bottle of medicine in his palm together. "Is Ah Yu feeling ufortable now?"
"It''s okay." Except for a few ces.
This time it was really okay. The next day, when Shen Yu woke up, he was in good spirits, except for some difort in certain areas. Compared tost time, there were nosting effects.
"Young Master, Your Majesty sent a lot of lotus seeds over." Mu Xi led the way, bringing in the lotus seeds.
Indeed, there were a lot of them. Shen Yu silently counted, it would be enough for him to eat for a few days.
Shang Junlin was still worried about Shen Yu and called the physician the next day.
"His Excellency is in good health." After checking his pulse, the physician spoke.
Shen Yu also felt that he was fine. "I said you didn''t have to bother the physician toe over."
"Let the physician take a look. I feel more at ease."
Afterward, the physician was asked to the study to ask about Shen Yu''s physical condition in detail.
In the middle of the night, Shen Yu was awakened by the noise, and Shang Junlin patted his back. "I''m going to take a look. You continue sleeping."
After that, Shang Junlin put on his coat and went out.
Shen Yuy in bed for a while but couldn''t sleep, so he sat up and asked Mu Xi to turn on the light. "What''s going on outside?"
"It seems that some minister''s residence has a water leak," Mu Xi had been waiting outside and heard the news from a pce maid.
"How could that happen?" The pce housed the emperor and high-ranking officials, all of whom were valuable assets. The servants were always extremely cautious, and it was almost impossible for such a big mistake to happen.
Shen Yu put on his cloak and walked outside, immediately seeing the towering mes.
"That direction... seems to be the residence of some noble official," Shen Yu murmured.
"It''s the residence of the Minister of Revenue. Why did youe out?" Shang Junlin walked in from outside and hugged Shen Yu directly.
The temperature in the pce was low at night, and Shen Yu snuggled in the man''s arms for a while, gradually feeling warm. "I couldn''t sleep, so I came out to take a look."
"We''ve already arranged for people to put out the fire. Don''t worry," Shang Junlin stroked Shen Yu''s hair.
A water leak in the pce was no small matter, and whether it was intentional or idental, it needed to be thoroughly investigated. Shang Junlin sent Shen Yu back to his room to continue resting, while he himself went to meet with the ministers.
The prime minister and others had been waiting in the study for a while, and after Shang Junlin came in and took his seat, he knocked on the table. "What do you make of tonight''s events?"
"Minister Tan''s response was that a servant identally knocked over a candle, which caused the room to catch fire. Fortunately, it was discovered early and didn''t cause much damage."
"Who was injured?"
"Except for Miss Tan, who was injured on her face, everyone else is fine."
"Do you think this was an ident?"
"In my opinion, it doesn''t seem like one. Why did it have to be Miss Tan who was injured, and why did it happen after such an incident?"
Shang Junlin wanted to use this as an opportunity to teach others a lesson, so he did not conceal the events of that day. It had only been a few days since then, and Miss Tan had almost died in a fire. No one would think that this was a coincidence.
In the courtyard of the Tan family residence, Miss Tan had just been rescued from the fire and was still in shock, leaning on her maid. She knew better than anyone else that tonight''s fire was not an ident. If she hadn''t taken precautions early, she wouldn''t have been able to make it out alive.
She touched the wound on her face that had not yet been treated, and her eyes were full of confusion.
"It''s really embarrassing to bring it in front of His Majesty. If you don''t have the guts, don''t have such ambitions. In the end, you will only implicate us for no reason," the eldest daughter of the Tan family looked down at Miss Tan, her tone full of ridicule. "You are really lucky to be able to survive such a fire."
Miss Tan silently clenched her fists.
"Dad, in my opinion, we should just get rid of those clumsy servants. After all, not many people were injured."
The eldest daughter of the Tan family has always disliked her younger sister, not because of the difference in their status, but because her good little sister, like her stepmother, likes to pretend to be weak. Every time she makes a mistake or wants something, as long as she puts on a bullied face, she can usually get what she wants.
This time, she had even more courage, going directly to His Majesty, without considering her own status. She dared to dream of that position, but the result was that the Tan family became theughingstock of everyone.
"Alright," scolded the Ministry of Revenue, "first get a physician to check on your sister''s face."
The Ministry of Revenue was toozy to look at this embarrassing daughter and left with a wave of his sleeves.
Just thinking about having to exin all these things to His Majesty gave him a headache.
When Shang Junlin came back again, it was already daylight. Shen Yu didn''t sleep well in the second half of the night, so he got up early and had lotus seed porridge made for him.
The snow-white lotus seeds floated in the bowl, and Shen Yu stirred them with a spoon.
"Why did you get up so early?" Shang Junlin walked in.
"Mu Xi, go and bring a bowl of porridge to His Majesty as well."
Shen Yu gave his orders before answering Shang Junlin''s question, "I couldn''t sleep. How did you handle things?"
"For the time being, it''s only been determined as an ident. The Ministry of Revenue insists that it was a mistake made by a servant and has no intention of further investigation." Shang Junlin sat down beside Shen Yu.
The pce attendant soon brought the lotus seed porridge over.
"Your Majesty, have some too."
Shang Junlin picked up the porridge and finished it in a few mouthfuls, and Shen Yu also finished his bowl and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.
"The Ministry of Revenue is on thin ice. He more than anyone else hopes that this incident is just an ident."
After the pce attendant finished cleaning up, Shang Junlin took Shen Yu''s hand and walked towards the bed, "Ah Yu, let''s sleep for a while longer."
Shen Yu thought about how he hadn''t slept for most of the night, so he didn''t refuse.
After changing his clothes, Shang Junlin held Shen Yu in his arms andy down in bed, "It''s morefortable to be with Ah Yu."
Even if they didn''t do anything, Shang Junlin could hold onto someone all day long.
On the other side.
In the closed study, a middle-aged man asked in a deep voice, "How is the matter going?"
"Don''t worry, sir. We have already spread the news ording to your instructions. When it''s broad daylight, everything will be as you wish!"
Chapter 97
Chapter 97
Shen Yuy in the man''s warm embrace and fell asleep soon.
Shang Junlin looked down at him, originally not feeling very sleepy, but after watching Shen Yu''s peaceful sleeping face for a while, drowsiness gradually crept up on him.
Not long after, Shang Junlin also fell asleep holding him.
After sleeping for a while, Shen Yu woke up refreshed and felt around next to him, but Shang Junlin wasn''t there. He must have gone to deal with government affairs.
Hearing some movement, Mu Xi came in to attend to him.
After washing up, Shen Yu took a book and asked, "Did something happen? Your expression was off when you came in earlier."
Mu Xi pursed her lips and didn''t know if she should tell Shen Yu.
Shen Yu rolled up his book and lightly tapped his head, saying, "Speak up, what''s going on?"
"It''s outside, they''re all saying that the firest night was set by you," Mu Xi said indignantly, "But you clearly didn''t do anything, how could they nder you like this for no reason?"
Shen Yu suppressed his smile, sat down on the soft couch with the book in hand, and said, "Tell me more."
"This morning when I went out, I overheard someone privately saying that something was wrong with the firest night, that it was deliberate, and the purpose was to deal with Miss Tan''s family. Otherwise, with so many rooms, how could the fire happen to the ce where Miss Tan lived?"
"It''s indeed man-made, but we don''t know what the true purpose of the mastermind behind it is," Shen Yu said, hiding his deep thoughts.
"They were discussing these things, which was fine, but suddenly they all agreed that you set the fire, saying that it was because you couldn''t tolerate anyone else by the emperor''s side, and also..." Mu Xi couldn''t continue.
Shen Yu picked up the tea cup next to him and took a sip, "Go on."
"They said the emperor originally had his eye on Miss Tan and wanted to bring her into the pce, but you refused and had a big fight with the emperor. You even drove Miss Tan out and spread rumors about her to ruin her reputation."
After hearing this, Shen Yu already understood that the fire was ultimately targeting him.
"Does His Majesty know?" Shen Yu asked.
"He knew early this morning. Before he left, he told us not to disturb your rest."
"He didn''t tell you not to tell me about these things?"
"No," Mu Xi shook her head, "He just instructed us that if you found out about these things, there was no need to worry, He will take care of it."
"How many people believe this now?"
"Except for those serving here, rumors are spreading everywhere," Mu Xi went out to inquire about the news as soon as she heard the rumors. The more she heard, the more resentful she felt. "Young Master, don''t worry, His Majesty has already taken care of it."
Shen Yu shook his head. "Without a convincing truth, it won''t truly quiet down."
As the saying goes, "Three people make a tiger.""Three Men Make A Tiger"--San Ren Cheng Hu to describe the case in which a lie if repeated often enough, will be epted as truth. "What everybody says must be true" is close to its meaning. Even if he did not do this, if enough people said it, it would be forcibly attributed to him.
This was probably one of the goals of the mastermind behind the scenes.
Shen Yu was right. Even though Shang Junlin ordered that private discussions were not allowed, the rumors did not disappear but instead spread wider and wider, not just within the pce, but also in the capital city.
Shang Junlin received a secret report from the Hidden Dragon Guard, andyers of dark clouds stacked up in his eyes, with his aura getting lower and lower.
"Summon the people of the Tan family to me."
Meng Gonggong did not dare to dy and quickly summoned the Tan family.
The ones who came were Mr. Tan and Miss Tan, whose wounds had just been treated.
"Have you heard the rumors outside?" Shang Junlin sat on his high seat, his tone cold.
"Your Majesty, I have been wronged," Mr. Tan knelt down with a frightened expression. "I don''t know where those rumors came from. I can swear that I didn''t do it. I don''t know anything."
Miss Tan knelt silently and said nothing.
"Is that so?" Shang Junlin''s voice did not reveal his anger or joy. "Then why did the news initiallye from a servant of the Tan family?"
"I really don''t know, Your Majesty, please discern the truth," Mr. Tan banged his head heavily, feeling nothing but fear in his heart.
When Mr. Tan first heard the rumors, he was already chilled to the bone. Even if he had ten times the courage, he would not dare to spread such words outside. Who did not know that Shen Gui JunChinese title for Noble Monarch Shen was the apple of His Majesty''s eye? Did he deliberately court death by doing such a thing?
Shang Junlin also knew that it was not Mr. Tan''s doing. He turned to the person involved and said, "Did you notice anything unusualst night?"
"I can be sure that someone was trying to kill me!" The woman who had been bowing her head and could not see her expression suddenly raised her head. "Last night, after I fell asleep, I vaguely felt someone walking in the room, and there were very low conversations. I couldn''t hear what they were saying, but not long after, the room caught on fire."
"And one more thing, I don''t know if it counts. Before I went to bedst night, a strange maid brought me a bowl of bird''s nest soup, saying that my father had it sent for me because I was injured. I felt that something was not quite right and did not eat the bird''s nest soup. I didn''t dare to sleep too soundly at night either."
If she had eaten the bird''s nest soup, and if it happened to be drugged with a sleeping potion, she would have probably died in the fire.
Shang Junlin ordered the Tan family to be ced under surveince. There were many doubts in this matter, especially involving Shen Yu, which made it difficult for Shang Junlin to maintain hisposure.
"Don''t frown, Your Majesty." Shen Yu reached out to smooth the creases between the man''s brows.
Shang Junlin embraced Shen Yu as he was affected by the insults they received. He buried his face in Shen Yu''s neck and took a deep breath, "I''d rather theye after me than you."
Shang Junlin cherished Shen Yu deeply and could not bear to harm him in any way. The people who used such a vicious method against him were too audacious.
The more Shang Junlin thought about it, the angrier he became, and his body exuded a heavy aura. When he catches those people, he''ll make sure they know what it''s like to wish for death!
Shen Yu patted Shang Junlin''s back, "Alright, Your Majesty, don''t be angry. There''s no need to be angry."
It was just a verbal insult, and Shen Yu had heard worse. When he worked for the King of Yue in his previous life, he was called all sorts of names. Compared to those insults, this was nothing.
"I won''t allow them to speak ill of you, Ah Yu. How can I let them nder you when you''re such a good person? They''re not worthy!" Shang Junlin said.
Shen Yu''s heart warmed, and he rxed in the man''s embrace, "Your Majesty, do you know who did this?"
Shang Junlin was not sure.
"Do you want to know who did it?" Shen Yu blinked.
"Does Ah Yu know?" Shang Junlin asked, looking at him curiously.
"Not yet, but we will soon." Shen Yu smiled and whispered a few words in Shang Junlin''s ear.
"Ah Yu is really..." Shang Junlin chuckled.
"Your Majesty should do what you need to do. For the rest, you only need to lend me a few members of the Hidden Dragon Guard," Shen Yu said.
In addition to the officials on the surface, Shang Junlin also ordered the Hidden Dragon Guard to investigate the matter and the Tan family was ced under surveince, and each servant was interrogated.
Their efforts paid off, and they finally caught a clue.
The rumors grew louder and more widespread. "Everything is developing as nned. I believe that in due time, Your Lordship''s wish will be fulfilled!" an underling ttered.
"You did a good job this time. Once the matter is settled, the things promised to you will belong to youpletely."
"Thank you, Your Lordship!" The subordinate''s face lit up with joy.
"You may leave now and keep an eye on the situation outside at all times."
"Yes."
Physician Gu and Gu Huai also heard about the incident.
"I believe that you are not that kind of person," Physician Gu had been in contact with Shen Yu for some time and trusted him.
"Brother is right. If you really wanted to deal with that Tan family Miss, why would you use such a stupid method?" In the short time they spent together, Gu Huai hade to the realization that Shen Yu was not a fool who would do something so brainless out of jealousy.
"It''s probably to provoke discord between him and His Majesty. He''s been in the pce for so long, dominating His Majesty''s attention, and he favors him so much that he won''t take a concubine. Those who want to secure their positions by sending their daughters into the pce cannot sit still." Physician Gu sighed, "I wonder if His Majesty will believe him?"
"Those people didn''t even consider the consequences. If His Majesty dislikes it, what use is it for them to send people into the pce? They might end up suffering instead of gaining anything." Gu Huai was very disgusted with this kind of behavior of using women to gain status and power.
"Unfortunately, some people are blinded by power and will never understand this."
Gu Huai nodded in agreement.
The person behind the scenes was waiting for the day when Shen Yu would be rejected by Shang Junlin, but unfortunately, they waited and waited, and the rtionship between Shen Yu and Shang Junlin remained unchanged. In fact, because of his concern for Shen Yu, Shang Junlin became even more clingy than before.
This was not what he had expected!
The person behind the scenes looked at the message sent through the spy, feeling so angry that he wanted to vomit blood.
"Your Lordship, His Majesty summons you."
The voice of a servant came from outside the room. He quickly put away the letter in his hand and strode out of the house.
When he arrived, he found that apart from Shang Junlin and Shen Yu, there was no one else.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects," he said as he knelt down, feeling increasingly uneasy.
"Minister Yi, I don''t think we have any major grudges, do we?" Shen Yu''s calm voice broke the silence.
Minister Yi''s heart skipped a beat. "Your subject doesn''t know what you''re talking about, Your Excellency."
"Otherwise, why would Minister Yi set fire and hurt people, and then point all the evidence at me?" Shen Yu calmly looked at him.
Minister Yi''s growing unease finally reached its peak, and he forced himself to remain calm. "Even if you are the Noble Monarch, you cannot make baseless usations against court officials."
He had covered his tracks so well that even if he was exposed, everything would still point to Shen Yu, and he would never be discovered!
"The truth or nder, Minister Yi knows better than anyone in his heart. If you don''t want others to know, don''t do it yourself," Shen Yu stood up and walked to the man kneeling on the ground. "Minister Yi has read so many books of sages, don''t you understand this simplest principle?"
"It seems that Minister Yi still refuses to admit it," Shen Yu sighed helplessly. "Is Minister Yi so confident that we won''t find any evidence? "
Minister Yi gritted his teeth and remained silent.
"In fact, we wouldn''t have found any evidence if it weren''t for Minister Yi who personally brought it to us. Blood Swallow''s Nest is such a precious supplement that Mr. Tan would never have given it to a disgraceful illegitimate daughter of his family. Not every aristocratic family has the resources like the Yi family. Of course, one serving of Swallow''s Nest alone does not prove anything, but what about this?"
Shen Yu took out a rolled-up paper from his sleeve, with a special pattern at the end of the paper, which was used by Minister Yi to send messages to the capital.
"Why do you have this?!"
Minister Yi reached out to take it, but Shen Yu withdrew his hand. "Are you willing to admit it now?"
Damn, there''s a lot of mistakes in this chapter -_- good thing I was rereading to check something.
I don''t know why but everytime I reread the chapters, i notice more and more mistakes ;-;
Chapter 98
Chapter 98
Minister Yi''s behavior was no different than admitting Shen Yu''s words directly. His face changed repeatedly, and his hand slowly retracted from the mid-air.
He had seen the imprint on the paper clearly. It was used tomunicate with the capital city. Detailed arrangements to defame Shen Yu by inciting the people were transmitted through papers with this kind of imprint to the people who stayed in the capital city to handle things.
Now Shen Yu was holding one of them. Did he also have the rest of them? He wrote more than just this in the letter he sent to the capital city. There were also many other things that could not be known to outsiders.
Thinking of the consequences if the emperor found out about those things, Minister Yi''s face was full of despair.
"Will you plead guilty?"
Minister Yi, who was immersed in his own thoughts, was awakened by the slightly cold voice. He looked forward in panic and after a while, he knocked his head heavily, "I plead guilty."
Sure enough, Shen Yu put away the letter in his hand, walked back to Shang Junlin''s side, and sat down. "Why target me? As far as I know, the Yi family had no ns to send their children into the pce."
After the incident with the Tan family''s daughter, Shang Junlin sent people to investigate who had taken action, and the Yi family was not among them. It can be said that the Yi family had never had such an idea from beginning to end.
Minister Yi remained silent.
Shen Yu twisted his fingers. "Let me guess, is it because of Yi Jianming''s matter?"
Since there was no conflict of interest in this matter in the imperial pce, it must be because he had done something unfavorable to the Yi family elsewhere. Shen Yu searched his memory and only came up with this.
"Yi Jianming was deprived of his imperial examination results and could not enter officialdom for the rest of his life. He was someone that the Yi family had invested great effort in raising, but unfortunately, he had not done anything for the family and became a waste. You were not satisfied with this, so you turned your spearhead against me. Do you think that if I hadn''t shown up at the banquet, the emperor wouldn''t have punished Yi Jianming?"
Every word Shen Yu said hit the thoughts of Minister Yi. From childhood to adulthood, he had never experienced such a failure. Yi Jianming was the child he valued the most among all the younger generations of the Yi family. He was the one who pleased him the most, and his intelligence was not inferior to others. He was the heir he had high hopes for, but he was ruined just because of a small matter!
How could he swallow this?
After that incident, although Yi Jianming did not suffer any physical harm, his mental state underwent a huge change. He was in a daze all day long, and he no longer looked like a young master from a prestigious family.
As for those who went to the Qionglin Banquet with Yi Jianming, he of course did not spare them. They were just small ns that relied on the Yi family, and it was easy to deal with them.
"Since His Majesty and Noble Monarch already know everything, I have nothing to say," Minister Yi said with a slump on the ground.
The feud between the aristocratic families and the poor had been going on for a long time. Shen Yu was not surprised that they would take action against Jiang Huaiqing, who seemed to have no foundation. The court was always apanied by intrigues and secret struggles. Political enemies fought to the death, and the seemingly peaceful court now was the result of Shang Junlin''s efforts to bnce everything.
"I want to know how you got hold of the letter," Shen Yu asked, taking out the rolled-up letter that Minister Yi had no choice but to admit to having sent. He only chose his most trusted confidants formunication, and once they discovered the letter, they would use all means to destroy it. Moreover, the channel formunication was known only to a select few. Why did the letter end up in Shen Yu''s hands?
Minister Yi was at a loss.
"Why do you ask?" Shen Yu''s eyes swept down.
Minister Yi was taken away by the waiting guards outside, and he did not get an answer from Shen Yu before leaving.
Shen Yu naturally wouldn''t tell him that the letter was specifically meant to set him up.
"Ah Yu''s ability to imitate is really impressive," Shang Junlin reached into Shen Yu''s sleeve and took out the paper that made Minister Yi''s face turn pale.
During this process, his fingertips slid over Shen Yu''s tender skin, causing a shiver to run down his spine.
Shang Junlin hugged Shen Yu from behind, his hands encircling his waist and reaching to the front, unfolding the paper.
If Minister Yi were here and saw the paper slowly unfolding, he would surely curse shamelessness.
Except for the pattern drawn by Shen Yu at the end, there was nothing on the paper.
At first, they had no clue who was behind the scenes of this incident. Later, Shang Junlin listened to Shen Yu''s suggestion and used a strategy to catch them. He ordered the Hidden Dragon Guard to search along every road leading out of the pce, and they actually caught someone passing a message.
However, that person destroyed the letter as soon as he realized he was discovered. The Hidden Dragon Guard passed on the message and brought back the destroyed letter. Shen Yu reconstructed a simr letter based on the pieced-together pattern, but a fake was still a fake. If Minister Yi hadn''t been thrown off guard by Shen Yu''s words, he might have noticed something was off.
Unfortunately, there were no "ifs."
"The rumors in the capital have been controlled, and we''ve found the culprit. We should also deal with it in the pce," if it weren''t for Shen Yu wanting to lure the snake out of its hole, Shang Junlin wouldn''t have let these rumors spread throughout the pce for so many days.
"What does His Majesty n to do?" Shen Yu''s wrist was held, and the man''s calloused fingertips intentionally or unintentionally stroked the inside of his wrist, causing a tingling sensation.
If it were the old Shang Junlin, he would have directly killed those spreading rumors, but now he knew that Shen Yu didn''t like that. He fell silent for a moment and asked, "How does Ah Yu want to deal with them?"
Shen Yu turned his head and looked at Shang Junlin. "Do whatever His Majesty wants with the leaders, and as for the others, dock their pay for a year to serve as a warning to others."
Rumors spread quickly and died quickly. In less than half a day, no one in the pce dared to talk about this matter again. As for the capital, Shang Junlin had already ordered the suppression of the rumors.
The people in the capital were not as easily deceived as Minister Yi had thought. When Minister Yi''s actions reached the capital, the people there suddenly realized something.
"I told you before that His Excellency wouldn''t do such a thing. See, the result is out now. His Excellency was indeed set up."
"This Minister Yi... could he have something to do with Yi Jianming, who wanted to harm the poor schrs out of jealousy and had his imperial exam scores canceled a while ago?"
"They have the same surname, don''t they?"
"No wonder he wanted to nder His Excellency. If it weren''t for His Excellency back then, those poor schrs would have been bullied and oppressed."
His words were met with agreement. There were many noble families in the capital and even moremoners. These noble families were used to being high and mighty, thinking they were better than everyone else. Themon people didn''t have a good impression of them. Compared to these noble families that they couldn''t normally get close to, they could rte more to the poor schrs.
"Not just this matter, do you remember the cheating incident that was discovered before the imperial exam? His Excellency was the one who found it. With such consideration for others, how could he possibly hurt a woman out of jealousy?"
"When those words were just spoken, I knew something was off. Before His Majesty took the Noble Monarch into the pce, there weren''t many people in the harem. After he entered the pce, His Majesty even said that he only wants the noble consort for the rest of his life. How could he suddenly be interested in another woman and bring her into the harem?"
"If His Majesty really meant to bring in new concubines, the harem would have been full a long time ago. The ministers even raised this issue a few years ago. Don''t you find it suspicious?"
"So there was never really a n to bring in new concubines. Since there wasn''t, the only reason for your guilt of jealousy and setting the fire doesn''t hold up."
"I have a cousin who works in a noble family, did you know? Just a few days ago, that family was reprimanded by His Majesty. The reason was that one of their daughters deliberately approached His Majesty and got punished by him. And it wasn''t the Noble Monarch who punished her, it was His Majesty himself..."
By this point, those who should understand the cause-and-effect rtionship have already understood. Since the reasoning was wrong from the beginning, no matter how noble the reasons given afterward, they cannot stand.
The teahouses and restaurants were all discussing this matter, and under the deliberate guidance of some people, the winds of opinion soon reversed.
"Atst, the truth has been revealed. I knew Yu-xixiong wouldn''t do something like that." Jiang Huaiqing listened to the discussions of the people downstairs and poured himself a cup of wine.
He Chengyu lifted his cup and took a sip. "His Excellency and you are as inseparable as gold and jade. It''s not something anyone can meddle in."
"You''re right. I don''t know what those noble families were thinking. His Majesty has already made it clear that he won''t add any more concubines, but they just won''t give up."
"Since ancient times, wealth, power, and influence have moved people''s hearts. What they value is the power represented by His Majesty. The appetites of the noble families have grown increasinglyrge."
Jiang Huaiqing also understood this point. After truly stepping into the court, he felt the huge difference between Da Huan''s inner workings and what he had imagined. The seemingly stable appearance was only supported by a strong pir. Once this pir copsed, the copse was only a matter of time.
He also understood why His Majesty would promote officials from humble backgrounds. It was not a matter of preference but because the court had been controlled by noble families for a long time. If there were no forces to contend with them, imperial power would eventually be a joke.
When Minister Yi was sent back early, the charges hemitted were also announced to the world. The power that the Yi family had established in the capital for many years was quickly divided among other noble families.
"Thepetition between noble families is far more intense than between noble andmon families. If one thinks that they will work together, they are greatly mistaken," Shen Yu sighed.
Under the shade of a tree, Shng Jnlin and Shen Yu sat facing each other. A mahogany chessboard was ced between them, which Shng Jnlin had specially ordered a pce attendant to retrieve from the storage room.
Shng Jnlin held the ck pieces and made a move: "In fact, the noble families and the imperial family are not much different. In the chaotic years before Da Huan was founded, there was always the saying that ''the noble families were as strong as iron, and the imperial dynasty was like flowing water.''"
Before Da Huan was established, thisnd had experienced a hundred years of war. It was not until Da Huan was founded that this situation began to improve.
"Your Majesty, I''m going to win."
As thest white piece fell on the chessboard, the situation suddenly reversed. The white pieces, which had been at a disadvantage, swiftly surrounded the ck pieces, cutting off all their escape routes.
Shng Jnlin threw his pieces back and said decisively, "I concede."
"His Majesty lost today, so he must keep his promise."
"Of course, I won''t bother you tonight."
Shen Yu breathed a sigh of relief, barely noticeable. After that one time, he didn''t experience any unusual symptoms, but Shng Jnlin always wanted to "adjust" him, iming that it was for his own good.
Shen Yu didn''t want to get used to this kind of thing.
"Your Majesty," Mng Gnggng hurriedly walked over, with a rare hint of panic on his face. "Xn Cho, Official Xn, has an urgent matter to see you."
"Let him in to see Us."
Mng Gnggng left to carry out the order. Before long, a slightly disheveled man in his thirties walked in. "Your Majesty, there is a severe drought in the north. Please provide relief as soon as possible!"
Chapter 99
Chapter 99
Subei is a collective term for several cities in the north of Da Huan. Early on, Shang Junlin left some people in Subei after fighting there. Later, he returned to the capital, and although he shifted his focus, he did notpletely let go of Subei. Officials such as Xun Chao were also arranged by him to be stationed in Subei.
"What exactly happened?" Shang Junlin did not receive any news of the severe drought in Subei while in the capital. Otherwise, he would not be so calm and still in the pce.
"Mu Xi, please serve Official Xun with a pot of tea first." Shen Yu saw that Xun Chao was dusty and clearly rushed back all the way.
Xun Chao was indeed thirsty. Mu Xi brought him tea, and he drank it directly without declining, slowly exining what happened in Subei.
Three months ago, there was already little rain in Subei, but at that time, there was still asional rain. Subei has always been like this, so Xun Chao did not take it too seriously. However, a month ago, Subei began to experience continuous sunny days, and in a month, not a drop of rain fell. Crops could not withstand the drought and died one after another. The people of Subeicked food. Xun Chao had no choice but to move some military supplies to help the people and submitted a memorial to the court, hoping to get some assistance.
Subei is an important pass in the north of Da Huan. Without the Subei army stationed there all year round, it would be easy for nomadic tribes to invade Da Huan. However, Subei''s living environment is very harsh, with scarce rainfall and perennial drought. If it were not for the Subei army stationed there, and the court allocated some supplies every year, ordinary people would find it difficult to survive.
"I did not receive your memorial." Shang Junlin''s voice turned cold.
No one knows where the memorial requesting disaster relief is now.
"I also guessed that the memorial may not have been delivered, so I rushed back here on horseback. I voluntarily ept punishment for returning to the capital without orders!" Xun Chao had been with Shang Junlin since before he ascended the throne, so he naturally knew that Shang Junlin could not ignore Subei. He waited for so many days and did not receive a reply from the court. There was only one possibility.
-His memorial did not reach Shang Junlin.
"In an emergency, one must resort to expedients. I will arrange for someone to go to Subei. You can rest for now." Shang Junlin knocked on the stone table.
These are his actions when he''s thinking.
Xun Chai - Xun Chaoi- I don''t know what stands for in this name. Anyone can justment if they know what this means. had already prepared himself for being questioned before he came. His confidants had advised him repeatedly not to take the risk, and if his memorial reached the emperor''s hands without any response from the court, he would only have a one-way ticket.
Of course, Xun Chao knew that he could afford to wait, but Subei couldn''t afford to wait. The Subei army and people couldn''t afford to wait.
He took out the memorial that he had been carrying with him all along: "I have written all the information about Subei''s disaster in this memorial."
Meng Gonggong took the memorial and presented it to Shang Junlin.
"I understand, Meng Chang, take Official Xun to the West Courtyard. Don''t spread the word about what happened today."
"I will obey."
"How do you see this, Your Majesty?" In his past life, Shen Yu wasn''t in the capital at this time and had a serious illness. He knew very little about what happened that summer. As for the book he saw after his death, it was all written from the perspective of Shen Qingran, and the description of this period was only about being bullied in the pce.
"Xun Chao wouldn''t deceive people with this kind of thing. Not only him, but I haven''t received any memorials from any other officials in Subei. It seems that there is a big problem within Subei."
"If there is a problem with the officials within Subei, this matter is not just about disaster relief."
"I will have the Hidden Dragon Guards investigate. We will decide after theye back with more information."
Shang Junlin opened the memorial, and the more he read, the tighter his brows furrowed.
The disaster in Subei was more severe than he had imagined.
People were dying of hunger and resorting to cannibalism... Every detail was heart-wrenching.
While Shang Junlin was reading, he held Shen Yu in his arms, and Shen Yu happened to see the description in the memorial. Xun Chai didn''t inject too much emotion into the memorial and tried to keep it straightforward. He only leaked a hint of emotion when he couldn''t control himself.
It was precisely this emotion, which was suppressed to the extreme, that could touch people''s hearts.
"Your Majesty, let''s first arrange for disaster relief." Otherwise, before the enemy attacked, Subei would self-destruct.
Shang Junlin had already made his decision in his heart.
He rested his head on Shen Yu''s shoulder and rubbed his face against him, saying, "I was nning to have some fun with you here for a few more days..."
After such an incident, they had to return to the capital immediately. After all, there were many inconveniences in this temporary ce they lived in.
"As long as I''m with His Majesty, it doesn''t matter where we are," Shen Yu replied, rubbing against him.
That night, Shang Junlin ordered an early return to the capital, and the ministers also learned about the situation in Subei. They packed up their belongings as quickly as possible.
The next morning, the imposing procession elerated its pace and returned to the capital.
Sitting in the carriage, Shen Yu lifted the curtain and looked outside. They had only stayed in the pce for twenty days, and now that they were going back, the capital was still very hot.
As they descended from the mountain, the temperature gradually increased. Shen Yu changed into a thinner shirt and ced a small basin of ice in the carriage, but still felt very hot.
Early August was one of the hottest periods in the capital.
Originally, they were supposed to stay in the pce untilte August and return when the capital was less hot. However, ns had changed due to the incident in Subei, and they had to return to the capital early.
The ministers dared notin. They all knew the importance of Subei and,pared to temporary pleasures, they naturally preferred long-term stability.
They did not want to experience the turbulent situation during the reign of the former emperor again.
The capital had received the news early, and the Ministry of Revenue had prepared relief materials ording to Shang Junlin''s orders. By the time the army returned to the capital, the Ministry of Revenue had already taken care of everything.
Although the Minister of Revenue was very stingy when it came to giving money to the Ministry of Public Works, when it came to relief work, they would spare no expense.
Shang Junlin summoned the courtiers for a meeting, and Shen Yu returned to the Yu Zhang Pce.
Even though the master was not there, everything in the Yu Zhang Pce remained the same as before. Shen Yu looked at the several pots of thriving flowers and sat by the window.
Did the same thing happen in his previous life? How was it resolved in the end? The book only briefly mentioned Shen Qingran''s life in the pce, so Shen Yu could only recall his memories of his previous life over and over again.
After recovering from a serious illness in September, it was said that the tyrant had killed many ministers again, causing his reputation among the people to fall even further. As for before that, memories seemed to be shrouded in ayer of fog, making it difficult to see clearly.
"Young Master, would you like to try the new dessert made by the kitchen?" Mu Xi''s words brought Shen Yu''s thoughts back. Shen Yu turned his head and looked at the colorful ss bowl that Mu Xi was holding. "What is it?"
"I heard it was inspired by Miss Shen Yue. They made it with fresh fruits and small ice cubes. Knowing that you like sweet things, they added honey to it."
Shen Yu was curious about the dessert made from ice cubes. "Bring it over for me to see."
The bowl was only the size of a palm, and as he approached, Shen Yu noticed that it was transparent, just with a deep color that was hard to see from afar.
"This bowl..." Shen Yu picked up the bowl and felt the chill on his fingertips.
The bowl was filled with crushed ice and various kinds of fruits cut into small pieces. With water droplets still falling, the fruits were brightly colored and appetizing.
"This ss bowl is a new finished product. It is said to be made ording to the recipe given by Miss Shen Yue. The servants heard that Miss Shen Yue has a whole set of transparent, colorless ssware, but the shapes are all very strange."
It must be the ss that Shen Yue had mentioned before.
Shen Yu took a spoonful of fruit and put it in his mouth. It was refreshing and delicious, and the fruit''s vor was not diminished by the cold sensation. On the contrary, it had a unique taste.
Moreover, the icy sensation was veryfortable to eat.
"Being able to eat such snacks in summer is indeed a kind of enjoyment. You should ask the kitchen to make more. I will send some to the Emperorter." Unconsciously, Shen Yu had finished a whole bowl, feeling a bit unsatisfied. However, he knew that his body wouldn''t allow him to eat more.
"Okay."
After drinking some iced beverage, Shen Yu felt less restless than before. He took a piece of paper and a pen and started drawing aimlessly.
Shen Yu was skilled in the four arts - qin (zither), qi (chess), shu (calligraphy), and hua (painting). In his previous life, he had learned everything he could to help the King of Yue better. In this life, even though the Marquis of Zhenbei didn''t care about him, Shen Yu still learned from a teacher all the things that were expected of a nobleman''s son. This was because it concerned the Marquis of Zhenbei''s reputation. Even if his aunt didn''t want him to, she couldn''t go against the Marquis''s decision.
Later, in order to win over a reclusive schr, Shen Yu worked hard and learned everything to the extreme. Even in this life, the things he had learned in his previous life were deeply imprinted in his mind.
Birds were chirping outside the window while a young man in blue sat by the window, concentrating on his painting.
The table was covered with paper filled with peach blossoms. Although they seemed to be scattered without any order, they exuded a strong sense of spring when carefully observed.
"When did His Majestye here?" Shen Yu put down his brush and saw Shang Junlin standing next to the table. "Why didn''t you call me?"
"I saw that you were drawing seriously. Ah Yu''s peach blossom painting is beautiful." The ink was still wet, so Shang Junlin could only admire it from a t angle.
"I just drew some casually." Shen Yu rubbed his wrist and stood up, looking at the sky. He had been drawing for almost an hour.
Shang Junlin came over to massage Shen Yu''s wrist. He was quite good at this.
"The kitchen made a new snack today, and it tasted very good. Would you like to try it?" Shen Yu asked Mu Xi to bring some over from the kitchen.
Shang Junlin didn''t have a strong appetite. After Shen Yu entered the pce, he tasted many fresh foods with him and knew how good Shen Yu''s taste was. Anything that received his praise must be delicious.
Mu Xi brought over two ss bowls, onerge and one small. Shen Yu looked at therge bowl ced in front of Shang Junlin and the small bowl in front of himself and raised an eyebrow. "Mu Xi, is it fair to favor His Majesty so tantly like this?"
"Master, please don''t joke around with this servant. Physician Gu said that you should avoid eating excessively cold foods." A small bowl is already the limit.
Although Shang Junlin dotes on him, when ites to Shen Yu''s health, he sticks to principles more than anyone else.
Shen Yu sees that there''s no hope for arger bowl and focuses on eating from his own bowl.
Shang Junlin finds it amusing, watching him the whole time.
"Why has Your Majesty been watching me this whole time?" Shen Yu looks up and sees that Shang Junlin hasn''t eaten much of the fruit in his own bowl, sighing inwardly that he could have given it to him instead.
Shang Junlin leisurely feeds him a piece of fresh and tender fruit, never taking his eyes off Shen Yu.
The man''s gaze is scorching, as if he''s not eating fruit, but something else delicious.
His eyes wander over his face, lingering particrly long at his lips. Shen Yu feels uneasy under his intense gaze, and the coldness in his mouth does nothing to relieve the hot desire that keeps rising in him.
Shen Yu''s bowl is already empty, and he feels increasingly uneasy under Shang Junlin''s intense gaze, getting up to leave.
Suddenly, a force pulls him back by the wrist, and before he can react, the man holding him has already lowered his head to kiss him.
Something cold is put into his mouth.
"Ah Yu, is it delicious?"
-----
Author''s note:
Your Majesty, if Ah Yu wants to eat, you must satisfy him. As for how to satisfy him...
Chapter 100
Chapter 100
Theicecubesweresmandupiedtheremainingspaceduetothegreatheatandextremetangling. Thetonguecouldonlydancearoundsinceithadnowheretogo.
There was no turning back.
The ice gradually melted in the warm mouth, slipping from the slightly parted lips.
Shang Junlin released Shen Yu and licked away the water stains from his chin.
Shen Yu leaned against the man''s arm, breathing slightly.
"It''s really delicious." The man''s lips touched Shen Yu''s skin, his voice husky as he spoke through the gap.
Shen Yu only felt the heat on his body getting more and more intense. He had eaten ice, but all he could feel was heat.
"Your Majesty, please let me go. It''s too hot," Shen Yu steadied his breathing for a moment and pushed away the arm firmly holding onto his waist.
Shang Junlin''s body temperature was too high, like a big stove. This kind of temperature wasfortable to hug in the winter, but unbearable in the summer.
Especially now, during the hottest period in Da Huan, although there was ice in the room, the amount was not much in consideration of Shen Yu''s body. The two of them hugged for a while, making them feel hot from the inside out.
Shang Junlin saw his face flush and fine sweat beads form on his forehead. He could only helplessly loosen his grip on him. "Why is Ah Yu so afraid of the heat? Were you like this before?"
Shen Yu was stunned by Shang Junlin''s question, and couldn''t help but ask himself in his heart if he used to be this afraid of the heat.
It seemed like he wasn''t. In his past life, he only feared the cold and found it hard to endure in the winter. But during the summer, he didn''t feel as anxious and hot as he did now.
"I wasn''t like this before," Shen Yu looked at Shang Junlin. "Before entering the pce, I don''t think I was this afraid of the heat."
Shang Junlin raised his hand and gently touched Shen Yu''s face, which had turned a light pink color due to his high body temperature.
Compared to that, Shang Junlin''s hand became the colder one, which feltfortable against Shen Yu''s burning face. Shen Yu unconsciously leaned his head towards his hand and narrowed his eyes slightly, looking like a spoiled cat.
"Let the physicians from the imperial hospitale and take a look." Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s face and lightly bit his lips.
Physician Gu was called over.
Before they arrived at the Yu Zhang Pce, the pce attendant had already informed Physician Gu about Shen Yu''s condition ording to Shang Junlin''s instructions. Physician Gu''s brows furrowed tighter and tighter as he listened. Something unusual must have happened. Although being suddenly afraid of heat seemed insignificant, given Shen Yu''s physical condition, he shouldn''t be this heat-sensitive.
Physician Gu carefully took Shen Yu''s pulse, but still couldn''t detect anything wrong with it.
Seeing Physician Gu''s expression, Shen Yu knew that the result was still the same as before. Apart from being suddenly afraid of heat, he didn''t feel any other difort.
"In fact, there is another possibility," Physician Gu pondered for a moment. "After a period of recuperation, your body gradually recovers to the level of a normal person. It''s normal to be a little heat-sensitive because, in the past, your body was affected by cold and could withstand hot temperatures because of the coldness."
Since they couldn''t find any other reasons, Shang Junlin temporarily believed Physician Gu''s exnation.
After a bit of fuss, it was already dark outside. Shang Junlin instructed Meng Gonggong to escort Physician Gu out and then picked up Shen Yu. He pressed his forehead against Shen Yu''s and whispered, "I hope everything is as Physician Gu said."
Shen Yu patted the back of his neck and said, "I''m really fine. I''ve never truly experienced the summer heat in Da Huanjing City - probably the name of the capital? The means capital and the first two characters read as Da Huan which is the Empire''s location. This might be the name of the capital or just simply the Capital City of Da Huan? Are you confused? So am I! HAHA Edit: Who am I kidding? This is definitely just the capital city of Da Huan, not the name of the capital. Good thing I revisited this for editing before. Perhaps that''s why my body can''t adapt, and I''m a bit more sensitive to heat than others."
Shang Junlin reluctantly believed this exnation and said, "Hmm."
Shen Yu deliberately changed the subject and asked, "Your Majesty, have the candidates for the disaster relief been determined?"
"The court is still discussing it. I n to send Fang Jun. He still has some way to go before he can enter the cab."
"Official Fang Jun is just and honest. It''s a good opportunity for him to go to the North to suppress the rebellion. The aristocrats probably won''t let this opportunity slip away."
"Ah Yu is right. The aristocrats have repeatedly failed, and they can''t sit still anymore. If there isn''t any aristocrat among the officials sent to the North to suppress the rebellion, they won''t agree easily."
"Do you want them to go, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, we can''t dy the matter in the North. I don''t want to waste too much time on this. If they can do their job well, I won''t be stingy with their rewards."
The ministers all knew the importance of suppressing the rebellion in the North, and there was no obstacle in organizing the disaster relief. Although the aristocrats and the poor had long been at odds, they would not ignore the overall situation in such matters.
Those who disregarded the overall situation had already been dealt with by Shang Junlin, and those who could still stay until now were not allowed to make mistakes on major issues.
They might have their own thoughts, but in the face of such things, they would hide them well.
Soon, the officials who were going to Subei for disaster relief were confirmed. Fang Jun was the leader, with one aristocrat and several junior officials. They bid farewell to the emperor at the pce gate, and with the supplies, they set off toward Subei.
Considering the internal problems in Subei, Xun Chao returned to Subei first. Only his confidants knew about his trip to the capital city in a simple and low-profile manner, so as not to arouse suspicion. He did not show himself in the capital city.
Except for Fang Jun, other ministers did not know that Xun Chao personally delivered the reports on the disaster in Subei to Shang Junlin.
Not long after Official Fang and his men left, it rained in the capital city, and the longsting high temperature finally dissipated.
After the rain, the weather became cool, and Shen Yu and Shang Junlin changed into casual clothes and left the pce.
Shen Yu nned to go and see how his shops were doing.
The carriage "ttered" on the road paved with blue stones, passed through the alley, and inside the carriage, Shen Yu sat next to Shang Junlin and talked to him about the shops.
"The shops I have in my hands are partly left by my mother. These shops, like the farm, were not touched by the Marquis of Zhenbei and were directly handed over to me. The rest are either given to me as a reward when I was promoted, or given by the Marquis of Zhenbei before I entered the pce."
Despite the declining trend of the Marquis of Zhenbei''s estate, the camel is still bigger than the horse. Over generations, the Marquis of Zhenbei has umted a lot of good things. After Shen Yu''s affair with Aunt Ru, he entered the pce, and the Marquis of Zhenbei was worried that he held a grudge, so he gave him three times the usual dowry.
Shen Yu certainly wouldn''t refuse something given for free. He took as much as the Marquis of Zhenbei gave him.
"After entering the pce, I didn''t have time toe and see these shops. Today, I happen to be with His Majesty and can take him to see them."
Shen Yu''s time was tight when he entered the pce, and after the shops were handed over to him, he had no time to inquire about them one by one. He could only entrust the matter to his subordinates.
Every month, the ount book was handed over to Shen Yu by Mu Xi, and even if Shen Yu didn''t have the opportunity toe and see, he had a certain understanding of the situation of these shops.
As an emperor, Shang Junlin had plenty of assets, and there were dedicated officials responsible for managing them, so he didn''t have to worry too much.
After the carriage had traveled for a while, it stopped in front of a shop that sold writing brushes, ink sticks, paper, and inkstones.
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin got off the carriage and stood outside, looking at the que with the words "Wen Xuan Ge" written in a lively and vigorous style.
"The handwriting..." Shang Junlin looked at it for a moment, leaned over to Shen Yu''s ear, and whispered, "Is this Ah Yu''s handwriting?"
The heat from the man''s breath hit Shen Yu''s earlobe as he reached up to touch it. "I wrote it casually, I didn''t expect them to use it as a que."
"When will Ah Yu write something for me too?"
Feeling his fingers rubbing against a soft spot, Shen Yu nodded. "His Majesty can write whatever he want. Let''s go in first."
Although this shop was not on the busiest street in the capital city, there were still many peopleing and going nearby, and Shen Yu could feel the asional nces thrown his way.
Shang Junlin chuckled and let him go, leading him into the shop.
As soon as they entered, they could feel the difference between this shop and the others. A light fragrance lingered in the shop, and because it sold writing brushes, ink sticks, paper, and inkstones, the decoration was very elegant. The brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were all ced in separate categories and could be easily selected.
"Theyout of this shop is quite unique."
The room was filled with shelves that were taller than a person, and the shelves were separated by partitions, with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones ced on the partitions for people to choose from.
"The guest has good taste. This arrangement was specially ordered by the owner. If you want something, you can go to the designated area to look. Over there is the experience area. After choosing what you want, you can try it out there. There is also a rest area on the other side where you can take a break..." The waiter in a uniform blue robe introduced the items to the two of them.
"We''ll look around ourselves."
The waiter tactfully stepped aside.
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin walked around and picked out a little of everything.
"This paper is interesting." In front of Shang Junlin was a disy of light blue and light pink rice paper, the former imprinted with faint green bamboo, and thetter withrge blooming peonies, both packed in exquisite wooden boxes.
Shen Yu took a box of light blue paper and called the waiter over, "Where is your boss? There is a young man named Yu who wants to see him."
The waiter hadn''t seen Shen Yu before, but Shen Yu and Shang Junlin both exuded extraordinary bearing. He had been in the shop for a long time and knew that people like this were either rich or powerful. He dared not neglect them, "Please wait a moment, I''ll go get him."
As the waiter left, Shang Junlin lowered his voice and asked, "Did youe up with these designs?"
He knew that Shen Yu had many creative ideas, fromrge ones that could shake the court, to small ones like a new way to make a certain kind of pastry. Now that there was this store full of novelty everywhere, it was truly...a constant source of surprises for him.
"I just made a few suggestions, but I didn''t expect them to make finished products so quickly."
"Things made from Ah Yu''s small suggestions are often extraordinary." Shang Junlin tapped his forehead, "Water control methods, cement, ice-making methods...which one of them didn''t cause a huge sensation?"
Just as the two were talking, the store owner hurried over.
The owner of the store was a middle-aged man in his thirties. When he heard that a young man named Yu hade to the store, he rushed to the front.
"Does the young master want to talk in the back?" The owner saw Shen Yu and a tall man acting intimately and practically floated over.
He knew Shen Yu''s identity, so the identity of the man who came with Shen Yu was self-evident.
Shen Yu turned to look at Shang Junlin, who looked back at him, "If Ah Yu wants to go, we''ll go."
Shen Yu was about to answer when a waiter in a green outfit came running, "Boss, something''s not right, those people are here again."
"What''s going on?"
"It''s nothing. Both of you, pleasee with me to the back room for a while."
"How can it be nothing?" The waiter''s face showed disgust. "Those people juste to harass us because they see that our business is better than theirs. They don''t even reflect on themselves..."
"Shut up!" The boss reprimanded him sharply.
As they were talking, the noise grew louder and louder: "Oh, there are quite a lot of guests in the store today. How about that suggestion I madest time? Has the boss considered it?"
Trantor''s note: 30-05-23
So, I''m really disappointed and disgusted at how many mistakes I have just overlooked. There were many things that I got the title wrong, details, etc. Im gonna edit it constantly til I eliminate any mistakes. Pleasement if you notice anything that does not make sense.
Chapter 101
Chapter 101
The shopkeeper''s face became ugly.
It was a bad time for someone toe, and he didn''t want to disturb the VIP. He just wanted to send the person away as soon as possible.
He said coldly, "I''ve already told you, it''s impossible!"
"You see, you don''t have anyone backing you up, so why not merge with my shop? You won''t have to worry about anyone causing you trouble in the future, right?" The speaker''s tone was casual as if teasing a mouse.
"It''s none of your business, and we don''t wee you here. Please leave!" The boss''s attitude was firm.
In just a few words, the man had already walked up to them. Shen Yu also got a good look at the person who hade to cause trouble.
He was around twenty years old, dressed in a golden robe, and wore a gold crown studded with various gemstones. The overall impression he gave was just two words: rich and wealthy.
He was good-looking, and shook his golden fan, radiating the aura of a wastrel.
Behind the man were several servants who walked in swaggeringly.
The old regrs in the shop were used to scenes like this, but the new customers were causing a bit ofmotion, which was quickly settled down.
"Who is this person?" Shen Yu asked.
He had no memory of anyone rted to this person, so he figured he wasn''t someone in the official circle.
"He''s the young master of the Jin family. Since this shop opened, he has beening every few days to browse. At first, he only bought some ink and paper, butter he started to say that he wanted me to merge my shop with his family''s shop." The boss sighed helplessly.
This shop is newly opened, and the previous owner used to own another shop. However, due to some unfortunate circumstances, he had to sell the shop and coincidentally became a subordinate of Shen Yu.
After the change of ownership, the shop''s management mode was altered under Shen Yu''s instructions. The shop, which was originally empty, suddenly became popr, and even though it was located in a remote area, there were endless streams of customers every day.
Later, patterned Xuan paperRice paper was introduced, and the shop''s reputation spread even further, making business even better. At this time, the young master of the Jin family insisted on buying the shop.
In a blink of an eye, the young master Jin was already in front of the four people. He closed his fan and held it against his chin, "So, what do you need to agree to my request? I will let you manage my shop as well?"
"Your shop has always been losing money. What use is it to us?" said the young man in the green shirt, angrily.
"Isn''t your boss a master of medical skills? If I remember correctly, this shop used to lose money all the time too, right?" Young Master Jin wasn''t angry even though he was being criticized, and his expression remained the same.
Shen Yu observed him for a while and found that he really wasn''t angry.
Originally, he thought that this person hade to cause trouble, but now it seemed that he wasn''t. What exactly did this young master Jin want to do?
"Don''te looking for me again. I won''t agree," said the shopkeeper, sensing that Young Master Jin had no ill intentions.
"Why not?"
The surrounding customers asionally nced over here. Seeing that Young Master Jin was persistent, Shen Yu spoke up, "Let''s talk somewhere else."
Young Master Jin was reluctant and wanted to ask, "Who are you to make the decision?" But seeing that the owner had no objections, he silently swallowed the words that had reached his lips.
The four of them went to the inner room.
The owner looked at Shen Yu and Shen Yu nodded slightly to him.
"I can''t agree to your request, no matter how generous the conditions you offer, because this shop doesn''t belong to me," the owner exined.
"What?" Young Master Jin was dumbfounded. "Weren''t you always the owner of this shop before?"
"Do you know about my past?" He didn''t know anyone with the status of the Jin family before.
"You haven''t moved your shop, so of course I know you were the owner of this shop before. I also know that people used to give you trouble all the time. Did you sell the shop to them? It''s better to sell it to me," Young Master Jin said.
The owner was getting a headache from his illogical thinking. "What are you thinking? This shop now belongs to Yu Gongzi."
Young Master Jin followed the owner''s gaze and looked at Shen Yu.
Shen Yu nodded slightly.
"No wonder you''re so respectful to them. It turns out there''s a new owner," Young Master Jinmurmured.
"Can you finally tell us what''s going on?" Shen Yu spoke calmly.
The owner also wanted to know why Young Master Jin was so persistent.
Young Master Jinwas stared at by several people and finally said, "It''s Zhou Dingsheng. I have a feud with him. When I heard that he instructed his men to make you unable to stay in this ce, I wouldn''t let him seed. Since you have a new owner now, I believe you won''t be bullied by him anymore."
"Did you stop the Zhou family from causing trouble these days?" No one knew who the real owner of this shop was besides him. At first, he was curious about why the Zhou family had been quiet, but he didn''t expect someone to help him secretly.
The young master of the Jin family came to the shop every day with his entourage, and when the Zhou family saw them, they dared not do anything. Although the Zhou family had some money, they were no match for the Jin family.
After the misunderstanding was cleared up, the young master of the Jin family left with his people.
The matter of buying the shop did not go through Shen Yu''s hands, so he was not aware of the details. Now that he knew, he couldn''tpletely ignore it.
"What''s going on?" Shen Yu tapped his fingers on the wooden table.
"Before the young master''s people found me, I was actually at a loss. The Zhou family wanted to seize this ce. At that time, the shop''s business was already bad, and someone was maliciously causing trouble. The old customers also left."
After the shop underwent a period of renovation and closed for a while, the Zhou family never came to the door again. He thought it was because someone warned them behind the scenes on Shen Yu''s behalf.
As a small business owner, he had no way to deal with the Zhou family, but the Zhou family was not even considered anything to any noble family in the capital.
"Since you''re working for me, there''s nothing you can''t solve, just tell me directly." Shen Yu naturally provided shelter for those who worked diligently for him.
Shen Yu looked at the ount book of the store, and asked about the situation of the store during this period of time and its future ns. The bookstore owner had a good understanding of the situation and gave answers that satisfied Shen Yu.
There were other stores to visit, so Shen Yu didn''t stay long.
"How much does Ah Yu know about the owner of this store?" On the carriage, Shang Junlin fed Shen Yu some pine nut candy that they bought from a nearby stall because Shen Yu was craving it. Shang Junlin always fulfilled Shen Yu''s small requests, so he bought two packs.
The pine nut candy was very sweet, and Shen Yu closed his eyes in satisfaction. "At that time, I was in the pce and couldn''t do many things personally, so I handed them over to my subordinates. They sent me a message saying that there was a store that urgently needed to be sold, and all the requirements met what I had proposed. So I had someone buy the store, andter found out that the original owner''s family had been in this business for generations, so I let him continue to manage it."
"The owner''s surname is Ye, and his family has lived in the capital for generations. He is kind and almost has no enemies. As for his rtionship with the Zhou family, I''m not sure." Shen Yu couldn''t possibly know every detail about what happened with his subordinates.
"This person always gives me a familiar feeling," Shang Junlin frowned. "Or it could just be my imagination."
"If His Majesty is not at ease, he can have the Hidden Dragon Guards investigate him and also look into the Zhou family."
"Hmm."
The two then went to a jewelry store located in the busiest area of the capital, where pedestrians came and went endlessly. They didn''t go into the store but went directly to the backyard.
Out of all the stores, this store had the most beautiful ount book and even opened a branch not long ago. Shen Yu did not expect the purchasing power of women to be so amazing.
Upon receiving the news, the shopkeeper put down what he was doing and hurriedly weed the two of them in. "Young master, please have some tea."
This shop was left behind by Shen Yu''s mother, and the shopkeeper has been an old man who followed Shen Yu''s side. A few years ago, the shop was not doing well, and the shopkeeper felt guilty. Later, he developed a new product based on a recipe given by Shen Yu. In no time, the shop became one of the most profitable shops, and the shopkeeper''s guilt dissipated.
He worked harder and harder, and Shen Yu only gave him a few new products. The shopkeeper developed different methods and sales strategies based on these products, some of which were specifically designed for noble women, while others were for ordinary women. The former were exquisite and expensive, while thetter were of good quality and low price, both of which were very popr.
Shen Yu took a sip of tea and listened to the shopkeeper talk about the results of this period of time, with a hint of a smile in his eyes: "You did well."
The shopkeeper was ttered: "I dare not take credit. Without the recipe given by the young master, I would not have been able to revive the store."
Not only did the business thrive, but they also opened branch stores and had coborators who actively approached them.
"Master, there is one more thing. A gentleman named Yan Zheng came to us some time ago and asked if we could discuss a partnership," the shopkeeper recalled an important matter, "I can''t decide on this matter. Does the young master want to coborate with him?"
"What do you think of him and whether he is worth cooperating with?" Shen Yu put down his cup. Yan Zheng, the person who proposed to provide money to the Ministry of Works for road repairs, had also had a meal with them.
"He came to see me a few times, with exceptional manners and prudent behavior. If the young master is looking for a partner, you can consider him."
"It seems that Xu shopkeeper thinks highly of him." Xu shopkeeper had worked under Shen Yu for so many years, and he rarely praised anyone like this.
"Just feel that the ideas he proposed are very reasonable," Xu shopkeeper turned around and took out a letter from the bookshelf beside him, "this is what I organized based on his ideas. The young master can take a look first."
Shen Yu took it over and scan it. He had to admit that this n was veryprehensive, and all the areas that needed to be considered were taken into ount.
"Ah Lin, take a look." After finishing reading, Shen Yu handed the letter to Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin nodded lightly after reading it.
Shen Yu knew that he would be able to produce more things in the future. If they were to coborate, it would definitely be a long-term partnership. Before that, they would have to have some understanding of their potential partner.
"I will consider the partnership. If hees to see you again, tell him that I will talk to him in person." Shen Yu paused for a moment and added, "Before that, you first organize Yan Zheng''s information and give it to me."
"Understood." Xu shopkeeper was taken aback. He didn''t expect Shen Yu to go in person. He silently made a note of this.
It was almost time for dinner.
"Are we going back to the pce or going to the Yingxing House for dinner?" Shang Junlin asked in the carriage.
"Let''s go to the Yingxing House." Shen Yu had a good impression of the Yingxing House.
"Your Majesty seemed a little unhappy just now. Why?" Shang Junlin was not very interested in the second half of Xu shopkeeper''s story.
"If we want to cooperate, Ah Yu can send someone to do it below, there''s no need to go personally."
It turned out that it was because of this matter. Shen Yuughed out loud.
"What are youughing at?" Shang Junlin pinched Shen Yu''s chin, his gaze deep.
"Your Majesty, don''t you feel that today we are particrly like an ordinary husband apanying his wife to visit the shops?"
Chapter 102
Chapter 102
The expression on Shang Junlin''s face froze.
"Hahaha," Shen Yuughed, holding Shang Junlin''s wrist with one hand. "Does Your Majesty not trust me to go with you, or is it that Your Majesty does not want me to see..."
"I''ll apany you," Shang Junlin interrupted him before he could finish, rubbing his finger against the delicate skin under Shen Yu''s jaw. "Since Ah Yu has admitted our rtionship in person, as a husband, I should apany my wife."
Shen Yu breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had dealt with the situation. But before he could fully rx, the man leaned down.
"Since we are husband and wife, shouldn''t Ah Yu fulfill some marital duties?"
The whisper disappeared on his lips.
The man''s breath swept over him, and before Shen Yu could react, he was engulfed in the man''s embrace. The warm touch of lips pressed against his own, and a strong hand held his chin, preventing him from breaking free.
Shen Yu was powerless to resist as the man kissed him forcefully.
The man''s kiss was dominant and powerful, carrying an unstoppable momentum as he conquered every inch of space. Under the man''s relentless assault, Shen Yu was unable to resist.
The sound of water echoed in the enclosed space, the rustling of fabric could be heard as the ck and blue clothes intertwined with each other, blurring the boundaries between them.
At some point, the hand on Shen Yu''s chin was released and Shi Junlin wrapped his arm around Shen Yu''s flexible waist, while the other hand pressed against the back of his head, keeping him firmly in his embrace.
When it came to doing such things, Shi Junlin was as domineering as ever. Shen Yu closed his eyes, all his senses focused on his lips, which were sucked and ground against, his mouth was upied, and he could only drift along with the man''s movements.
With a final kiss, Shi Junlin still didn''t want to let go of the person in his arms, his lips gently touching Shen Yu''s as if tofort him. Shen Yu''s breath was unsteady, the corners of his eyes tinged with red, and his lips were red as if he had applied rouge, shimmering with a watery sheen.
Shi Junlin''s eyes darkened and he wanted to kiss him again, but only managed to kiss Shen Yu''s hand when he pulled away.
"Ah Yu?"
"If we continue like this, I won''t be able to show my face in publicter." Shen Yu''s voice was muffled.
"We can go straight back to the pce."
Shen Yu shook his head, his attitude was resolute. If he went back like this, wouldn''t he be walking straight into the tiger''s den and endure another half-night of Shi Junlin''s antics?
Shi Junlin couldn''t resist him and could only give up the idea of continuing. He kissed Shen Yu''s face twice more before letting him go.
After Shen Yu adjusted his clothes, they arrived at the restaurant.
At this moment, except for some redness on his lips, there was nothing unusual on Shen Yu''s face.
The two of them entered the Yingxing House and were warmly weed by the waiter: "Wee, sirs. Would you like to sit in the main hall or a private room?"
"A private room," Shang Junlin spoke up.
"Alright, please follow me this way."
Yingxing House was very lively, with the main hall full of people. Unlike the simple and elegant decoration during the imperial examination period, the whole building was brightly lit and magnificent, making it hard to believe it was the same restaurant.
When they reached the second floor, they could hear the sound of silk and bamboo musicing from the other private rooms.
"Does Yingxing House have other business?" Shen Yu stopped and asked.
"Are you referring to the sound of the music? Those are not our people. Some guestse here and bring a few female musicians to entertain them."
Shen Yu nodded faintly and changed the subject, "Your establishment looks very different from before."
"Are you referring to the imperial examination period? That was specifically ordered by our boss. Every three years during that time, we provide convenience for students rushing to take the exams in the capital. We operate as usual during other times."
"Your boss is quite the clever person."
The waiter led them to a private room, and Shen Yu ordered the dishes with ease, "Have you had any new desserts or snackstely?"
"As a matter of fact, we have some new items on the menu." The waiter enthusiastically introduced them.
Shen Yu chose a few items with nice names.
"Indeed, this restaurant usually caters to the wealthy and powerful." Shen Yu sighed after the waiter left.
The prices of each dish were several times higher than thest time they came.
"If it continues like before, this store won''t be able to survive. Are you thirsty, Ah Yu?"
Shen Yu nodded, feeling a little parched.
Shang Junlin picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup for each of them.
Without making them wait long, the dishes were quickly served one by one. Finally, Shen Yu''s dessert arrived.
The fruit was cut into small pieces and mixed evenly with milk, with small ice cubes interspersed throughout. It was almost the same as what Shen Yu had eaten in the Yu Zhang Pce.
Shen Yu stirred the dessert with a spoon and asked, "What is this?"
"You have good taste, sir. This is a recipe from the pce. It''s perfect for summer and it''s our best-selling dessert."
Shen Yu took a spoonful and put it in his mouth. The milk had no trace of gaminess, only sweetness. The fruit was delicious and juicy, and the ice-cold texture made it a real pleasure to eat on a hot summer day.
After finishing the dessert, Shen Yu looked at the other bowl. It also had ice cubes in it, but the fruit was cut into smaller pieces and the liquid was transparent like water.
The waiter followed Shen Yu''s gaze and exined, "This one has fruit wine in it, but don''t worry, it''s not enough to get you drunk, even children can eat it."
"The pce selling ice at a unified price really helped us out. If not for that, how could we ordinary folks afford it, let alone make these desserts."
The pce sold two types of ice, one for cooling and the other for eating. Thetter was more expensive, but even if it was expensive, ordinary people could still afford it. Unlike before, the high price was intimidating.
Shang Junlin and Shen Yu didn''t like being waited on, so they sent the waiter away after all the dishes were served.
The food at Yingxing House was fragrant and appetizing, but Shen Yu didn''t pay much attention to it. Instead, he focused on one small bowl.
It was the fruit wine ice that the waiter had just introduced.
For a long time, Shen Yu had been craving wine, but unfortunately, Shang Junlin watched him sternly and wouldn''t let him drink or even touch it. Now, he finally had a chance and couldn''t wait to bring the small bowl to his own table.
"I''ll just taste it," he said.
After spooning a bit into his mouth, Shen Yu was somewhat disappointed to find that it only had a very faint taste of wine, nothing like what he had imagined.
After eating a couple of spoonfuls, Shen Yu lost interest and preferred the bowl with milk, which was sweeter.
Shang Junlinughed and took the half-eaten bowl from Shen Yu, finishing it himself.
"How is it, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu asked, holding his chin. "Doesn''t it taste a bit weak?"
"Does Ah Yu want to drink wine?" Shang Junlin asked. He and Shen Yu shared meals and amodation, but because of Shen Yu''s health, he couldn''t drink wine, and Shang Junlin hadn''t had any in a long time either.
Shen Yu nodded, running his tongue over his lower lip to lick off the milk.
Certain images shed through his mind, and Shang Junlin''s eyes darkened. Without waiting for Shen Yu to react, he pulled him into his arms and kissed him heavily.
Shang Junlin''s kisses never had anything to do with tenderness, more like a fierce beast marking its territory, each movement containing an unyielding dominance.
This kiss was particrly heavy.
It was as if he wanted to leave his mark on every part of Shen Yu, not leaving any ce untouched, kissing deeply.
Shen Yu''s tongue went numb, his fingers weakly grasping the man''s clothes at the shoulder.
After a while, Shang Junlin let go of Shen Yu, his lips lingering on his face.
Shen Yu leaned against Shang Junlin''s arm, taking a while to recover.
"What''s wrong, Your Majesty?" he asked, panting.
Shang Junlin ran his fingers over Shen Yu''s lips, lightly pressing them, and replied, "Ah Yu''s lips are so soft."
Shen Yu: ???
But Shang Junlin didn''t say anything more, and instead straightened Shen Yu''s clothes. "It''ste, let''s go back to the pce."
The sky outside was already dark, and there was a curfew in Dahuan, so they couldn''t stay on the street for too long. Mr. Fang''s side kept in contact with the court every day, and after passing through Yuncounty, they would be in the northern territory where the situation was bing increasingly dire.
To ensure that they could arrive in the north as soon as possible, Official Fang and his group chose the closest route with an army apanying them so they didn''t have to worry about bandits. Even so, they still fell into an ambush near the vicinity of the northern territory.
There weren''t many casualties, but a batch of disaster relief supplies was looted.
In the grand court, the atmosphere was oppressive.
Shang Junlin sat on the dragon throne, coldly watching below.
"What do you ministers think of this matter?"
"I believe this matter must be thoroughly investigated!" The prime minister was the first to stand up.
"I agree!"
With the first one to stand up, other ministers also stood up one after another.
"This matter will be handled by the prime minister."
Back at the Yu Zhang Pce, Shang Junlin immediately embraced Shen Yu.
Feeling that the man was not in a good mood, Shen Yu patted his back and asked, "What''s wrong, Your Majesty?"
"Fang Jun and his group were attacked by bandits."
Shen Yu paused, "Where do these bandits have the audacity to rob the relief supplies of the court?"
"They were attacked in Yun County. I have already instructed the prime minister to investigate. This matter is probably not as simple as it seems on the surface."
"Are Official Fang and the others alright?"
"I had some people secretly follow them. If it weren''t for them, the losses would not have been so small." Shang Junlin''s eyes were cold.
"These people obviously know a lot about the arrangements of the court''s relief efforts. However, the court''s arrangements are public knowledge, and many people know about it. It is difficult to determine who is behind this just based on this. Your Majesty, please drink some water first." Shen Yu touched the back of Shang Junlin''s neck.
"Feed me, Ah Yu." Shang Junlin rubbed against Shen Yu''s face.
"Your Majesty, please let me go first."
Shang Junlin let go, and Shen Yu walked to the table, poured a cup of tea, and handed it over. Shang Junlin didn''t take it, just looked at him. Shen Yu raised his arm and fed him the water.
Drinking the water in this posture, Shang Junlin took the cup from Shen Yu''s hand and put it aside. He then embraced Shen Yu again and said confusedly, "I don''t understand. Those were relief supplies used to save millions of people in Subei. Why would they take them?"
"Your Majesty, you don''t need to understand how these people think. Once we find out who did this, we will deal with them directly. No need to waste words."
"Ah Yu is right. They only need to know that they are destined to pay for their actions!"
"Without that batch of supplies, will the supplies Official Fang and the others brought be enough?" Shen Yu thought of the most critical issue.
"They canst for a while, but the missing supplies must be replenished as soon as possible. The Minister of Revenue has already been raising funds for it." Thinking of something, Shang Junlin smiled, "The one who reacted the most to this news was undoubtedly the Minister of Revenue. He was so angry that he scolded the bandits in court, which shocked those ministers."
"They probably didn''t expect that the usually polite Minister of Revenue would have such a side." Imagining that scene, Shen Yu couldn''t help butugh.
Chapter 103
Chapter 103
Yun County.
The troops with the remaining supplies stayed behind to rest, while Fang Jun took a jug of water and walked towards the other side.
The closer they got to Subei, the more they could feel the heat and dryness. Yun County was close to Subei and was also affected by the drought. Thend was cracked, the flowers and grass on the roadside were drooping and lifeless, and even the wind blowing towards them was hot.
Not far from the main disaster relief force, a group of men dressed in uniform tight-fitting clothing were hiding in the dark. Each person wore a ck mask with strange patterns on their face, covering the upper half of their face.
It was the sudden appearance of these people that prevented them from suffering heavy losses.
Before the incident, even Fang Jundid not know that such a team was following them.
Fang Jun knew that this trip would not be smooth sailing, but he did not expect these people to be so daring, and the people the emperor sent were able to suppress them. Fang Jun could not imagine what their situation would be like if His Majesty had not left them a way out.
As he walked, Fang Junrecalled what had happened.
The incident urred in the middle of the night when everyone except the guards was sound asleep. Fang Jun was awakened by the sound of shing weapons. His subordinates rushed over and protected him tightly in the middle.
Those people had a clear purpose - to rob the disaster relief supplies. They did not use fire and gradually gained the upper hand in the fight.
Seeing another cart of supplies being taken away, Fang Jun snatched a knife from his subordinate and attacked the robbers regardless of his own safety.
He managed to hit one of them, but he also exposed himself to the enemy. A cold light shed behind him, and he couldn''t dodge in time.
Fang Jun was not afraid of death, he only regretted that he couldn''tplete His Majesty''s mission and couldn''t safely deliver the disaster relief supplies to Subei...
The de was approaching, at thest moment, with a "nk" sound, the long sword was parried and then fell to the ground with a "bang", followed by the sound of a sharp weapon piercing into flesh.
Fang Jun, wiping off the blood sttered on his face, noticed that a team of people dressed in ck armor had filled the gap in the soldiers and started fighting against the enemy.
In the pitch-ck night, these ck-d figures were like ghosts, wandering around the battlefield and taking the lives of their enemies.
The situation had suddenly reversed.
"You guys should have a drink of water," Fang Jun walked up to the team but didn''t get too close.
After repelling the bandits, these people stayed behind to protect them. They had been attacked several times afterward, but with these people around, they suffered no loss, while the other side lost a lot of people.
Fang Jun could smell the blood, and without hesitation, he handed the water bottle to the leader of the team. "Are you injured? I brought some emergency medicine with me. Wait for me, and I will bring it to you."
"No need," the voice of the ck-d person was as cold as the mask on their face.
"This medicine was specifically sought by Imperial Hospital''s Physician Gu. He is a highly skilled physician who specializes in nurturing the health of nobles. I knew that this journey wouldn''t be peaceful, so I got some emergency medicine. Here it is, just in time for you to use." Fang Jun could feel that the young man in front of him wasn''t very old, and he was grateful to him for saving his life.
Hearing a name, the ck-d person swallowed their refusal.
"I know you are acting on orders to protect us, but you must also protect yourselves. If you get injured, how can you protect us? The people you brought with you are the same. If you need anything, just say so." Fang Jun couldn''t help but ramble on.
The young manughed softly, "Does the court know that Official Fang pays attention to every detail?"
"I want them to know what I am doing," Fang Jun waved his hand, "I will go get the medicine for you. Please wait a moment."
Fang Jun returned with the medicine. There were several small andrge bottles of medicine, which were obviously the style of Physician Gu. When the young man took the medicine and put it in his pocket, Fang Jun looked satisfied. "You must take care of your body. Remember to take your medicine."
"Thank you for the medicine, Official Fang," the ck-d person bowed.
"Don''t, if anyone should thank you first, it should be me thanking you for saving my life," Fang Jun stopped him and spoke seriously, "The next part of the journey may not be easy, thank you for your effort."
After Fang Jun finished speaking, he went back. He was the main person in charge of this disaster relief and still had many things to do.
After resting, Fang Jun led his team to count the goods, write down the losses and the remaining supplies, and send the report to the court. He then continued north with his team.
Their mission had just begun.
After receiving the report from Subei, Shang Junlin immediately called the prime minister and the Minister of Revenue to discuss the next n.
Subei was deeply involved, and it was also a solid barrier for Da Huan in the north. Nothing could go wrong.
"Physician Gu seems to be worried about something. Is something wrong?" After taking his pulse, Shen Yu saw that Physician Gu was distracted and asked.
"It''s my younger brother. He said he had something to do and would be gone for a few days. It''s been more than ten days now, and there''s been no news at all." Physician Gu didn''t have many friends to confide in, and he was really worried. When Shen Yu asked, he couldn''t help but speak out.
"Gu Huai?"
"Yes, Xiao Huai has never been apart from me for so long. I don''t know where he went, and if he''s in danger." Physician Gu frowned slightly.
"Physician Gu, don''t worry, Gu Huai will be fine."
"Thank you for your kind words, Your Excellency."
At night, Shen Yu nestled in Shang Junlin''s arms and asked about Gu Huai.
"Does Your Majesty know where Gu Huai went?"
"Why did you suddenly ask about him, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin pinched Shen Yu''s face and asked, "Did someone tell you something?"
Shen Yu replied, "It was Physician Gu. He was worried about his younger brother and talked to me about it."
"Ah Yu, do you remember when I told you that I secretly sent someone to follow Fang Jun and his team?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Are you saying that Gu Huai is the one secretly following Official Fang to Subei?"
Shang Junlin nodded, "Yes."
Shen Yu asked, "Your Majesty, why did you think of sending him?"
Shang Junlin said, "Firstly, no one in the court knows Gu Huai, so sending him there would avoid attention. Secondly, I see him as a capable general and want to give him a chance to achieve something."
Da Huan''s method of entering the court as an official was fixed, with only room for maneuvering in the military officials'' area. However, with Da Huan''s national stability and peace, there was no war, and that route was also blocked. So, he could only follow the rules to enter the court.
"I can''t keep leading the army. Da Huan needs qualified generals." Shang Junlin lifted a strand of hair and twisted it around his fingers.
After the previous emperor''s disaster, Da Huan was in a state of devastation, especially the military officials. Many capable generals were demoted or even killed for various reasons during the previous emperor''s reign. The ones who took their ce were ipetent, which caused Da Huan to lose a lot of territory in sessive defeats.
"Your Majesty wants to clear the names of those generals?" Shen Yu turned over andy on Shang Junlin''s body.
"It''s not just the generals who need to be cleared. Many ministers who worked hard for the country were also innocently sacrificed. I want to clear their names," Shang Junlin said while staring into Shen Yu''s eyes. Shen Yu couldn''t help but blink and rubbed his cheek against Shang Junlin''s.
Shang Junlin put his arm around Shen Yu''s waist, his eyes as ck as ink.
If being a wise emperor was what Shen Yu wanted, he was willing to be the most qualified emperor in Shen Yu''s eyes, as long as Shen Yu was willing to stay by his side forever.
The disaster relief was arranged methodically, and the group of thieves was handed over to a general in the north to catch them. However, there was still a problem with the relief efforts. Some of the supplies were stolen, and although the court had reserves, they were not enough.
The area of Subei was toorge, including the entire Subei army and the consumption was staggering. The drought was also unknown when it would end. If it took too long, the court would not be able to afford it.
After stripping the second batch of supplies, the Minister of Revenue had toe to Shang Junlin with a sad face to discuss the matter.
At that time, Shang Junlin was discussing alcohol-rted matters with Shen Yu in the Yu Zhang Pce.
After more than a month of experimentation, Shen Yue finally seeded in making the first bottle of medical alcohol, which she immediately sent to the Yu Zhang Pce.
Meng Gonggong walked in from outside. "Your Majesty, the Minister of Revenue requests an audience."
"It''s probably about the relief supplies. Can Ie with you, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu had some thoughts on this matter.
"Then let Ah Yu apany me to the study."
So, when the Minister of Revenue arrived at the study, he saw Shang Junlin and Shen Yu together.
"Greetings, Your Majesty and Shen Guijun. Noble Monarch" Although he didn''t understand why the lord was here, the Minister of Revenue still respectfully saluted.
"Speak."
"Your Majesty, forgive me for speaking bluntly. The national treasury cannot support the disaster in Subei for a long time. If there is no other solution, we can only hold on for a month at most. But as Your Majesty knows, after the drought, there will often be locust gues, epidemics, and other situations. One month is not enough time."
"There is also another serious problem. After autumn and before winter, the northern nomadic tribes wille south to plunder everything they can. If Subei is still affected by the disaster at that time, it will be in great danger."
"Do you have a n?" Shang Junlin naturally knows the seriousness of the problem.
"I have thought of two solutions. One is to levy heavier taxes on the people, and the other is to increasemercial taxes. Both of these methods can alleviate the urgent situation." The Minister of Revenue spoke in a low voice.
Shang Junlin frowned. Tax collection for Da Huan is usually done at the end of the year. If it is collected now, many people may not be able to pay. And both of these methods require a certain amount of time toplete, from the local area to the capital and then to Subei, which will take too much time and manpower.
"I also know that this method is not appropriate, but..." There is no other way for the time being.
"Your Majesty, how about we change the heavy levy of taxes on the people and the collection ofmercial taxes to voluntary donations? The people can contribute as much as they can to help with disaster relief, without affecting their normal lives. For the wealthy and nobles, rewards can be given ording to the materials they donate. The focus of this method is on rewards. The rich have aparative mentality. Wouldn''t letting them donate voluntarily be better than forcing them?"
The Minister of Revenue is a smart person and can immediately see the difference between the two methods. If it is changed to voluntary donation, there will be no grievances, and it will give donors a sense of honor.
He bowed to Shen Yu and said, "Your Excellency is very talented!"
"Sir, you don''t have to be too polite. Specific arrangements still require your efforts. And as for the various local princes, as members of the royal family, they should also contribute to the country when Subei is in trouble."
After hearing Shen Yu''s words, the Minister of Revenue couldn''t help but look at him more and said, "I will do my best!"
----
Author''s note:
Minister of Revenue: I''m going to fleece the wool from the princes and aristocrats. When ites to this, I get excited.
Trantor''s note:
June 3,2023 - currently been edited. If any inconsistencies found, pleasement and point out the sentence or paragraph.
Chapter 104
Chapter 104
June 4, 2023 - currently been edited. If any inconsistencies are found, pleasement the sentence or paragraph.
After the Minister of Revenue left, Shang Junlin hugged Shen Yu from behind and asked, "How does Ah Yue up with so many new ideas?"
"''It''s just a different way of expressing the Minister of Revenue''s method. No matter for which reason, forcing people to do it and actively asking them to do it gives people different feelings. The more money and power people have, the more they value their reputation. After donating materials, they can get a good reputation recognized by the court and praise from the people. Why not do it?''"
Shen Yu had dealt with these people too much in his past life and had his own way of dealing with them. Although the wealthy merchants held a lot of wealth, their status was not high, and they were still subjected to various restrictions. Any local official could bring them big trouble.
Every year, they spend a considerable amount of money to bribe various officials. Shen Yu suggested that anyone who donates can receive a courtmendation, and those who make significant contributions can also receive special rewards. Rather than spending money on officials to establish connections, it is better to directly establish a good rtionship with the court. Smart people know how to choose.
After the Minister of Revenue returned, he immediately summoned officials from the Ministry of Revenue to discuss the matter. They were responsible for the Da Huan''s treasury, they had to take care of the entire treasury and could not afford to empty it for disaster relief, as it would bring huge risks.
"Did His Majesty approve our proposal?"An official from the Ministry of Revenue asked.
"Yes and no. His Majesty made some changes. I called you all here today to discuss how to implement it specifically," said the Minister of Revenue.
He then exined Shen Yu''s proposal: "What do you think?"
"This is a great idea. It is much better than what we initially suggested."
"Indeed, indeed. This way, it won''t be too costly, and we don''t have to worry about burdening the people too much or causing a riot afterward."
They knew that the original method would bring huge risks, but they had no better way to deal with it. They had to use it reluctantly. Now that they have a better way, of course, they will choose the better one.
Only the first official who spoke up shed a hint of doubt in his eyes. "What does Official Li think? It was Official Li who advocated for the original method before and swore that there would be no better way?"
"I was narrow-minded," Official Li reluctantly said.
"It''s not Official Li''s fault either. Before the Minister came up with the new method, we didn''t have any better way. I don''t know who came up with this method, but it really helped us a lot."
"Yeah, yeah, sir, please exin it to us."
"The people around the emperor are all talented. You''ll know in the future." The Minister of Revenueughed.
"Why are you still selling us short at this point?" The heavy stone weighing on their hearts was lifted, and the atmosphere suddenly became rxed.
"Okay, let''s discuss how to proceed first. The emperor is still waiting for a response."
The groupunched into a heated discussion.
Outside the pce, Xu shopkeeper brought news that Yan Zheng hade knocking again, and he ryed to Shen Yu ording to his instructions that Yan Zheng wanted to see him.
When Shen Yu read the message, he didn''t avoid Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin peeled a grape and put it in Shen Yu''s mouth. "When does Ah Yu n on seeing him?"
"Does His Majesty have time to leave the pce in few days?" Shen Yu bit into the grape, feeling a slightly sour taste that filled his mouth. He frowned and swallowed it.
Shang Junlin noticed his expression. "What''s wrong, is it sour?"
"A little." Actually, it was fine overall, but he could sense a slight sourness, and Shen Yu didn''t really like sour things.
"Then don''t eat it. Meng Chang, don''t bring these grapes anymore." Shang Junlin put down the grape he was peeling and picked up a handkerchief to wipe his hands.
Meng Gonggong quickly took the grapes off the table.
Shen Yu drank some water to ease the sourness in his mouth. "If His Majesty doesn''t have time, I''ll just go by myself."
Shang Junlin has been very busytely with affairs of the court, the northern border, and disaster relief, all of which require his personal attention. Shen Yu has woken up several times to find Shang Junlin still busy.
"I''ll go with you." No matter how busy Shang Junlin is, he won''t let Shen Yu go alone to see Yan Zheng. He hasn''t forgotten the look in Yan Zheng''s eyes when they first met.
Shen Yu wrote a letter back to Xu Shopkeeper and arranged to meet in three days'' time.
After the medical-grade alcohol was made, Shang Junlin handed part of it over to the Imperial Hospital for them to test its effectiveness. After a few days, the Imperial Hospital obtained some results.
When Physician Gu came to examine Shen Yu''s pulse, he also mentioned this matter.
"The medical-grade alcohol that His Excellency gave to the Imperial Hospital can indeed reduce wound infections. The people at the Imperial Hospitalpared wounds treated with alcohol and those not treated with alcohol on some small animals, and the former was clearly not infected and healed faster."
Speaking of this, Physician Gu was very excited. He had been studying medicine for many years and knew very well that if wounds are not treated in time, it can have many serious consequences. Many people do not die from the injury itself but from wound infections. If wound infections can be reduced, the possibility of healing patients withrge wounds in the future will be greater.
At the same time, the Imperial Hospital''s reports were also ced on Shang Junlin''s desk.
The report not only reported the results of this period but also applied for a new batch of alcohol and permission to use it on the wounded.
Testing medicine on small animals and testing it on humans are two different things. Moreover, the alcohol was sent to the Imperial Hospital by Shang Junlin''s people, so any movements needed to be reported to him.
"If it really can have such a great effect on humans, the casualties of the soldiers on the border can be reduced significantly."
In Yu Zhang Pce, when Shang Junlin spoke to Shen Yu about this matter, his tone was slightly excited.
Shang Junlin joined the military when he was young and knew very well the living conditions of the soldiers on the border. He has experienced too much death, and he knows that many soldiers do not die on the battlefield, but because their wounds were not treated in a timely and proper manner.
After Shang Junlin ascended the throne, he assigned military doctors to various ces, but when wound infections worsen and cause the condition to worsen, even the military doctors are helpless.
"Shen Yue has made some more, and they were just delivered to the Yu Zhang Pce yesterday. His Majesty can hand them over to the Imperial Hospital. If they work the same way on people, we can start preparing to poprize alcohol in the army."
"Ah Yu is right. If it can really reduce casualties among the soldiers, Shen Yue will have aplished a great deed."
After receiving the alcohol, Shang Junlin specifically instructed that they be allowed to bring the alcohol into the dungeon. Among the prisoners awaiting punishment in the dungeon were many who were undergoing torture, making it the perfect opportunity to test the effects of alcohol.
Several imperial physicians led by Physician Gu entered the dungeon with medicine boxes.
Later, a terrifying rumor began to spread through the dungeon. It was said that a new punishment had been introduced, in which the punisher wore a white robe and did something to the prisoners that made their screams tear up the air.
As a result, the prisoners in the dungeon became particrly obedient during that period of time, answering questions and providing information with more efficiency than ever before.
"Isn''t this a double benefit for Physician Gu and his colleagues?" Shen Yu finished reading the report and couldn''t help but smile.
"People from the Ministry of Justice even asked if they could directly arrange for a few imperial physicians to be stationed there, saying that when dealing with stubborn prisoners, the methods of the physicians were much more effective than those of the interrogators." This unexpected turn of events was something that Shang Junlin had not anticipated.
"I don''t think Physician Gu and his colleagues could have predicted that they would be the nightmare of the prisoners in the dungeon."
It turned out that the Chief of the Ministry of Justice really went to the Imperial Hospital to visit them, leaving Physician Gu and his colleagues feeling speechless. They had studied medicine in order to save lives and heal the injured, not to torture people.
When alcoholes into contact with a wound, it does indeed cause a huge amount of stimtion. Physician Gu and his colleagues tried to reduce this kind of stimtion but failed. Moreover, many of the prisoners had wounds on their bodies, and if they were to apply alcohol on arge area of their wounds, they would definitely be unable to bear the pain.
----
Finally, Fang Jun and his party arrived in Subei. The ck-clothed people who had been secretly protecting them returned to the shadows. They were greeted by Xun Chao, another official from Subei who had returned earlier, and two other officials from Subei.
After some small talk, they moved into the Subei government office.
The other officials breathed a sigh of relief, but Fang Jun was more aware of the situation and dared not let his guard down easily.
The supplies had arrived, and the officials from Subei and the ones sent by the court together arranged the disaster relief. Fang Jun was led by several enthusiastic Subei officials and wandered around the nearby area.
Judging from the appearance of the ce, one wouldn''t think the disaster was very severe. The roads were clean, and no severely affected victims were seen on the roadside. asionally, they saw some people walking by, all with hurried steps and not daring to make eye contact with them.
Fang Jun secretly kept all these unusual things in his heart. "Let''s go back."
"Does Your Lordship not want to continue looking around?"
Even if you look again, you won''t be able to see anything. Fang Jun had doubts in his mind but didn''t show them on his face. "I''m tired, let''s go back and rest," he said.
The two officials apanying him exchanged a nce, and one of them with a goatee spoke up, "Your Lordship, you havee a long way to the north. It''s time to take a good rest. Please don''t worry, we will take care of the disaster relief."
After returning, Fang Jun wrote two reports: one was a formal report sent from Subei to the capital, and the other was directly handed to a ck-clothed man who was secretly apanying him. This unusual report would not go through any official channels and would be delivered directly to Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin cleared an afternoon to apany Shen Yu out of the pce to meet Yan Zheng.
They agreed to meet at the same ce asst time.
The waiter led them to a private room, "Here you are, two guests."
Shen Yu nodded to the waiter and walked into the room with Shang Junlin.
A man in a deep purple robe was standing by the window with his back to them. He turned his head when he heard their footsteps and was surprised to see Shen Yu and Shang Junlin.
"It''s Lin Gongzi and Shen Gongzi. Please take a seat." Yan Zheng quicklyposed himself and greeted them warmly.
"I never expected such a coincidence."
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin sat down, and Yan Zheng poured tea for them. "I felt a sense of familiarity when I first saw you two. I never expected to have such a fate. Please have some tea."
Shen Yu took a sip of tea and asked, "I heard from the Xu shopkeeper that you want to cooperate with us. What kind of cooperation are you thinking of?"
"I won''t beat around the bush since you both came to see me in person. I have somemercial routes, and I wonder if you have any interest in selling these new products from the capital to other ces?" Yan Zheng had some vague guesses about their identities and looked at Shang Junlin subconsciously.
"Don''t look at me. My wife makes all the decisions for our family."
Chapter 105
Chapter 105
June 4, 2023 - currently been edited. If any inconsistencies found, pleasement the sentence or paragraph.
Shen Yu paused with his teacup in hand. He suddenly realized that, as Shang Junlin had said, since he entered the pce, nothing he did had been restricted. Even when he brought up matters concerning the court, Shang Junlin would carry them out.
A strange emotion surged within him, sour and hot. He covered up his momentary strange expression by taking a sip of tea.
"It was myck of foresight," Yan Zheng said, "I will punish myself with a cup of wine to show my apology." A hint of difort shed across Yan Zheng''s face as he poured himself a full jug of wine and downed it in one gulp.
"Lin..." Yan Zheng hesitated, unable to address the young man before him as ''Furen.''Madam
"Yu," Shang Junlin picked up a piece of fish for Shen Yu, "you can call him Yu Gongzi."
"Yu Gongzi."
Yan Zheng was always generous when it came to hosting guests. This time, he ordered famous dishes from Yingxing House, and the cost was not cheap.
Yan Zheng didn''t immediately discuss business, and Shen Yu wasn''t in a rush either. They talked about cooperation only after they had eaten enough.
Shen Yu had intentions of cooperating; otherwise, he wouldn''t havee to meet Yan Zheng in person. He had entrusted the matter to Xu shopkeeper to deal with, but his identity made it impossible for him to personally oversee many things. Having a reliable coborator would be very convenient.
"Where does Yan Gongzi want to sell these items?" Shen Yu wiped his mouth after putting down his chopsticks.
"To be frank, I''d like to sell these items at a high price in another country," Yan Zheng said directly.
"In another country?" Shen Yu raised an eyebrow. "Does Yan Gongzi have amercial route to the neighboring country?"
Due to therge-scale loss of national territory during the previous emperor''s reign, Da Huan had not opened up any officialmercial routes outside the country. Of course, there was no official prohibition against merchants trading in another country. As Da Huan''s rtions with other countries stabilized, specialized merchants emerged who would sell Da Huan''s goods at a high price in other countries and bring back outside goods to sell at a good price. But it was a risky venture.
After all, without official protection, even a slight mistake could lead to bandits taking everything. The loss of goods was one thing, but it could even cost one''s life.
"I have some connections," Yan Zheng smiled, "I prefer earning money from outsiders more than from Da Huan."
Yan Zheng was obviously well-prepared and spoke clearly during the conversation. Shen Yu also shared some of his own ideas, and Shang Junlin joined the discussion. The final n was even more perfect than the original.
Shen Yu''s smile deepened in his eyes. Working with a smart person was great because he didn''t have to exin too much. He could point out a point, and the other party could understand the meaning.
"It is not convenient for me to appear frequently. Specific cooperation matters will be discussed in detail by Xu shopkeeper and you. If there are other issues, just directly find Xu shopkeeper. As for the buying and selling of these items, Xu shopkeeper is responsible for them." Shen Yu didn''t like to leave the pce frequently for this kind of thing. He preferred to delegate the task to his subordinates.
"Okay, I will discuss the details with Xu shopkeeper."
"Besides the items suitable for women, I also have some other goods that are suitable for sale in other countries. If there is an opportunity, I look forward to continued cooperation in the future."
"Yan Zheng hopes to continue working with Yu Gongzi for a long time. By the way, have you heard about the donation decree that the court ns to release recently?"
The formal version had not yet been released, and the Ministry of Revenue was still discussing specific reward measures, but some officials with close ties to the court had already received this news in advance.
For example, Yan Zheng had established a rtionship with the Ministry of Public Works due to road construction.
After receiving this news from friendly officials, Yan Zheng had been preparing for this matter all along. He was not a shortsighted person and knew very well how beneficial this matter was for merchants.
This was a direct recognition from the court. It was more useful than establishing rtionships with local officials. For them, it was just a little money to bribe someone. They could establish a rtionship with the court and gain a good reputation. Why wouldn''t they do it?
"Are you talking about the donation to Subei?" Shen Yu didn''t expect the Ministry of Revenue to act so quickly, and the news had already leaked.
"Yes, I don''t know who came up with the idea, but it''s very beneficial for us businessmen. Me and the bosses I know have all decided to do our best, even a little bit more. The local aristocrats must have heard this news and would also be willing to contribute. Have you heard that there are several families in Jiangbei who have stockpiled arge amount of grain and n to sell it to Subei?" Yan Zheng mentioned it casually.
Shen Yu didn''t know about this, but he remembered that several local aristocratic families suddenly rose up in the previous life at this time, andter provided a lot of convenience to the King of Yue.
"Why do you think Yan Zheng mentioned the local aristocratic families to us?" Shen Yu asked after returning to the Yu Zhang Pce.
"He should have deliberately let us know. If I''m not mistaken, the Ministry of Revenue will also get this news soon."
The Minister of Revenue learned about it from the Minister of Public Works. After thetter did not ask for money from the Ministry of Revenue, their rtionship eased, and it was no longer as hostile as before.
"They are really something. At this time, they still want to make big money." The Minister of Revenue was angry.
If not all the grain was transported to Subei, they were afraid that something like this would happen. If the grain fell into the hands of the aristocrats, these people would only keep raising the price to make money. The people would not be able to afford the grain, and a big problem would arise sooner orter.
"Don''t be angry. We know this in advance, and we can think of a way to make them donate some grain when the timees." The Minister of Public Worksforted.
"I have to figure out a way to squeeze more grain out of them. How could they want to profit from the Subei drought and ignore their conscience?" The Minister of Revenue went back and immediately called in the people from the Ministry of Revenue to discuss this matter.
In fact, they all knew that because of the previous emperor''s reasons, there were many problems within the Da Huan Dynasty. Compared with the capital, there would be even more problems in the local areas, and the power of the aristocrats was growing stronger. The control of the princes over the local areas was too great, and all of these were issues that needed to be resolved.
The next day, Shang Junlin received a document from the Minister of Revenue regarding a local donation n. After reading it, although he knew that the Minister of Revenue wouldn''t miss this opportunity, he didn''t expect him to be so ruthless.
"Is this it?" Shen Yu walked over and took the document from Shang Junlin''s hand. "What does it say?"
"It''s from the Minister of Revenue," Shang Junlin''s eyes revealed a hint of a smile. "It seems like he''s been angered."
The document detailed what he had heard from the Minister of Works, which was that these aristocratic families had a heart for the country and the people and nned to help them fulfill their wishes.
After reading it, Shen Yu chuckled, "If those noble families knew that their intentions had been misconstrued by the Minister of Revenue, their expressions would probably be quite interesting."
These people didn''t care about what would happen to the Subei faction. They just wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to make a profit. Later, Shang Junlin sent someone to investigate and found out that the noble families in the capital were still able to control themselves, but in other ces, many had already begun to purchase grain on arge scale. Unfortunately, their prices were slightly higher than those on the market, so the people happily sold their excess grain to them.
If this problem wasn''t discovered in time, when the national treasury was empty, these noble families would hold enough grain to control the price of grain on the market. At that time, it would be their time to amass wealth.
Shen Yu didn''t know how the Subei matter was resolved in his past life, but based on the subsequent developments, he must have left behind many hidden dangers.
"The princes also hold arge amount of resources. After managing for so many years, some people''s private stores are even more abundant than the national treasury. I''ve been thinking about how to deal with them for some time."
The princes had always been a thorn in the emperor''s heart.
"We can''t be too hasty in dealing with the princes, but we can start by taking some interest. We have enjoyed the convenience of royal children for so long, and it''s time for them to contribute something to the country." Shen Yu''s mouth hooked into a smile.
"Ah Yu''s words are not bad." Misled by Shen Yu''s thinking, Shang Junlin started to imagine what he could get from the prince''s hand to use in Subei.
"Does His Majesty n to gather these supplies and transport them to the capital before sending them to Subei?" Shen Yu walked over and sat down next to Shang Junlin. "If there is an urgency, why not just transport them directly from their current location? However, this would require the appointment of dedicated officials to supervise the matter on-site, with local garrisons escorting the goods until they reach the Subei region, where they would then be escorted by the Subei military."
Shang Junlin pondered for a moment and felt that this was also a feasible approach.
After a discussion with the Ministry of Revenue, the matter of donating to Subei was raised during the morning court session. Although the ministers had heard rumors beforehand, they found it unbelievable when they officially heard about it.
Especially when the Minister of Revenue proposed that the bulk of the donations shoulde from the public.
Undeniably, the Minister''s proposal could solve the current dilemma faced by the court, but...
"I believe this is inappropriate."
"What is inappropriate?" The Minister of Revenue red at him. "Or perhaps Minister Jia cane up with a better solution? I''m all ears."
"Well... doesn''t it seem improper for the court to ask for money from the public? Wouldn''t that be losing face?"
"How is this asking for money? It''s a voluntary donation. As citizens of Da Huan, it''s only natural to contribute when Da Huan is in trouble. Or is it that Minister Jia doesn''t want to contribute?"
"I actually think this is a clever idea," the Prime Minister spoke up. "To show my support, I am willing to donate a thousand taels of silver."
The other two cab ministers also stood up and expressed their willingness to donate money and grain. They had heard rumors from the Ministry of Revenue beforehand and knew that His Majesty was determined to carry out this n. Instead of opposing it and offending the emperor, it was better to agree and contribute.
Leaving aside other considerations, they felt that this was currently the most favorable approach for Da Huan. As members of the cab, their top priority was to ensure the stability of Da Huan.
After discussion among the courtiers, the Minister of Revenue''s proposal was further improved and finally confirmed. It could then be promoted externally.
Those with connections in the capital began to make preparations upon hearing the news.
After leaving the court, Shang Junlin couldn''t find Shen Yu in his room, so he asked a pce maid, "Where is Shen Yu?"
"Your Majesty, he''s in the small theater over there," the maid quickly replied and bowed.
Shang Junlin headed towards the small theater, located north of the Yu Zhang Pce. Shen Yu rarely went there and had recently discussed with Shang Junlin about redecorating it.
As he approached, he could hear the sound of singing and musicing from inside.
"When did Ah Yu start liking to listen to operas?" Shang Junlin walked into the small theater and saw Shen Yu speaking to a person in a pink opera costume.
Before he had a chance to feel jealous, Shen Yu waved at him and said, "Your Majesty,e and take a look. Let''s see how we can improve this scene."
"What are you doing?" Shang Junlin walked over, puzzled.
"We''re writing a y for the people of the capital, so they can understand the meaning behind the orders given by the court before they are executed," Shen Yu exined.
Chapter 106
Chapter 106
07/06/2023 - currently has been edited. If any mistakes are found, pleasement the sentence.
Going to revert Noble Consort -> Noble Monarch since there''s a lot of confusion amongst the readers.
This is what Shen Yu has recently thought of: there has never been any dynasty in the past that has implemented a disaster relief policy like the one the court is about to announce, not even in Da Huan. The officials in the court have gone through a lot of disputes to understand this method, but themon people in Da Huan are not aware of it.
If someone with malicious intentions stirs up trouble at this time, ignorant people will easily fall into the trap.
"Ah Yu intends to use drama to help the people understand?" Shang Junlin picked up the script in Shen Yu''s hand and asked.
"Yes, I originally wanted some minor officials to exin it to the people, but then I thought that verbal exnations alone might not be enough to deeply prate their hearts. I need to find another method, preferably one that can mobilize the people''s discussions and thinking." The people in Da Huan love to listen to dramas, so Shen Yu thought of incorporating this method into a y and then having the drama troupe sing it to the people.
Shang Junlin roughly nced through the script. It was still just a rough story outline, and he was familiar with the handwriting on the script, which belonged to Shen Yu.
"Ah Yu has good intentions." After reading the story, Shang Junlin felt that it was just right. The story revolved around disaster relief, and everything that happened in the y was connected to it.
What''s more, Shen Yu even wrote about the possibility of someone maliciously misinterpreting the court''s intentions, considering it carefully. Even if someone wanted to cause trouble at that time, their first reaction would be to think of the viin in the y.
Shen Yu was also busy enough, and it happened to be meal time, so he gave some instructions to the drama troupe and left with Shang Junlin.
"Just scared me to death," the woman in green clothes patted her chest. "The emperor was here, and I didn''t even dare to breathe."
"I never thought my first audience would be under such circumstances," the slightly older man sighed. Their theater troupe was dedicated to serving the royal family. During the previous emperor''s reign, who enjoyed leisure activities, the troupe often frequented the pce. However, when the new emperor ascended the throne, who was not fond of such activities, the troupe becamepletely idle.
He took over as the troupe leader from his master after the new emperor ascended the throne, hoping to expand the troupe''s reputation and legacy. However, the troupe remained dormant under his leadership.
The troupe leader instructed his subordinates to continue preparing for the new y. This was their only chance to turn things around and make a name for themselves.
"It is our honor that Noble Monarch Shen is giving us this opportunity. Everyone, work hard and ensure that this performance is perfect, not to disappoint Noble Monarch''s expectations!"
"Yes!"
Those who joined this troupe all had aspirations, and being able to serve the royal family meant that they were the best theater troupe in the capital. They never had this opportunity before, but now that they did, they had to perform well and maintain the troupe''s reputation.
Meng Gonggong returned after leaving briefly, and the troupe leader nervously asked, "May I know if there is anything Meng Gonggong needs from us?"
Although Meng Gonggong rarely visited the pce, they all knew that he was the emperor''s closest confidante.
"No need to worry, His Majesty specifically asked me to remind you that after you finish copying the words given by the Noble Monarch, make sure to return the original to His Majesty," Meng Gonggong smiled kindly.
"I understand," the troupe leader was relieved.
"Make sure to do it as soon as possible. His Majesty doesn''t like His Highness''s things to be left in someone else''s hands for too long," Meng Gonggong emphasized.
"Yes, I will," the troupe leader wiped the sweat off his forehead and watched Meng Gonggong leave.
"Sir, why does His Majesty suddenly want to take back the script?" the man in pink approached the troupe leader, looking confused.
"Never mind so much, find someone with good handwriting and copy the ybook first." In just a short while, the troupe leader could already see how much the emperor cared for this Noble Monarch, so it was not surprising that he would want to retrieve the ybook personally written by him.
"I''ll do it, and it will also help deepen my understanding of the character," the man in pink offered bravely.
As one of the main characters with a lot of lines, he indeed needed to be very familiar with the ybook. After some hesitation, the ss leader agreed.
The man in pink happily took the ybook and began copying it.
The others watched enviously as he left, knowing that they were all retrained in the drama troupe and had never entered the pce, let alone seen any noble people there.
"Before we came, our teachers in the troupe warned us to be very careful in the pce, as even the slightest mistake could result in severe consequences. If anything happens, it would not only be our own lives at stake, but we could also cause the troupe to have to apologize for death. I was very nervous beforeing, but when I got here, I found that it was nothing like what our teachers had said," said the young man, who looked around sixteen or seventeen and still had some innocence in his face and clear eyes.
"Me too. When I first entered the pce, I was extremely careful with every step I took, afraid of making any mistakes. I was even more nervous when I had to meet the Noble Monarch. But then I found out that the Noble Monarch was nothing like what our teachers had described. He was approachable and didn''t put on airs, and even exined things to us when we didn''t understand," another young man added.
"I plucked up the courage to ask him a question just now, and he has such a pleasant voice," the first young man chuckled.
"I should not have hesitated just now, or I could have asked him a question too," another onemented.
"Don''t worry, the Noble Monarch will surelye again, and we will have another chance!" someone elseforted.
"The Noble Monarch is beautiful, has a beautiful voice, and is talented. No wonder he has the emperor''s favor," someone else sighed in admiration.
"I envy Nan Qiao so much. He asked him many questions today, and he answered them all for him. Now he can even copy the script. I want to do that too..."
"Who doesn''t want to? But our handwriting is really not as good as Nan Qiao''s."
"When our teacher asked us to practice handwriting well, we shouldn''t have beenzy."
Others nodded in agreement. Today''s experience fully showed that having good handwriting is really important.
Before the new y waspleted, they all needed to stay here. Considering that most of them were young, Shen Yu specially ordered the kitchen to make some delicious food for them.
After Shen Yu entered the pce, the imperial chefs'' cooking skills improved rapidly. They were particrly adept at making delicious food.
With Shen Yu''s orders, the food that the drama troupe ate in the pce was much better than what they could get outside.
"Did our teacher also eat such delicious food when he came to the pce before?"
After finishing therge table of dishes, the young men, who were full, slumped into their chairs, bing more curious about their senior''s experiences in the pce.
The middle-aged man who was called "teacher" remained silent for a moment and said, "No, these dishes were specially ordered by the Noble Monarch."
In the eyes of the nobles, they were just servants and their food was no better than that of the pce people. They never received such treatment before.
Shen Yu''s summoning of the actors into the Yu Zhang Pce was not a secret. Although they didn''t know Shen Yu''s purpose, the ministers who heard the news frowned.
"How can His Majesty be so frivolous? In the midst of the severe drought in the north, you are indulging the Noble Monarch in luxury?"
"His Majesty has favored the eldest son of the Marquis of Zhenbei for quite some time. If you don''t like it, you can impeach him in a memorial."
"Who would dare to impeach this matter now? Don''t you see what happened to the previous few censors who did so? The most severe ones have disappeared from the court."
"Are we just going to let His Majesty behave like this? What does the Prime Minister think?"
"Is His Majesty ignoring the state affairs? Has His Majesty been indulging in pleasure and ignoring government affairs? Has His Majesty done anything harmful to Da Huan during your stay in the pce?"
The Prime Minister''s series of questions left several officials dumbfounded. He continued, "No? Then that''s settled. I said you all are idle. You stare at the affairs of the harem every day, have you finished your government affairs? Have you understood the specific measures regarding donations? Don''t let me have to teach you hand in handter!" The Prime Minister, who was getting increasingly busy, really couldn''t stand these people who weren''t doing their jobs.
The officials blushed and went back to their own business.
In Yu Zhang Pce, after finishing the meal, Shen Yuy on Shang Junlin''sp and read a book. The book was purchased from outside the pce. After knowing Shen Yu''s preferences, a pce servant was responsible for purchasing thetest books for Shen Yu every month. Over the past six months, Shen Yu had read all the books in the pce library that could be read as novels.
"When I went to the little theater before, what was Ah Yu talking about with that pink-dressed woman?" Shen Yu was interrupted in the midst of an interesting part and was confused.
"What pink-dressed woman?" It was only after asking the question that Shang Junlin realized what he was asking about and exined with a smile, "That was a man. His body frame is just a bit smaller and shorter. He is one of the main characters and was asking me about some things in the y."
"Why did he ask you out of so many people? If you couldn''t understand, you could have just switched to someone else." Shang Junlin twirled a strand of Shen Yu''s hair around his finger.
"Your Majesty, why are you so unreasonable?" Shen Yu looked up with interest and said, "His Majesty only saw him alone. Before His Majesty came, many others asked me questions. ording to His Majesty''s thinking, shouldn''t all of these people be reced?"
After thinking about the scene for a moment, Shang Junlin pursed his lips.
Shen Yu poked Shang Junlin''s chin with his hand and asked, "Is His Majesty angry?"
"I''m not. Next time I go there, I''ll apany you," Shang Junlin knew how good Shen Yu was and that it was normal for many people to like him. He just felt a sense of difort when his own treasure was being viewed by others.
"Really not angry?" Shen Yu asked with his head tilted.
"No, I''m not angry enough to make Ah Yu upset about it," Shang Junlin denied.
"Well, then~" Shen Yu deliberately dragged his tone, "I was thinking that if His Majesty was angry, I would give him a kiss. Since His Majesty is not angry..."
"I''m angry," Shang Junlin suddenly interrupted Shen Yu''s words. "Ah Yu, I''m angry."
"Hahaha," Shen Yuughed uncontrobly at Shang Junlin''s leg. "His Majesty just said that he wasn''t angry about it."
"I said I won''t be upset about it, but that doesn''t mean I won''t be angry with other people." Seeing that scene, Shang Junlin''s anger almost became uncontroble. Of course, he wouldn''t me Shen Yu or be angry with him. He only med those who deliberately approached Shen Yu.
If Shen Yu hadn''t noticed his arrival and called out to him, Shang Junlin didn''t know what he would have done.
Only Shen Yu could calm his anger.
Shang Junlin fixed his gaze on Shen Yu, and the affection in his eyes was like undissolvable ink. His pupils were originally jet ck, and when he looked so intently at someone, the reflection of that person was imprinted in his eyes, as if he wanted to suck that person in.
As Shen Yu was being stared at, he slowly stoppedughing. He could feel the emotion in Shang Junlin''s eyes almost drowning him. He propped himself up with one hand and hooked the other around Shang Junlin''s neck, slowly approaching him.
"Then can I kiss His Majesty? Please don''t be angry, okay?"
Chapter 107
Chapter 107
07/06/2023 - currently been edited. if found any mistakes, pleasement the sentence.
Shen Yu''s voice was very low, each word seemed to have hooks that dug into Shang Junlin''s heart.
Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s lower back with one hand, supporting the young man''s body. Shen Yu''s hands climbed onto Shang Junlin''s shoulders since he was sure he wouldn''t fall.
The distance between them got closer and closer, and they looked at each other, their figures reflected in each other''s eyes.
Their lips met.
A tremor rose.
Shen Yu slowly closed his eyes and pecked at the man''s lips.
Shang Junlin''s other hand also held Shen Yu''s waist, his fingers tightly gripping the flexible waist.
He restrained the urge to devour the young man and let him lightly touch his lips.
It was like quenching one''s thirst with poison.
Shen Yu knew that the man wouldn''t be satisfied with just that touch. He slowly pried open the man''s lips and explored inside.
Simr to Shen Yu''s usual style, there was no direct roughness in his actions. Each movement carried extreme temptation and intended to lead the other into the abyss of desire.
As Shen Yu was about to withdraw, Shang Junlin took the initiative, seized the young man''s lips, and invaded fiercely.
The attack was more ferocious than any previous ones.
The white and slender fingers weakly grabbed the man''s shoulder, leaving behind folds on the ck clothes. However, at this moment, no one cared about any marks left on the expensive clothes.
After the kiss, Shen Yuy on the man''s shoulder, breathing slightly: "Your Majesty, are you still angry?"
The ck color in Shang Junlin''s eyes deepened, his voice slightly hoarse: "If I say that I am still angry, will Ah Yu coax me again?"
"What does His Majesty think?" Shen Yu''s voice waszy, with a hint of huskiness.
After his breathing returned to normal, Shen Yu turned over and leaned against Shang Junlin''s chest. The man''s arm wrapped around his waist and rested on Shen Yu''s lower abdomen.
Shen Yu nced at the desk, where Shang Junlin had ced the documents he was reviewing. There was a pile of unfinished documents next to it, waiting to be reviewed.
"Your Majesty, you should finish reviewing the documents first." Shen Yu pointed to the pile.
"Ah Yu, apany me." Shang Junlin rested his head on Shen Yu''s shoulder and reached out to pick up a memorial, unfolding it.
This document was written by the Prime Minister and was about the assessment of officials.
Every year, there was a civil service exam held in Da Huan, and based on the results, officials would be promoted or demoted the following year. In the past, this was handled by the court.
The assessment took ce in winter, and it was about the official''s performance throughout the year. Special officials would gather information from various ces and report it to the court. After the court deliberated, it would report to the Emperor, who would make the final decision.
During this period of time, the prime minister has been extremely busy, especially after discovering that some officials were cking off all day, he couldn''t tolerate it anymore. He bluntly asked the emperor to re-examine the evaluation of these officials in previous years. At the end of the memorandum, he hoped that His Majesty could send some capable people to assist him.
The other two ministers in the cab were also busy, not only with state affairs but also with family matters. Before announcing their donations to the public, they had to decide on the items to donate and the amount of gold and silver to give, so as not to be underestimated by others or make the emperor jealous.
Moreover, with Shang Junlin leaving things to the prime minister to handle, the burden on the prime minister''s shoulders was even heavier than that of the other two cab ministers.
"For the officials, His Majesty might as well send He Chengyu and the others to the prime minister''s side. This way, they can help the prime minister and receive training in advance," Shen Yu thought of He Chengyu and others who were still in the Hanlin Academy and suggested.
"I also have this intention. Compared to the Hanlin Academy, it is currently the most idle. The courtcks manpower, so it is suitable for them to adapt in advance."
The next day, as usual, He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing, and Fang Jiayi, who were on duty at the Hanlin Academy, received an edict from the pce.
The three were stopped at the gate of the Hanlin Academy, and after the edict was read, the pce eunuch urged, "Gentlemen, pack up quickly ande with us to the prime minister''s ce."
Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu exchanged nces and saw bewilderment in each other''s eyes.
Although they didn''t understand, they quickly packed up and were sent to the prime minister''s ce. The prime minister was sitting in his study dealing with official business. When he saw the neers, he spoke in a low voice, "Since His Majesty has sent you here, focus on your work and don''t worry about anything else. Look over there, these are the things you need to handle today. Go ahead."
After speaking, the prime minister lowered his head and continued his work.
Jiang Huaiqing took a nce at the ce pointed by the Prime Minister and saw a pile of documents on a small table that was five and a half feet tall, and he couldn''t believe his eyes.
"Are these all the things they have to deal with today?!"
A few dayster, Jiang Huaiqing rubbed his sore neck and walked out of the Prime Minister''s mansion. "These few days have made me realize how difficult it is to be a good official."
Every day, there were endless documents to handle. Compared to working in the Prime Minister''s mansion, working in the Hanlin Academy was much easier.
"The Prime Minister is really not easy," Fang Jiayi eximed, "I always thought my father was very busy, but I didn''t expect the Prime Minister to be even busier."
"Although it''s a bit tiring, I have learned a lot these days. Apart from being serious about official business, the Prime Minister is very easy to get along with at other times."
The officials of the court also noticed that the top three schrs of the current year were always following the Prime Minister, almost wherever he went, and even apanied him to the morning court.
Some people had someints about this, but since the Emperor didn''t me anyone, they didn''t say anything.
The two reports written by Fang Jun arrived on Shang Junlin''s desk, one earlier than the other, and thetter was sent through official channels seven dayster.
"This one," Shang Junlin said after reading both reports, picking up thetter, "was deliberately leaked by Fang Jun to cover up the truth. It says that everything in Subei is normal, and the disaster situation is not severe. The supplies they brought are just enough."
"So this one is about the doubts in Subei," Shen Yu picked up the other report without opening it, "How is the situation with the Subei army?"
If there were only problems among the officials of the court, it would be rtively easy to resolve the matter. But if there were also problems within the Subei army, it would be troublesome.
"Fang Jun has not found any abnormalities for the time being. When I was in Subei, I separated the Subei army from the Subei officials system, and they operated independently without interfering with each other," Shang Junlin did this because he was notfortable handing over so many Subei soldiers to the Subei officials.
"Your Majesty sent Gu Huai to lead the Hidden Dragon Guard there, not just to protect Official Fang in secret, right?" Shen Yu walked around and sat next to Shang Junlin.
"You know me well, Ah Yu. Their real purpose is with the Subei army. I need to understand the situation with the Subei army."
Subei is an important barrier between Da Huan and Bei Mo. The existence of the Subei Army deters the possibility of Bei Mo''s army marching south. Every time the Beimo army tries to invade Da Huan, they will be stopped outside the gate by the Subei Army.
Late at night, in Subei.
ck-clothed figures like ghosts infiltrated the Subei Army silently.
They all wore ck masks, reflecting a cold metallic luster under the faint moonlight.
"Who are you?"
"Hush" A silver dagger was pressed against the neck, and a cold breath enveloped the man.
"Who are you? Do you know that trespassing in the military camp is a serious crime?"
"If you don''t speak, no one will know that someone came here tonight."
The voice from behind was hoarse, and the man being held captive wanted to turn around, but as soon as he moved, the dagger on his neck prated his flesh. He was too scared to move again.
"Let''s talk, let''s talk."
"I''m asking you, do you know about the imperial government sending people to Subei?"
"Yes, I know. They are here to assist with disaster relief."
"What else do you know? Speak!"
The dagger pierced the skin, bringing waves of pain.
"I really don''t know anything else... Ah, I mean, I mean, they seem to be very concerned about the situation of the Subei Army and the disaster in Subei. A batch of supplies they brought had already been looted before arriving in Subei. That''s all I know, really."
The person behind him asked a few more questions, and thest sentence scared him to break out in a cold sweat.
"I know that you entered the Subei Army through connections. It''s better not to talk about tonight''s events. I believe the person behind you doesn''t want to see the undercover line sent into the Subei Army disappear without doing anything."
The pressure behind him suddenly disappeared, and the man turned his head to look. There was no one else in the tent except himself. If it weren''t for the dagger on his neck reminding him that everything that had just happened was real, he would have suspected that he had a nightmare.
He touched his neck but didn''t feel any blood. He stood up in disbelief and walked to the ce where the water basin was ced, looking down.
His neck was really intact.
Could it be that he had just had a dream?
The man touched his neck, pondering, and he was indeed a high-level official nted in the Subei Army. His identity had nothing to do with the Subei officials on the surface. Otherwise, he would not have been able to enter the Subei Army. Only a very few people knew about this matter.
He wanted to pass on what had just happened to his superiors but suddenly realized that something was not right. He forcefully suppressed this idea. He couldn''t gamble with his own life.
The next day, he asked the soldiers guarding the tent, but all of them said that nothing unusual happenedst night.
"Official Hu, did something happen?"
Official Hu subconsciously touched his neck and said, "It''s okay. Is the General in his tent now? I have some questions about disaster relief that I would like to discuss with him."
"He is. Pleasee this way," the guard replied.
The intelligence on the Subei Army was personally delivered to Shang Junlin by the Hidden Dragon Guard.
"The Prime Minister seems to think highly of He Chengyu and the other two," Shen Yu nced at the documents that Shang Junlin was reading, "He''s praised them several times in these reports."
"I heard that ever since these three began working with the Prime Minister, he has been able to find time to enjoy tea and asionally y chess with Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu," Shang Junlin did notment on the Prime Minister''s contentment with his current lifestyle.
"Huaiqing wrote to me as well, and he said that besides handling arge amount of paperwork every day, the Prime Minister is very considerate of them in other ways."
In just a few days, the three of them had already grown a lot. With their help, the Prime Minister''s progress had also been greatly elerated. When Shen Yu''s y was performed outside the pce, the policy on donations was formally implemented.
"He''s still writing to you?" Shang Junlin grabbed Shen Yu''s waist and pinched the soft flesh on his waist. "When will Ah Yu write to Us? You sent some peach blossom stationeryst time, Ah Yu can use that to write."
"No wonder His Majesty was staring at it for so longst time. Why didn''t you say anything to me then?" Shen Yu turned his head to look at Shang Junlin, his eyes full of banter. "Also, the theater troupe said that His Majesty wanted to take my manuscript. What do you want the original manuscript for?"
Chapter 108
Chapter 108
07/06/2023 - currently been edited. if found any mistakes, pleasement the sentence.
After being exposed, Shang Junlin did not feel angry, but lifted his chin and said, "Noble Monarch''s authentic works should naturally be ced in my hands. What do you think, Ah Yu?"
"That''s what His Majesty said," Shen Yu said with a smile in his voice. "What about the ones I wrote for Jiang Huaiqing? Does His Majesty want those in your hands as well?"
Shang Junlin thought seriously for a moment. In fact, he wanted them, but those were things written for others, not like the ybooks...
Seeing Shang Junlin thinking seriously, Shen Yu couldn''t help butugh. "His Majesty wouldn''t really want to im those letters for yourself, would you?"
"Ah Yu has written so many letters for him and never wrote one for me," Shang Junlin said displeased. He also wanted letters written by Shen Yu himself.
"Doesn''t His Majesty get tired of reading documents and letters when you have so many things to do?" If Shen Yu were the one handling these matters, he wouldn''t want to spend his free time reading these things.
"Can what Ah Yu writespare to the others? I am willing to read as much as possible," Shang Junlin said with a deep gaze.
"In that case..." Shen Yu dragged his voice. "What does Your Majesty want me to write? Love poems? Personal thoughts? Or something else?"
"I can ept anything," Shang Junlin answered with dignity.
He wanted everything.
Shen Yu smiled and nced at him. "I remember, I will write for Your Majesty. Your Majesty can rest assured and wait for it."
Since he had promised, Shen Yu began to think about what to write to Shang Junlin.
With the answer he wanted, Shang Junlin''s efficiency in handling documents had increased significantly.
"Young Master, there''s a message from the Little Theater Garden that the y has been arranged and they want you to take a look." Mu Xi walked in from outside and said.
Shen Yu was writing a letter, and on the desky a pink letter paper, with pink peach blossoms painted on it using a slightly deeper shade. It was the same paper that Boss Ye had sent to the pce, along with a light blue and light green one.
ording to Boss Ye, these letter papers sold particrly well and were very popr among the young masters and misses of noble families. Even though the price was high, they still sold out quickly.
Pink was suitable for expressing continuous affection and was perfect for writing to one''s loved ones. If one was a bit shy, they could use light blue instead.
Shang Junlin specifically asked for pink, so Shen Yu had Mu Xi bring out the pink letter paper from the warehouse, intending to write one first.
Dipping the pen in ink, Shen Yu''s beautiful calligraphy danced across the paper.
After finishing thest stroke, Shen Yu put down the pen. "Tell them that His Majesty and I will go over this evening."
"Yes, I will inform them. Your servant takes leave." Mu Xi left, and Shen Yu looked at the pink letter paper on the desk. He couldn''t help but smile. Who would have thought that the decisive and resolute Emperor would secretly ask for a small letter?
When the ink on the paper had dried, Shen Yu carefully put it away and put it in the envelope that Boss Ye had sent. The seal on the envelope was printed with peach blossoms, which allowed people to know at a nce what kind of content would be inside.
The effectiveness of medical alcohol had been verified, but how to mass-produce it had be a major problem. Using Shen Yue''s method was still too inefficient.
The Imperial Hospital had already obtained the method for making alcohol and had also obtained several sets of ssware from the pce. They had cleared out a few empty rooms and were now dedicated to producing medical alcohol.
In order to avoid confusion with alcoholic beverages, they were considering giving a new name to medical alcohol.
"High concentrations of alcohol cannot be consumed directly, as it can be life-threatening. Those who died from alcohol poisoning in the past, were they not because they drank alcohol with a high concentration, rather than someone poisoning them or eating ipatible foods?"
Over the years, countless physicians have studied this problem caused by alcohol consumption leading to death, but they have not found a solution. They found that these deaths had almost nothing inmon except for alcohol consumption.
"It is possible that the people who delivered alcohol to the pce also repeatedly warned that the alcohol made with this method should not be consumed. If it is to have an effect on wounds, it must be urately measured, otherwise, it will not only fail to reduce wound infection but will also cause secondary damage to the wound."
The head physician of the Imperial Hospital, Wu, emphasized again: "Remember, it must be strictly prepared ording to the ratio!"
"Yes!"
"Gu ChongName of Physician Gu,e out with me."
Head Physician Wu was already old and nned to retire soon. Physician Gu, a younger physician in who he had faith, had exceptional medical skills and was steady in his work. He was Head Physician Wu''s preferred sessor.
He also hinted at his opinion to the emperor. He knew that Physician Gu was not as senior as the other two physicians, but he was the most suitable in other aspects.
"I asked you toe out to tell you that I will retire at the end of this year. I have rmended you take over as the head physician to the emperor. Perform well during this period." Head Physician Wu patted Physician Gu''s shoulder.
"This...there are many physicians with higher seniority than me in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Why did you rmend me?" Physician Gu was a little stunned.
"I believe in your medical skills and your character. I also know that you are young and it is difficult for you to suppress those beneath you. Don''t worry, I will arrange everything for you. With your loyalty to the emperor and your ability to take care of his health, the emperor will not make things difficult for you."
Before making this decision, Head Physician Wu also considered it for a long time but ultimately made this seemingly irrational decision. He could feel that Da Huan was going through some changes internally, and the Imperial Medical Hospital was bound to be involved. At this time, the controller became particrly important.
At other times, it wouldn''t matter if the person in power was mediocre, but in the midst of changes, mediocrity would be an original sin.
The two people who were speaking didn''t notice that someone was quietly following them, listening to their conversation.
Physician Sun hid behind a pir, with a very ugly expression on his face. Last time, he took over Physician Gu''s position to save Prince Huaiyu. He thought that saving the prince''s life would at least bring him some rewards, but soon after, Prince Huaiyu was punished by the court. Not to mention rewards, just not being implicated was considered good.
After that incident, he hid like a quail for a while. Seeing Physician Gu gaining more power, he could no longer sit still.
When Head Physician Wu called Physician Gu out alone, he knew what was going to happen. So he followed them out quietly, but he never thought he would hear such words.
He entered the Imperial Medical Academy earlier than Physician Gu and his medical skills were not inferior to his. Why did Physician Wu have to pass on the position to someone who was not qualified? And why did he go to such lengths to pave the way for him?
Just because Physician Gu did a good job of taking care of the prince''s health?
Physician Sun looked in the direction where Physician Gu was with resentment. He wouldn''t just let it go. Anyone could sit in that position, except for Physician Gu!
In the evening, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin arrived at the small theater together.
They heard that His Majesty the Emperor wasing with the Noble Monarch, and the members of the theater troupe were very nervous. They still remember when His Majesty came for the first time, his cold and stern aura made people dare not look directly at him.
"Focus your efforts. This time, the Noble Monarch will see if there are any areas that need improvement. In a few days, you will be facing the entire capital." The troupe leader carefully inspected everything, striving for no mistakes.
"I think facing the entire capital is not as scary as facing His Majesty," muttered a young man in a low voice.
Other people nodded in agreement.
"Well, of course, they''d rather have a crowded audience under the stage. After all, that''s the familiar scene for them."
"But I''m still happy to perform for you, sir. Since that time, you''ve only met with the troupe leader alone, and I envy him..."
The troupe leader had already walked over to their side, and the others fell silent, while the young man who had just spoken hurriedly lowered his head.
The troupe leader tried to ease the tension and said, "If you have to face the Emperor''s scrutiny at the same time as meeting with the Noble Monarch, would you still be willing?"
So it turned out that they were not only meeting with the Noble Monarch but also with the Emperor! The young men widened their eyes as if to say, "Troupe leader is unfortunate."
The troupe leader twitched his mouth, "Alright, let''s get ready. The Emperor and the Noble Monarch areing soon."
Because Shang Junlin was jealous, Shen Yu had not been to the small theater much afterward. Every time he wanted toe, Shang Junlin woulde up with various excuses to stop him. Once or twice could be considered idental, but after four or five times, Shen Yu understood that Shang Junlin was doing it on purpose.
"If their performance doesn''t meet my requirements, what does His Majesty n to do topensate me?"
"That''s their problem. Why should I be med?"
"Do you really not know, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu poked his arm. "Who came up with all kinds of excuses to stop me froming to the small theater to see the progress?"
"If they can''t achieve the desired effect even though I''ve given such detailed instructions, then Ah Yu, we might as well just change to a different troupe."
"Your Majesty, you can''t say that. This y is different from what they''ve performed before, and it''s normal to have some uncertainties in certain parts."
Later on, to amodate Shang Junlin''s mood, Shen Yu only summoned the troupe leader to the pce to ask questions. Fortunately, the troupe leader was a smart person and knew the purpose of Shen Yu''s arrangement. He not only executed Shen Yu''s ideas perfectly but also made many useful suggestions.
After the improvements, the y would be even better, as Shen Yu was still a novice in this fieldpared to the troupe leader who grew up in the theater.
"Your Majesty and the Noble Monarch have arrived!"
"Your Majesty, greetings. We kneel to pay our respects." The members of the theatrical troupe knelt down to greet him.
"No need for formalities, I came today with the Noble Monarch just to be the first to see this y," said Shang Junlin as he sat down with a stern expression.
"Let Mu Xi and Meng Gonggong sit at the back as well," Shen Yu nced at the pce attendants standing nearby.
They sat in the middle of the front row, with the best view of the stage. There were still many seats avable behind them, so Shen Yu decided to let the members of the troupe who had not yet performed sit there.
At first, the music was cheerful and so was the beginning of the story. Slowly, the melody became mncholic, as the childhood sweethearts were forced to part ways. One went north to join the army, while the other stayed behind to endure the hardships of their hometown. Years passed, natural disasters struck, and starvation was rampant. The woman who stayed in her hometown had made a fortune in business and thought of her lover, who was far away in the disaster-stricken area. She decided to do something.
The relief food and supplies sent by the court were embezzled by corrupt officials. So, they organized people to donate money and food on their own. More and more people joined this team, and the court also sent new officials to punish the corrupt officials. They sent the vital supplies collected by the people to the disaster-stricken area...
In the end, the viins were punished, and the woman and her lover embraced each other tightly, living happily ever after.
Shen Yu stood up and pped his hands: "Not bad, this is very good."
On the stage, the man in a pink dress who yed the role of a woman heard these words and his eyes lit up.
Shen Yu turned to look at the pce maids and other members of the troupe, and each of them had an excited look on their faces. Obviously, their emotions had already been stirred up.
This was precisely what Shen Yu wanted.
The y did not need to be obscure or elegant. The most important thing was to make the audience feel involved, to make them unconsciously think about what they would do in such a situation. In the current drought in Subei, could they do something? Could they exert their meager strength like the woman in the y?
"The power of one person may be small, but when it isbined, it bes an unstoppable force." Shang Junlin understood this truth very well.
"Yes, some people always overlook the fact that many small contributions can add up to a lot. Those who are too proud will eventually fall."
Shen Yu discussed some details with the troupe leader and Shang Junlin, and then they returned to the sleeping quarters.
"Ah Yu, did you notice that the man in the pink dress was always getting closer to you?" Shang Junlin approached Shen Yu from behind.
"No." Shen Yu''s thoughts were all focused on the y, and he didn''t have time to pay attention to such things.
Satisfied with Shen Yu''s answer, Shang Junlin chuckled softly.
Shen Yu''s ears were tingling from hisughter.
"Didn''t His Majesty want me to write a letter for you? I have written it. I replied to Jiang Huaiqing 23 times and wrote twice as much to Your Majesty. This is the first letter. Would you like to read it?" Shen Yu walked to the hiddenpartment and took out the envelope.
Chapter 109
Chapter 109
07/06/2023 - currently been edited. if found any mistakes, pleasement the sentence.
Shang Junlin reached out his hand and said, "I will not disappoint Ah Yu''s sincere feelings."
"It''s fine if Your Majesty thinks so," Shen Yu smiled and ced the letter on the man''s broad palm.
Shang Junlin didn''t open the letter in front of Shen Yu but put it in his arms instead.
"Don''t you want to see what I wrote, Your Majesty?"
"As long as it''s written by Ah Yu for me, I will like it," Shang Junlin replied.
Shen Yu noticed that Shang Junlin didn''t intend to open the letter immediately, so he didn''t push it any further. In fact, he was quite curious about Shang Junlin''s reaction when he read the contents of the letter.
At night, after Shen Yu fell asleep, Shang Junlin looked at the peaceful sleeping face of the man in his arms with tender eyes.
In the soft candlelight, the young man''s delicate facial features were entuated by a faint red blush on his fair skin. Shang Junlin knew how beautiful the young man''s face looked when it was tinted with blush. The young man''s eyshes were long and quietly drooped down, like a butterfly resting its wings.
Shang Junlin had lived in the pce since he was young and had seen countless beautiful people. When he first ascended the throne, there were many people who boldly approached him because of their looks. He felt repulsed by their touch and thought that no matter how beautiful someone was, they were no different from ordinary people in his eyes until he met Shen Yu.
He had a strong desire to touch someone for the first time, a desire to forcefully pull someone into his arms, a desire to do everything he could to keep someone from leaving...
Now, Shen Yu would take the initiative to find afortable sleeping position in his arms, and he had also be ustomed to holding the person in his arms while sleeping.
After confirming that Shen Yu was asleep, Shang Junlin sat up lightly and took out the letter from under the pillow.
He opened the letter with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness, and carefully unfolded the pink paper.
What caught his eye was beautiful small cursive handwriting. Shang Junlin was taken aback. He had seen Shen Yu''s regr script, cursive script, and running script before, but this was the first time he had seen him write in this font.
"What are you secretly looking at, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu''s voice sounded slightly teasing.
Shang Junlin turned his head and saw Shen Yu looking at him with his chin propped up, his eyes yful.
"You haven''t slept, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin felt a bit embarrassed for being caught.
"If I had slept, wouldn''t I miss seeing His Majesty secretly reading the letter I wrote?" Shen Yu propped himself up, his long hair falling down his shoulders like a waterfall.
In the candlelight, the young man''s face looked particrly gentle, except for his eyes, which were like stars shining in the pitch-ck night sky, shining brightly.
Shang Junlin slightly turned sideways and covered Shen Yu''s eyes with one hand.
"I like what you wrote, Ah Yu."
With his eyes covered, Shen Yu couldn''t see the man''s increasingly red face. He blinked, and his eyshes brushed over the man''s palm like feathers.
A tingling sensation spread from his palm to his heart.
"It''s good if His Majesty likes it." Shen Yu felt uneasy when he wrote the letter. He felt like his literary talent had lost its effectiveness, leaving only a few simple and straightforward words.
"Ah Yu''s handwriting is very beautiful, as beautiful as Ah Yu." Shang Junlin sighed softly.
Shen Yu took away the hand covering his eyes and sat up, facing Shang Junlin. "I only use this font when writing to His Majesty."
Showing it only to one person and blooming for one person.
His eyes were full of sincerity, and some emotions were hidden deep inside, faintly revealing their clues to the outside world.
Shang Junlin''s Adam''s apple rolled, and he hugged Shen Yu tightly, "I''m happy, Ah Yu. I will never let you down."
Shen Yu''s hand hanging by his side was lifted and dropped several times. After making a certain decision, he slowly wrapped his arms around the man''s waist. "His Majesty promised me, you can''t go back on your word."
"How could I go back on my word?" Shang Junlin lowered his head and kissed Shen Yu''s hair, a faint fragrance lingering, and his heart was at peace.
Shen Yu leaned on the man''s shoulder and slowly closed his eyes.
If it were Shang Junlin, he would be willing to try again.
Throughout his life, he faced difficulties from a young age and continued to live in deceit even as an adult. Even after his death, he was told that his life was used to fulfill others'' ambitions.
Shen Yu never easily epted his fate, so in his past life, after realizing he was deceived, he destroyed the King of Yue''s dream of ascending the throne. In this life, he won''t let the ending in the book y out as written either.
He could destroy that ending once, he can do it a second time.
The only exception is Shang Junlin.
The despotic emperor in the book who was cruel and ruthless, causing the people to suffer, was not actually as the book portrayed him. Instead, he governed diligently and loved the people, giving Shen Yu a glimpse of reality.
--
On a day off, Physician Sun brought a pot of good wine and visited a colleague.
The colleague was Physician Qian, who held the same rank as him at the Imperial Medical Hospital.
Physician Qian was a slightly chubby middle-aged man with a friendly face. Because of his good looks, he was well-liked by everyone. Originally, when Physician Sun retired, Physician Qian was supposed to take over as the new head of the Hospital.
"What wind blew Physician Sun here? Come in quickly," Physician Qian smiled before even speaking, with impable manners that made it impossible to find fault.
"Recently, I came across a pot of good wine and specially brought it to let you taste it," Physician Sun said, raising the hand holding the wine jug.
Physician Qian''s smile grew even deeper. He loved good wine, but couldn''t drink while on duty at the Academy, so he could only have a small drink during his day off.
The two of them entered the room, and Physician Qian ordered someone to bring out the food and wine. "If you don''t mind, Physician Sun, stay and have a few drinks with me," he said.
Physician Sun hade with a purpose, so he naturally wouldn''t refuse. "Then I won''t be disrespectful," he replied.
Physician Qian had someone set up a table in the courtyard, and the two of them sat across from each other.
After three rounds of wine, Physician Sun was starting to feel a little drunk. Considering the purpose of his visit, he thought carefully before speaking up. "There''s something I''m not sure if I should say or not."
"What is it? If it''s convenient, why don''t you say it? Perhaps I can help you out," Physician Qian said, his face losing its smile.
"In fact, everyone in the Imperial Medical Hospital thinks that you are the most qualified to seed, regardless of your qualifications or other factors. If you were to take up that position, I''m sure no one would object. Unfortunately, someone is taking a shortcut and trying to rece you by using their rtionship with a noblewoman in the pce." Physician Sun took a sip of wine and seemed to be speaking up for Physician Qian.
"The current head of the Imperial Medical Hospital is still Wu. It''s not wise to make assumptions about the future, so please be careful with your words, Physician Sun." Physician Qian put down his wine ss.
Physician Sun nced at Physician Qian''s expression and thought he seemed unhappy, thinking that his words had had an effect. He continued, "Regardless, the person who takes up that position should be someone like you. And don''t think I''m just talking nonsense. I can guarantee that everything I''ve said is true."
"It was Head Physician Wu who said it himself." Physician Sun looked around and lowered his voice.
"What do you suggest I do?" Physician Qian calmly asked.
"At the very least, we can''t let someone who''s not fit for the job take up that position," Physician Sun stated the ultimate goal.
"I understand. Physician Sun, you''re drunk. Someone, take him to rest." A servant came over, helped Sun up and despite his protests, led him to a guest room.
After Physician Sun was out of sight, a young man walked out from around the corner.
It was Physician Gu.
Physician Gu''s mood wasplicated. He knew that Physician Sun had always been at odds with him, but he didn''t expect that he would do such a thing just to get back at him.
If he seeded, the hospital would be in chaos, which would cause a lot of trouble.
"It''s a good thing that our teacher has a keen eye and recognized this person''s evil intentions early on. He warned us to be on guard against him, but I don''t know who else he went to see besides us." Physician Qian looked disgustedly in the direction Physician Sun had left.
"I don''t know where I went wrong with him," Physician Gu smiled bitterly. "Since I came to the hospital, I have been targeted everywhere."
"It''s not your fault. Petty people are always jealous of the talented," Physician Qian patted him on the shoulder. "Don''t worry, our teacher has entrusted us with the matter. We will help you with everything."
There were several students of Physician Wu in the hospital, and Physician Qian was one of them. Physician Wu knew exactly what kind of people his students were, and before talking to Physician Gu alone, he had already talked to these students. Compared with the struggle for power, his students preferred to study medicine and had no objections to their own teacher''s methods.
"Don''t worry about Physician Sun. Our teacher will handle it."
"Thank you." Physician Gu bowed and thanked him. Because he was young, Head Physician Wu had taken care of him when he first came to the hospital. Later, because he was indeed talented in medicine, Physician Wu''s students slowly befriended him, and this time was no exception...
"If you want to thank us, why don''t you bring out your new medical book and discuss it with us?"
"I will definitelye to you for advice after I finish the final touches."
Physician Sun didn''t know that he thought he could provoke conflicts between Physician Gu and other Physicians in the hospital. But the first one to be dealt with was himself.
"By the way, have you seen ''Return of Spring,'' the y that''s been very popr in the capital recently? It''s a good time to take a break. Why don''t we go and see it together?" Physician Qian not only loved wine but also enjoyed watching ys. Everyone who had seen the new y was full of praise, and Physician Qian had been itching to see it for a long time.
Physician Gu couldn''t refuse and went with Physician Qian.
---
Shen Yu wanted to experience the feeling of sitting in the crowd and listening to the opera, so he found a day when Shang Junlin was not busy and went out of the pce with him.
The theater was crowded and full of eyes, so Shen Yu and Shang Junlin disguised themselves to avoid causing a stir.
Shen Yu wore a red robe this time, which was as eye-catching as fire. His facial features were beautiful and bright, and instead of being overshadowed by the red robe, he looked even more stunning, making it hard for people to take their eyes off him.
Shang Junlin looked at Shen Yu in his red robe, and his eyes revealed a mixture of admiration and possessiveness. He didn''t want anyone else to see Shen Yu like this.
Mu Xi was about to tie a hairband for Shen Yu when Shang Junlin walked over and said, "Give it to me."
Mu Xi handed the hairband and ivoryb to Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin gathered the long hair behind Shen Yu with one hand, and the smooth and silky ck hair slipped through his fingers. With the other hand, he gentlybed through it with the ivoryb, brushing it all the way down.
Shen Yu touched the back of his head and asked curiously, "His Majesty knows how to do hair?"
Shang Junlin proved with his actions that he not only knew how to do it but was also very skilled at it. The hair that hebed was no worse than thatbed by Mu Xi.
Shen Yu turned his head and looked at himself in the bronze mirror. He asked, "When did His Majesty learn how to do hair for others?"
Mu Xi giggled on the side, still remembering the awkward way the lofty emperor had learned to do hair not long ago.
"I learned it from your maidservants. How is my skill?" Shang Junlin smiled and asked, holding the ivoryb.
"It''s very good!" Shen Yu''s eyes were full of admiration.
"From now on, I will alsob Ah Yu''s hair. How about that?"
Trantor''s note:
I will be going to change Doctor -> Physician since Doctor seems more modern to me and really does not fit with the story which is historical. I will backtrack and change all words to Physician.
Chapter 110
Chapter 110
07/06/2023 - currently been edited. if found any mistakes, pleasement the sentence.
"Your Majesty, it''s no trouble at all," Shen Yu said, ncing at himself in the mirror.
The bronze mirror was polished to a shine, reflecting the young man''s appearance with rity. With his fair skin, ck hair, and refined features, Shen Yu was the very image of a handsome nobleman.
"Why would it be a trouble tob Ah Yu''s hair?" Shang Junlin walked over, lifting a strand of ck hair off Shen Yu''s shoulder. Half-jokingly, he said, "Ah Yu is so beautiful, I don''t want others toy their eyes on him. What should I do?"
Shen Yu was used to being praised for his looks and had heard it many times before, but the possessive tone in Shang Junlin''s voice made his heart flutter.
"Then His Majesty must keep a close eye on me, lest I am taken away by others," Shen Yu smiled slyly, his eyes narrowed.
"I won''t give anyone the chance. Ah Yu can''t go anywhere except by my side," Shang Junlin''s lips pressed into a thin line at the thought of Shen Yu standing next to someone else.
"Your Majesty, don''t worry. I won''t go anywhere except by your side," Shen Yu reassured him.
Shen Yu sat in front of the bronze mirror, applying makeup to his face. In no time at all, his eyes and brows looked very different from before, his features more defined and striking. Upon closer inspection, one could still see some simrities to his previous appearance.
Shang Junlin also changed his appearance, putting on a dark blue robe.
"You look good in this color, Your Majesty," Shen Yu remarked, used to seeing him in ck clothing. Seeing him in a different color gave him a sense of novelty.
Shang Junlin had a handsome, imposing beauty, with sharp facial features. After the disguise, his sharpness was tempered, no longer making people shy away from looking at him.
The dark blue robe weighed heavily on his frame, giving him a gentle appearance. Despite not having undergone much change to his face, he no longer looked like the emperor he was.
The two of them got into a carriage and left the pce.
Shen Yu is also very familiar with this carriage. After getting on, he found that the seat had been covered with ayer of soft nket. He had asked Shang Junlin to remove it a while ago because he felt too hot.
"When we go on the autumn hunt this year, I will have a tiger skin made for you," said Shang Junlin, sitting next to Shen Yu and rubbing his earlobe.
"Does His Majesty always give me whatever I want?" Shen Yu turned his head at the words.
"As long as Ah Yu asks for it, I will make it happen," said Shang Junlin, looking at him with determination in his eyes.
Shen Yu had no doubt that Shang Junlin would keep his word, but he was still taken aback by the man''s immediate response.
"If His Majesty keeps spoiling me like this, I will be too proud," said Shen Yu, looking seriously at Shang Junlin.
"I give Ah Yu the right to be proud of my favor," said Shang Junlin, stroking Shen Yu''s cheek instead of his earlobe.
"That''s what His Majesty said. Don''t regret itter," said Shen Yu, his eyes and eyebrows slightly curved.
"Once I fall in love with Ah Yu, I will never regret it."
As the weather cooled down, the streets became more crowded, and the carriage drove smoothly along the street.
They arrived at the theater, and Shen Yu and Shang Junlin got off.
People came and went outside the theater, gathering in groups of three or five and chatting as they walked inside.
The Empress loved listening to ys, and her love for them had a contagious effect on others. During her reign, the theatre industry reached its peak, and for generations, the Empress and Emperor of Da Huan had be characters in many ys, which deeply touched the hearts of the people.
Bai Xi LouThe Hundred-y Theater was an old theater that had been passed down for several generations. The best troupe performed exclusively for the royal family, while other troupes performed for themon people. If they caught the eye of a powerful person, they could also perform in that person''s home.
The first floor was the main hall where most people would choose to listen to the y. On the second floor and above were the elegant rooms, partitioned off with screens. Each guest had their own space, making it ideal for nobles or wealthy merchants to bring their families or friends.
"Would you like to sit on the first floor or in an elegant room? This y is about to start in fifteen minutes. You two have arrived just in time. Otherwise, you would have had to wait a while."
"Please follow me to the private room on the second floor."
"Okay, lead the way."
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin followed the staff to the private room on the second floor. The space was notrge, but it was decorated very delicately. There were some snacks on the table in the middle. Since there were only two of them, they wanted a private room for two people.
"Do you need someone to serve you?"
"No, thank you."
Fifteen minutester, "The Return of Spring" officially began. Shen Yu and Shang Junlin sat together and looked down. The plot outline of the y was written by him, so he knew the story well. What he was more interested in was the reactions of the people below.
The position they chose had a good view, and they could see both the stage below and the people listening to the y.
"Ah Yu''s y is well-rehearsed." Shang Junlin whispered.
"If I''m not mistaken, will any officialse to watch?" Shen Yu remembered that many officials in Da Huan liked to listen to ys.
"Yes, look over there, that''s the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Public Works." Shang Junlin pointed in a direction.
Shen Yu looked over and sure enough, the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Public Works were both dressed in regr clothes and sitting in the crowd on the first floor.
"Are they so close to each other in private?" They could even meet up to listen to a y.
"They didn''t have a good rtionship before. It''s not an exaggeration to say that they were at odds with each other. But after Ah Yu proposed a sponsorship idea, they became closer." Shang Junlin exined.
"Is their rtionship not good because the Minister of Public Works has been asking the Minister of Revenue for money?" Shen Yu found it somewhat unbelievable.
"Currently, it seems so."
"What progress has been made in the Ministry of Public Works?" Since the first cement road was built, Shen Yu hasn''t paid much attention to the follow-up.
"The second road is almost finished, and there will be results in a while. The Minister of Public Works said that if this n is feasible, they will gradually rece the roads in the capital with cement roads. They also discovered that cement can be used for construction. They built a small house with cement, which is said to be very sturdy."
Shen Yu only asked casually and stopped caring about it after hearing the answer. The Ministry of Public Works is so big and has so many people, they should be able to handle this.
His gaze swept around the first floor and then to the second floor, where he saw a familiar face.
"The Prime Minister is here, and he has also brought Jiang Huaiqing, He Chengyu, and Fang Jiayi with him."
Fang Jiayi was dressed as a man to avoid drawing attention.
"The Prime Minister has high hopes for the three of them. He even praised them when he received their report yesterday."
How could he not have high hopes? With these three joining, the Prime Minister''s workload could be reduced by more than half every day. The Prime Minister dreams that one day all the officials under Da Huan can be like these three, doing their own work well at the very least.
However, many officials who benefited from their positions can''t do their own work well, and instead, they focus on the power of others, causing trouble and leaving the Prime Minister to clean up after them.
"Sometimes I think the Prime Minister is fighting against the aristocratic families. He can''t stand the way these noble officials behave." Shang Junlin thought of some past events and couldn''t help but suppress augh.
"The Prime Minister''s family background should be quite high, right?"
"Yes, it is. In the beginning, his rtionship with the noble officials wasn''t so bad. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have entered the court so easily. After bing Prime Minister, he had to clean up the mess caused by the noble officials every few days. Over time, the rtionship between the two sides became increasingly tense." Shang Junlin was naturally delighted by this turn of events.
The Prime Minister was listening attentively to the y. He wasn''t nning toe, even on his day off. He had many things to deal with, but Jiang Huaiqing suggested that he should take a break from his busy schedule. After thinking about the countless days and nights he had spent working on public affairs, he felt that he should take a break.
So he brought the three of them to listen to "The Return of Spring."
He often went in and out of the pce, so he knew exactly what the true purpose of this y was. He brought the three people out to test their political sensitivity.
During the intermission, he poured himself a cup of tea and asked, "Do you have any thoughts so far?"
"This y is alluding to the situation in Subei. The embezzlement of disaster relief supplies coincides with the current discussions about donations from the court. Through watching the y, the people now understand the meaning of donations. When the court officially announces this policy, it will not be subject to baseless suspicion."
Not just in the capital, other ces have been performing this ytely, and because the y itself is attractive enough, more and more people are watching it.
The Prime Minister nodded in approval.
Finally, he secretly nned how to quickly train the three of them. If there was one more person to share the burden, it would be a little lighter for him.
During the intermission, the people below were discussing.
"The corrupt officials are outrageous. There are so many soldiers and people waiting for food and life-saving supplies on the border, yet they have embezzled these supplies and money."
"Yes, with my violent temper, I would love to go up there and smash his head."
"Li Niang and her team have started preparing food supplies. I hope they can catch up, otherwise, if the enemy invades, the soldiers on the border won''t even have anything to eat. How can we protect our country?"
"That''s why corrupt officials have no conscience. Even if they have so much money, what use is it if the enemyes in?"
"Speaking of Li Niang, if she can prepare supplies for Subei, can''t we do something for Subei too? It''s been a drought in Subei, and Fang Daren was tasked with disaster relief, but he encountered bandits. We don''t know how things are going over there. Can''t we do something for Subei?"
"If we can deliver the supplies to Subei smoothly, I am willing to donate half of my household''s food!"
"Beyond Subei is the Beimo. The Beimo has been eyeing us warily for a long time. If it weren''t for the Emperor''s defeat of them in the past, they wouldn''t have backed off so easily. It''s only been a few years since our Da Huan has been stable. If something happens in Subei, the Beimo will surely return with a vengeance."
"We can''t let Beimo have a chance to invade the south!"
"Just as Li Niang said, defending our country and protecting our homes is everyone''s responsibility, and if we all contribute a little, we can make a difference! Even though we may have limited abilities, what if we have a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand people? We can still have an impact!"
"You''re right. Does anyone know someone in the government? Can we express our opinions to the court?"
The discussion below became more and more heated, and Shen Yu picked up his teacup and took a sip, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He had already achieved half of his goal.
"Was this why you staged the y in the first ce, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin also heard the discussion and aplex expression shed in his eyes.
"Your Majesty, please watch. I don''t want the court to issue orders. I want the people to fight for their own opportunities."
"I am fortunate to have Ah Yu''s help." Shang Junlin embraced Shen Yu and nted a light kiss on his cheek.
Chapter 111
Chapter 111
07/06/2023 - currently been edited. if found any mistakes, pleasement the sentence.
As the Emperor, Shang Junlin naturally knew the difference between the two situations.
"I originally thought that you staged this y just to make the people more receptive to donations. I didn''t expect there to be a deeper meaning. When you said to dy for a bit, you were waiting for this opportunity," Shang Junlin said.
Shen Yu nodded. "I always felt like those people had a backup n. They took away a batch of supplies, so they definitely wouldn''t just sit and watch us raise enough supplies to send to Subei again."
"I am most worried that the people from the Beimo have infiltrated the officials in Subei. ording to the intelligence from the Hidden Dragon Guard, they haven''t found any traces of people from the Beimo yet," Shang Junlin said.
"If we talk about who is most benefited from the severe disaster in Subei, it is undoubtedly the Beimo. Without the threat of the Subei army, Subei is undoubtedly a treasure trove for the Beimo. Do you think it''s strange that there may be Beimo''s involvement in this matter? But I''m more inclined to believe that this was done by some people from Da Huan. Your Majesty, don''t forget, the King of Yue is still in the dungeon," Shen Yu said.
"Does Ah Yu suspect that someone behind the King of Yue did this?" Shang Junlin asked.
"If the King of Yue wants that position, he needs both food and silver. Has His Majesty sent anyone to the King of Yue''s fiefdom?" Shen Yu asked.
The King of Yue has been held in the capital for so long, and there has been no movement on his fiefdom, which is already abnormal.
"His Majesty can use the excuse of the donation to investigate the King of Yue''s fiefdom thoroughly."
----
After a cup of tea, the second half of the y began, and the discussions below gradually disappeared, and everyone''s attention returned to the y.
In another elegant room, noticing that Physician Gu was visibly absent-minded, Physician Qian poured him a cup of tea and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"Just now it seemed like I saw someone I know," Physician Gu paused for a moment and took the teacup. "I''m not sure if I saw wrong."
"Is it your friend? Why not invite them over for a chat?"
Physician Gu shook his head. "No need, they probably don''t want to be disturbed."
Seeing this, Physician Qian didn''t say anything more.
After the performance, thunderous apuse erupted from the audience.
"This ending is really satisfying. Corrupt officials should be beheaded and disyed to the public!"
"Li Niang finally reunites with her lover after going through so many hardships. True love prevails in the end, and I am satisfied."
"Li Niang''s efforts were not in vain. The evil is punished, the good is rewarded, the disaster is resolved in time, and the enemy who wanted to take advantage of it was also defeated. It''s really satisfying!"
Men and women came to watch the y, with different focuses, but regardless of which side, they were all very satisfied with this ending.
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin walked out of the theater, and they could hear the surrounding people''s discussions all the way.
Besides the story itself, what was talked about the most was Li Niang''s actions in the y.
Li Niang was the embodiment of all the beauty of women in the world. She had both the tenderness and delicacy of a woman and the courage and determination not inferior to that of a man. Her fearless and decisive character had touched countless people.
"Since Li Niang seeded in the y, does it mean that this method is feasible?"
"I''m also considering this issue. You and I are both merchants. We know that Da Huan''s treatment of merchants is much better than that of other dynasties, but due to various inherent concepts, the status of merchants is not high. Li Niang''s situation in the y was so difficult, but she still seeded. And because of their actions, they changed the situation of merchants at that time. If we can contribute to Subei, can''t we also change people''s perception of merchants?"
The concepts passed down from generation to generation of schrs, farmers, artisans, and merchants are not easily changed. Even though Da Huan is not harsh on merchants, due to various inherent concepts, the status of merchants is not high.
"They can have as much money as they want, but if they don''t spend a lot of money to bribe others, those who have ill intentions can easily cause them to suffer a great loss. Even if they spend money to buy peace of mind and security, they are still willing to do so.
However, in most cases, even if money is spent and rtionships are established, the other party can still back out at any time.
The sponsorships and donations proposed by Shen Yu can avoid this situation.
Shen Yu''s y has already been performed in the capital for several days, and other theater troupes in different regions have started to perform this y. For each theater troupe, as long as there are people watching, it doesn''t matter what y they perform.
There are also storytellers who see the business opportunity and tell the story of Li Niang in restaurants and teahouses. Customers love to listen, and they are happy to talk more.
After several days of fermenting, the government received a petition from the public.
Not only one government office, but several ces such as the Grand Court and the Ministry of Revenue also received the petition.
At the early morning court, the Minister of Revenue directly presented the petition, "Your Majesty, I have received some letters from the public."
Several other ministers also stood up and said, "Your Majesty, we have received them too."
"Let me see."
Outside the pce, at the Yingxing House.
Yan Zheng and more than a dozen businessmen of all sizes were sitting in a private room, with a refined man in his thirties as the leader. They had just written a joint letter and submitted it to the court.
On the other side were several ordinary people, all of whom were well-respected in their neighborhoods. They gathered here for the purpose of submitting a joint letter as well.
"Don''t worry, I have some connections with a senior official from the Ministry of Revenue. He said that the Minister of Revenue will inform His Majesty of our request today," the refined man spoke.
"We naturally believe in what Master Jin says," others also spoke up.
Master Jin is quite influential among the businessmen in the capital. He is reliable and trustworthy, and everyone believes in him. This time, they nominated him to take charge of this matter.
Afterforting everyone, Master Jin walked up to Yan Zheng and whispered, "If it weren''t for you telling me about all this, I wouldn''t dare to take on this matter. This cup is for you."
"Jin-xiong, you''re too kind. When I first arrived in the capital, you helped me, and I never got a chance to properly thank you. This time, I only shared some information that I knew, which isn''t much." Yan Zheng replied.
When Shen Yu tried to decline the n, Shang Junlin hid the information again. Unlike government officials, ordinary people and businessmen wouldn''t know about this imperial court news without connections. Yan Zheng knew because the Ministry of Public Works unintentionally leaked some information to him and another reason.
Yan Zheng was waiting for the imperial court to issue an order, and then he would donate a sum of money. He didn''t expect that this matter would be raised by them proactively, but it was better this way since it was more beneficial to both the court and them.
When he first read "The Return of Spring," Yan Zheng had some spections. Later, the streets and alleys were all talking about this matter, which made his thoughts clearer. Later on, when he talked to Xu shopkeeper about cooperation, Xu mentioned it casually, and Yan Zheng knew that this was a perfect opportunity for him to prate the inner circle of the capital''s businessmen.
Each small group of businessmen in every ce was exclusive, and the capital was even more so. He had been there for a while and still couldn''t truly integrate until now.
He knew who Xu shopkeeper belonged to, and the information that Xu revealed must have been told to him through Xu by the person behind him. With an urate answer, Yan Zheng privately contacted Master Jin.
After a detailed discussion, he finally met the core figure in the capital''s business circle for the first time. If this matter goes smoothly, he can slowly establish himself through this.
The waiting time always seemed particrly long. As the sun gradually rose, a servant ran in with a happy expression on his face, "That Lord has replied, and the Emperor has agreed!"
Everyone''s faces showed joy.
"That''s great. After this, our merchant group should face fewer constraints."
After discussing the specific donation matters, the group went back to arrange things. Master Jin walked at the back, with a rxed smile on his face.
He was a born businessman, always sensitive to the court''s wind direction, but this time, if it weren''t for Yan Zheng giving him a confidence boost, he wouldn''t dare to take such a big risk.
Helping Yan Zheng out that day was just something he did casually, but he didn''t expect it to leave him with such great karma.
Shen Yu was tending to the flowers in the Yu Zhang Pce.
Except for one pot sent by Physician Gu, the rest were all sent by Shang Junlin. There were precious varieties and those were sent simply because they were growing well.
Unlike Shang Junlin, who had a lot of free time every day, Shen Yu personally tended to these flowers and nts every few days.
Watering, loosening the soil, pruning, and so on.
Mu Xi stood aside with a clean handkerchief. "Young Master, Xu shopkeeper sent a message saying that they have a preliminary agreement with Yan Gongzi for cooperation. He also revealed the message as you instructed. It is said that the merchants and people of the capital have jointly petitioned the government in these two days."
"There should be a conclusion today. This y has been performed for so long, it''s time to end it."
Li, a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Revenue, only learned today what the court''s n was. Except for a few senior officials such as the Minister of Revenue and the Prime Minister, the news has not been leaked to the outside world. Even what Shen Yu told Yan Zheng was only part of it.
After the morning court session, Li paced anxiously in his study. Eventually, he made up his mind, hastily wrote something with a pen, and put it into his pocket before the ink dried.
As the study door opened, Official Li widened his eyes suddenly.
"You... "
"Where does Official Li want to go?" The visitor sneered. "Or, does Official Li want to pass on information to someone?"
"I...I don''t know what you are talking about."
"No need for you to know. Take him away."
Li was taken away silently.
After the morning court session, Shang Junlin left the Prime Minister and the Minister of Revenue to discuss the specific details of the donation. Meng Gonggong walked in from outside and whispered, "Your Majesty, the hidden line buried in the Ministry of Revenue has been caught."
"Send it to the Grand Court for investigation. I want to see who is behind the plot."
When Shang Junlin returned to Yu Zhang Pce, Shen Yu was still taking care of the flowers.
"The Hidden Dragon Guards caught a spy buried in the Ministry of Revenue. I handed him over to the Grand Court and hope they can get some information out of him." Shang Junlin walked over.
"It''s not normal that everything is so calm now. Every time there is something happening in the court, there are always people spreading rumors against Your Majesty. Have you investigated who did it?" Shen Yu put down the small shovel in his hand.
"I did investigate."
"And?"
"Nothing," Shang Junlin smiled. "If they want to do something again, they will only end up losing more than they gain."
Shen Yu knew what those people would say. They would me all the disasters on Shang Junlin. Perhaps they were waiting for the best time to strike, but they didn''t know that Shen Yu was also waiting for them to make their move.
He not only would not let those people seed but also wanted to return the dirty water they had poured on Shang Junlin before.
"You take care of these flowers so well, Ah Yu." Shang Junlin picked up the small shovel on the stone table and loosened the soil around the flower that had not been dug up.
"As they are flowers given by His Majesty, I naturally have to take good care of them."
Chapter 112
Chapter 112
07/06/2023 - currently been edited. if found any mistakes, pleasement the sentence.
The two of them took care of the flowers and nts together for a while. Shang Junlin was originally not interested in these things, but Shen Yu liked them. After he asionally lent a hand a few times, he gained some understanding of these flowers and nts.
At first, he didn''t know anything. Shang Junlin had never taken care of flowers and nts before, as he was busy surviving in the harem when he was young. When he grew older, he went to the battlefield and had no time for such leisurely activities. When he ascended the throne, he inherited the mess left by the previous emperor, and on top of that, foreign enemies had not beenpletely eliminated. The heavy burden of the entire Da Huan rested on his shoulders, and he spent almost half of his time dealing with political affairs every day.
Later, when everything in Da Huan had settled down, his life became as dull as ever until Shen Yu entered the pce.
Like a pebble thrown into the water, it stirred up ripples, or like a handful of bright moonlight, it illuminated his boring life.
Like now, the two of them were enjoying this leisurely afternoon together, which was something Shang Junlin had never imagined before.
"His Majesty''s technique has improved a lot since the beginning," Shen Yu teased as he looked at the "Jun Ling" that Shang Junlin was taking care of. "Your Majesty seems to be particrly fond of this ''Jun Ling'' nt and always takes care of it separately."
That was because he didn''t want Shen Yu to take care of flowers and nts given by others. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have sent so many flowers and nts to the Yu Zhang Pce to divert Shen Yu''s attention.
"Ah Yu cares about it, so I naturally pay more attention to it," Shang Junlin pursed his lips.
Shen Yu didn''t expose his little trick.
"Your Majesty, do you remember the first time you said you wanted to help me with the pine tree soil and almost broke its roots? I took care of that pot of flowers for many days before nursing it back to health. It''s this one," Shen Yu pointed to a pot of flowers next to him.
"I remember," Shang Junlin smiled as he recalled the incident. "At that time, I even thought that if this pot couldn''t be saved, I would find an opportunity to take it away from you and then find an identical pot to rece it, saying that I saved it."
He still remembered the faint sadness that shed across Shen Yu''s face at that moment. He didn''t want to see that look on Shen Yu''s face, even if it was just a pot of flowers. Since A Yu cared about it, he wanted to find a way to prevent A Yu from being hurt by this matter.
"So, His Majesty had even thought of the worst-case scenario back then," Shen Yu also smiled. "His Majesty is quick to learn, andter, you never hurt these flowers and nts again."
Shang Junlin is a person who can do everything to perfection once he has made up his mind. Shen Yu witnessed him gradually bing proficient in everything from nothing, and he knew that Shang Junlin didn''t like the flowers sent by Physician Gu, but only epted them if he liked them. At most, he would send a lot of flowers and nts to share the "love" of "Jun Ling".
"Thanks to you, Ah Yu, for being such a responsible teacher. If the student still can''t learn well with such a teacher, only ''stupid'' can describe it." Shang Junlin finished loosening the soil and washed his hands in the water basin beside him and wiped them dry.
"The student also needs to be smart, otherwise, even the best teacher is useless." Shen Yu finished thest pot of flowers.
Shang Junlin grabbed Shen Yu''s hand and immersed it in the water, cleaning it one by one for him. "Then, would Ah Yu be willing to teach me some other knowledge? For example, how to please the teacher more and make the teacher morefortable? Willing to spend more time with the students..."
"His Majesty is always thinking about this matter." Seeing that Shang Junlin''s words were bing more and more improper, Shen Yu interrupted him.
His hand was imprisoned by the man and the calloused fingertips slid over the back of his hand, bringing a tingling sensation. Shen Yu couldn''t help but curl his fingers.
The soft palm was opened, and the man''s hand with distinct knuckles forcefully entered and wandered from the palm to the fingertips, passing through the gaps between the fingers, and tightly held them.
"Ah Yu, I want to kiss you." Shang Junlin stared at him with scorching eyes.
"Your Majesty, if you want to kiss, then kis-- mmm..."
The rest of his words were suddenly blocked by the man approaching him.
Biting, licking, and sucking, the man''s movements were forceful and apanied by Shen Yu''s cooperation.
With his eyes closed, the long eyshes cast a shadow under his eyes, gently pping with his breathing like startled butterflies.
When the kiss ended, Shang Junlin rested his forehead against Shen Yu''s, and both of their breaths were unstable.
"How was the student''s performance this time?" Shang Junlin chuckled.
His voice was low and trembling, and each word hit Shen Yu''s heart, making him tremble more than before.
Seeing this, the ink color in Shang Junlin''s eyes became even more intense. He sucked on Shen Yu''s lips and asked, "Is the teacher happy with the student''s behavior like this?"
"Your Majes--- mm..."
Before he finished speaking, Shang Junlin had already kissed him again.
"Ah Yu, I will build a flower house for you."
Hide Shen Yu and his favorite flowers together.
Shen Yu was immersed in a misty state, all senses taken away. He could vaguely hear Shang Junlin speaking, but the voice was muffled by the dense white fog, and he could not hear it clearly.
He could only make meaningless sounds in response.
Shang Junlin held him tighter.
Two dayster, the court issued the first decree to aid Subei.
The people of the capital had been looking forward to this moment for days, and they hurriedly prepared their belongings to see what they could donate.
Of course, Shen Yu knew that the prerequisite for donation was not to affect the normal life of the people and to prevent officials from taking advantage of the situation. After discussing with Shang Junlin, they decided to anonymously disclose information about donations. The origin and destination of each donation would be told to the people. Officials would visit those who donated beyond a certain amount, and with the owner''s permission, the donor''s information would be made public.
Thetter was specially designed for businessmen and some aristocratic families. They could choose to take advantage of this opportunity to gain a good reputation or choose to donate quietly. The rewards given by the court to both were the same.
It could not be denied that this was a huge andplicated project, but fortunately, Shang Junlin had selected a number of capable officials through the imperial examinations over the years. These people were not in high positions now, and most of them were still on external missions, which happened to be suitable for handling this matter.
The decree was sent to various ces at a fast pace, and a special supervisory agency was set up in the court, temporarily headed by the prime minister and the minister of revenue. The officials who entered the agency were mostly officials from the capital, who went in groups of two to three people with the fastest speed to go to various ces in Da Huan to supervise donation-rted matters.
At the same time, the court also arranged for special officials to exin the specific donation process to the people.
Because of the disaster in Su Bei, the whole of Da Huan was operating in full swing.
All officials had a nervous and expectant mood toward this action. They could not find simr precedents in the history books. If they could seed, it would undoubtedly be a major feat in the history books. If they couldn''t...
The first batch of merchants who received the news were the first to act. They had already prepared supplies in advance, mostly essential items such as grain, as well as a lot of gold and silver, and donated them under the witness of officials sent by the court.
Next were the aristocratic families, whose wealth had umted over several generations and was immeasurable.
Ordinary people, who had been educated in advance, would contribute as much as they could.
Shen Yu considered the possible problems and integrated the solutions into the drama script. Those who had read "Returning to Spring" would have at least some understanding of donations, and with officials watching on the sidelines, the possibility of problems arising was greatly reduced.
Local officials also carried out donations in an orderly manner with the coordination of the officials sent by the court.
The Hidden Dragon Guard was dispersed throughout the country, sending back news to the capital.
----
Su Bei.
After resting for a while, Fang Jun and others began to provide disaster relief.
The food and supplies they brought are enough for now. Fang Jun also received permission from the capital that additional supplies will be sent, so he shouldn''t worry. After receiving the news, Fang Jun dared to go all out to assist with disaster relief.
Firstly, they need to help the people. Official Fang ordered people to distribute porridge every day, and those who were able-bodied gathered to do whatever they could. When facing a disaster, it is not just about providing disaster relief, but also the issue of post-disaster reconstruction.
The geographical location of Subei is too important. If the disaster is not ovee, it will be a significant blow to Da Huan.
Fang Jun distributed some of the grain to the Subei Army as military rations. After all, before the arrival of the court officials, the Subei people relied on the Subei Army''s military rations to survive.
Subei is vast, and regardless of the opposition from Subei officials, Official Fang, along with the officials sent by the court, began to travel around the area to provide disaster relief.
After leaving thergest city in Subei, Fang Jun and his team truly saw how severe the disaster was in Subei.
There were starving people on the roadside, no grain was being harvested, and people were resorting to cannibalism...it could be described as hell on earth.
"Why do those people say it''s not a big deal when it''s so severe? Is this not a big deal? Will they only admit that the disaster is severe when all the people have died?"
The younger officials were already furious after seeing this scene.
What is said in books or heard from others cannotpare to the shock of seeing it with one''s own eyes. They lived in the city and were almost deceived by the city''s peace. If it were not for Official Fang''s insistence on taking them out, they might not have realized their mistake until they returned to the capital.
A semi-homeless teenager saw their group and suddenly lit up, crawling over with his hands and feet, "Please, sirs, can you give me some food?"
The soft-hearted official instinctively went to get food but was stopped by Fang Jun: "Stop!"
Fang Jun walked over, looked at the disaster victims who had surrounded them, frowned, and ignoring the doubt of the official earlier, squatted down, "Can you still walk? If you can, follow us. Do you see it over there? Our people are distributing porridge there. If you can persist until you get there, you can get food, not just today, but also in the future, you can eat until you''re full."
Ahead was a small town, which was also the goal of Fang'' Jun''s team. It wasn''t far from this ce, and if it were an ordinary day, they could reach it in less than half an hour.
The teenager looked into the distance, then at Fang Jun who was crouching at his eye level, his eyes filled with both doubt and struggle.
Fang Jun nodded. "I''m not lying to you. Our people have already gone over there. Look, is there smoke rising over there?"
The young man looked again and saw a faint wisp of smoke rising.
"You seem like a good person, so I''ll trust you this once." The young man''s face was covered in dirt, but his eyes were no longer lifeless. They shone with a glimmer of hope that only someone who had experienced despair could understand.
Fang Jun suppressed the bitterness in his heart. "If you follow us, you''ll survive."
The young man nodded vigorously.
Fang Jun stood up and picked up a stick, handing it to the young man. "Take this."
With the stick for support, the young man slowly stood up and watched as Fang Jun and his group walked away. He followed them, taking slow but determined steps.
Chapter 113
Chapter 113
07/06/23 - currently been edited.
"Sir, why didn''t you let me give the food to that child just now?" The official who was just reprimanded couldn''t help but turn around.
"Don''t look back," Fang Jun''s voice remained steady, "You can save him for a moment, but you can''t save him for a lifetime. Besides, didn''t you see those looming disaster victims around us? If we save one, what about the rest?"
"But there aren''t many people..."
"That''s because you only see these people. Do you know why I asked them to bring food and walk at night? It''s because hungry and desperate people are irrational. They even eat people. Do you think that if you offer them food, you can walk out of this ce unscathed?" Fang Jun''s calm voice made the official behind him break out in cold sweat.
Another official walked up and whispered, "I know you have a soft heart, but being soft-hearted at the wrong time will harm everyone."
"I know my mistake." The young official lowered his head in shame.
In fact, before they set off, Fang Jun had instructed them not to help beggars on the road, but he saw the child and thought of his younger brother at home. He couldn''t bear it for a moment and almost made a big mistake.
Fang Jun sighed. He was not heartless, but his purpose on this trip was to pacify the entire north, and he could not afford to make small mistakes.
This trip was difficult, and he knew it even before he set off. However, the emperor sent him, which was trust in him. No matter what, he could not let this trust down.
The small city ahead was their second destination. Compared to the main city, the environment here was even worse, but none of the officialsined. They knew that just staying alive was already the greatest effort that the people here could make.
The official who came to wee them was not well-off, with a thin face and badplexion. When he saw them, his eyes brightened. "You are the disaster relief officials sent by the court. I didn''t expect you toe in person. Pleasee in. We don''t have much in the government office, so please forgive us for any negligence."
The government office in this small city was much smaller than the main city, and the furnishings were also old. Fang Jun looked around and couldn''t find anything valuable.
After a brief conversation, Fang Jun got straight to the point, "What is the situation of the disaster here? I have brought some supplies. I don''t know if they are enough."
The official of the small city clearly knew the situation here and gave a concise description of the disaster.
The more he listened, the more Fang Jun frowned.
Strictly speaking, the disaster here started at the end of April and has continued until now. It hasn''t rained a drop. Later, when they couldn''t hold out any longer, the officials sold everything that could be sold for money and bought a batch of grain from outside to barely sustain them until now.
"Wasn''t the military pay of the troops stationed in Subei used for emergency relief?"
"The bulk of it is in the main city. For small towns like ours or viges, any aid we receive is like a stroke of luck. The grain we received from above is only a little, and with so many people, it won''tst long. Those who can leave have already left, but where can they go? The situation in the whole Subei region is the same."
"Has no one escaped outside Subei?"
"Well..." The small official looked hesitant and then continued, "It''s impossible to escape outside. I have a rtive who tried to leave Subei with his wife and daughters, but they disappeared not long after they left and still haven''t been found."
"No wonder the officials in the court haven''t received any news." Fang Jun pondered. It turned out that from the beginning, someone had deliberately prevented people from escaping from there. As soon as refugees appeared in other ces, they could trace it back to the Subei region.
After learning about the situation, Fang Jun gathered people and set up a porridge distribution point outside the government office.
"Your Honor, there are many refugees outside the city gate." The gatekeeper came to report.
"They should have followed us here." Fang Jun remembered meeting some teenagers on the road just now.
"Should we let them into the city?" The county magistrate looked at the busy crowd. "It doesn''t matter if theye in. There aren''t many people in the city anyway. Maybe some of these people were originally from the city."
"Check them first and make sure there are no problems. If they are okay, bring them in. You guys go help them."
Fang Jun pointed to a few guards following behind him.
With the guards maintaining order, the people who came to receive porridge lined up obediently. The county magistrate''s words were true. There weren''t many people left in the city.
The porridge dispensers worked quickly, and it didn''t take long for the long line to reach the end.
"Is this all the people there are?" Fang Jun frowned, looking at the people squatting on the side. Even though this city was small, there were still fewer people than he expected.
"Your Honor, I have an elderly mother who is bedridden. Could you give her a bowl of porridge?"
"What are you thinking? Your Honor''s act of distributing porridge is already an act of kindness." Someone pulled him aside.
"I heard that the court has sent officials to aid the disaster relief."
The virtuous official personally came to this small county to distribute porridge. Those who coulde have alreadye, but there are some elderly widows without children who cannote and can only leave it to fate.
"You,e here," Fang Jun called out to the official who had almost made a mistake on the way, "Who is more familiar with this ce? Lead him around and send some food to the elderly who are bedridden at home."
"You are truly a virtuous person!" The people drinking porridge next to them couldn''t help but put down their bowls and kowtow.
"Since the court has sent me over, I will save all those who can be saved. By the way, gather all the physicians here, I need some medicinal materials."
After major disasters such as droughts and floods, gues often follow. Beforeing, several imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital gave him some prescriptions to prevent epidemics, and he must take preventive measures.
"Oh yes, have the physicianse along to check the conditions of these people. If they have symptoms such as fever, they need to be treated centrally. Also, tell everyone in the city to clean themselves up."
Fang Jun arranged everything step by step, and the people below followed suit, and quickly took action. Upon learning that the food sent by the court was sufficient and that they would not be abandoned, the people were enthusiastic and followed suit to help.
Originally, they were also going to arrange work for them. Beforeing, Shen Yu specifically told him that if possible, try to let the victims exchangebor for food. Only in this way could the possibility of a riot be reduced.
The victims who came with Fang Jun and his team were also properly resettled.
Afterwards, the young man found Fang Jun and knocked his head heavily: "Sir, you saved my life. I am willing to do anything for you."
"That''s not necessary. You were able toe here thanks to your own efforts," Fang Jun patted the shoulder of the young man who had already been cleaned, "What are your ns for the future?"
"I also want to be an official and be a good official like you!" The young man''s eyes were firm.
Fang Jun''s heart moved: "What about your family? Do you want to find them?"
"I have no family," the light in the young man''s eyes dimmed, "I don''t even know where they are."
"Can you read?" Fang Jun asked.
The young man nodded, "I can do it. I used to help people write letters."
"Would you like to work with me?" Fang Jun asked.
"Can I?" The young man was surprised.
"As long as you want to. But working with me will be tiring," Fang Jun said.
"I''m willing!" The young man nodded heavily.
That night, as usual, Fang Jun wrote about the situation in Subei for the ck-d people who were hiding nearby.
A few dayster, Shang Junlin received the report from Subei.
"The situation in Subei is indeed bad. Fang Jun arrived outside the main city and found that the situation waspletely different from that in the main city," Shang Junlin said, showing the report written by Fang Jun to Shen Yu.
"So all the military funds went to the officials in the main city, and only a small portion was used for the people? How deeply did thete emperor''s people infiltrate Subei?" Shen Yu frowned.
He knew very little about Subei. In his previous life, there had been no major problems in Subei, and his attention had been focused on the south. Even until he died, Subei had not been very noticeable.
"I led the Subei army to resist the Beimo. I was severely injured several times in Subei. At that time, the Subei officials did nothing, which led to the upation of most of Subei''s territory by the Beimo. After I led the army to reim the territory, I severely punished them and separated the military and political power in Subei. Now it seems that my cleansing back then was not thorough enough." Shang Junlin''s face was unhappy.
Shen Yu asked, "Those people actually let Official Fang go elsewhere?"
Shang Junlin said, "Fang Jun can directly contact the Subei army, so they dare not act too recklessly for now."
Shen Yu said, "Based on what we know, those people probably couldn''t control the Subei army. We can tell from the fact that they only dared to deal with people after they left the Subei territory. They are afraid of the Subei army."
As long as the Subei Army is not infiltrated, those people will not be a threat.
Shang Junlin said, "Gu Huai has also made contact with the people from the Subei Army. They will first investigate the problematic individuals within their own ranks, and once the infiltrators within the Subei Army have been identified and their true motives have been understood, they will take action against them."
Shen Yu asked, "Have you found anything in the King of Yue''s territory?"
"We found evidence of his secretly amassing troops and buying horses," replied Shang Junlin, who was even more displeased when the King of Yue was mentioned. He stroked Shen Yu''s hair and said, "Do you know why he approached you in the first ce?"
Shang Junlin suddenly brought this up, and Shen Yu was taken aback. "To get closer to the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate?"
"What is there to gain by getting closer to the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate? Do you know what news I heard from Shang Jun Yue''s fiefdom? Shang Jun Yue has a group of strategists, some of whom are skilled diviners. One of these strategists once said to Shang Jun Yue, ''He who obtains the son of the Zhenbei Marquis will obtain the world.''"
Just thinking about how the King of Yue had coveted Shen Yu from the beginning filled Shang Junlin with an irresistible desire to kill.
Suddenly, Shen Yu''s mind suddenly went nk as if he had remembered something, or maybe he hadn''t. He looked a little lost and asked, "So that''s why he approached me and Shen Qingran at the same time?"
How many secrets were hidden in the past life thaty hidden in the timeline?
"It''s just nonsense, the kind that only someone like the King of Yue would believe. Don''t worry too much about it, I have already asked the Hidden Dragon Guard to find that person. No matter what the reason that person said that I will make him pay the price!" Shang Junlin said.
Just because of an unverifiable statement, Shen Yu had been deceived. This time, Shen Yu was clever enough not to be deceived, but what if he had been deceived by the King of Yue?
Shang Junlin couldn''t even imagine that possibility.
"I won''t think too much about it. It doesn''t matter what the King of Yue thinks. I know you will protect me, right?" Shen Yu leaned on Shang Junlin''s shoulder.
At this moment, he only had greater doubts about what had happened in his past life.
Chapter 114
Chapter 114
Shen Yu never feared fate. He had gone through many difficult situations in his past life, and regardless of whether the mark on his body was deliberately made by someone, he didn''t care. He always believed that he had paved his own path.
"I will protect Ah Yu, no one will harm you," Shang Junlin tightly embraced Shen Yu.
"Do you believe what that person said? Do you believe in fate?" Shen Yu asked softly, leaning into the man''s embrace.
"Fate?" Shang Junlin snorted. "I never believed in those things. When I was young, everyone told me to ept my fate as an abandoned prince in the corner. But I refused to believe in the so-called fate. If you want something, you have to fight for it yourself. Relying on fate is futile, you might as well give up from the beginning."
Shen Yu chuckled bitterly. "Your Majesty is right. I never believed in fate either. When I was young, the maids and servants in the estate told me countless times that I didn''t have the right to be the heir, but that didn''t change the fact that I was the rightful heir. Not only that, I will stand at a height that they cannot reach in the future and look down on them."
And indeed, Shen Yu had achieved that. Whether in his past life or this life, he stood higher than Shen Qingran and his mother. In his past life, despite being favored by the King of Yue, Shen Qingran still had to bow down to him.
Shen Yu neverpromised himself. If he didn''t like Shen Qingran in his past life, he wouldn''t force himself to be friends with him. Whenever the King of Yue tried to repair their rtionship, Shen Yu always showed disinterest.
"Do you think I''m wrong, Your Majesty?"
"How could it be? Whatever Ah Yu does is right," Shang Junlin rubbed his cheek against Shen Yu''s.
"If you catch that person, I want to see him," Shen Yu said. Perhaps the King of Yue hade to him in both his past and present lives because of this person. Shen Yu was curious about the person''s identity.
Shang Junlin hesitated for a moment. Privately, he didn''t want Shen Yu to have any contact with that person.
"What do you want to do when you see him? He''s just a swindler," Shang Junlin said.
"Since he urately named ''the son of the Zhenbei Marquis,'' maybe he has been active in the capital before or even visited the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate. I''m curious about his identity. If he''s a swindler, you can just deal with him. But if he''s not, maybe he can help me clear up some doubts," Shen Yu exined.
"Okay, but when you go see him, you have to bring me along," Shang Junlin said. Mentioning Shen Qingran, the next morning, after Shang Junlin went to court, Shen Yu asked Mu Xi about the situation at the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate. His men had been keeping an eye on it and any activity would be reported directly to Mu Xi.
"Shen Qingran has been quiettely. It seems like he''s not causing any trouble. Madam Ru is also quiet," Mu Xi replied.
Shen Yu was somewhat surprised by this result. ording to reason, Shen Qingran and Aunt Ru were not the kinds of people who would obediently ept their fate. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have caused so much trouble in the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate before.
Shen Yu was right in his thinking. How could Shen Qingran ept his current fate? He believed himself to have traveled from the modern era and saw no reason why he couldn''t beat some ancient people. How could he stand idly by and watch Shen Yu live a better life?
In the midst of a hot summer, he insisted on seeing the Zhenbei Marquis, iming to have something very important to give him. However, the Zhenbei Marquis didn''t even bother to see him. So he had to resort to his trump card, iming that he could turn water into ice during the summer.
Before he could even report this to the Zhenbei Marquis, the messenger boyughed and said, "I say, Second Young Master, you''d better give it up. The court has been selling ice at low prices for a long time now, and there are already methods for making ice. Don''t tell me you just found some excuse to try and cheat Official Hou again?"
"How is that possible?" Shen Qingran didn''t believe it. He clearly remembered that Da Huan didn''t have a method for making ice. He kept this method in reserve to seek greater opportunities for himself in the future and didn''t tell anyone about it. He grabbed the messenger boy''s shoulder with a ferocious expression and said, "Are you lying to me? Did you get some benefit from Shen Yu and deliberately keep me from seeing my father?"
"Second Young Master," the messenger boy broke free from his grasp with a cold face, "Calling you ''Second Young Master,'' and you still think you''re the same as before. Why would I lie to you about this? Just ask around and you''ll know if I''m lying. If it weren''t for the court selling ice at low prices, do you think you could afford ice in your current situation?"
Shen Qingran''s expression was nk for a moment. He had never considered this issue. Ever since he traveled here, he had enjoyed the same treatment as Shen Yu, thanks to Madam Ru''s favor. During this time, he had been thinking about how to change his current situation and climb above Shen Yu, with no attention paid to the changes around him.
"Not just you, even the servants can afford ice now. Spend a little money and you can get a good night''s sleep. Who wouldn''t like that?" It was really hot in the summer in the capital. When they were poor before, they served their masters during the day and could still enjoy a bit of coolness, but they couldn''t do anything at night because of the heat.
"As for the matter of the eldest young master giving orders, he is now living in the pce. How could he possibly give orders to the people in the estate from behind the thick pce walls? Moreover, His Majesty is about to go to the summer pce to escape the heat. As the only person in His Majesty''s harem, the eldest young master naturally has to be busy preparing for the trip. How could he have the time to deal with your affairs?"
The messenger boy''s words made Shen Qingran''s face turn pale and green, especially the meaning behind his words that Shen Yu was doing well now, which made him feel even more ufortable.
The servant was treated badly here and didn''t want Shen Qingran to have an easy time. When he went to report back to the Zhenbei Marquis, he only mentioned that Shen Qingran had a bad attitude and didn''t mention anything about the ice-making process.
Shen Qingran remembered when he was a child, the Zhenbei Marquis had taken him to the summer pce. He was sure that the Zhenbei Marquis would go this time as well, and this was his only chance. He wanted to personally tell the emperor that he was the one who should be in the pce, and it was Shen Yu who took his ce. He wanted to take this opportunity to set things right!
Unexpectedly, he waited and waited, but the Zhenbei Marquis didn''t take him to the pce, but instead took another maid from the estate.
Shen Qingran was so angry that he smashed his favorite ornament.
Mu Xi finished telling the story andughed while covering her mouth. "After the Marquis went back, he scolded Shen Qingran again. Since then, Shen Qingran has been quiet in the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate."
"The Zhenbei Marquis is probablypletely disappointed in his son," Shen Yu yed with the empty teacup on the table.
"That''s right. Young master, you don''t know. When the Zhenbei Marquis returned from the summer pce, Shen Qingran made a big scene and even went to question the Zhenbei Marquis for not taking him. He asked if the Zhenbei Marquis didn''t value him as his son. If it weren''t for the gentle and considerate maid calming the Zhenbei Marquis down, Shen Qingran would have been infuriated," Mu Xi said with a gleeful expression. When they were in the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate, how arrogant were Shen Qingran and the maid towards her young master? They took advantage of the Zhenbei Marquis''s favoritism and caused a lot of trouble for him. Now it''s finally retribution.
Shen Yu just remembered to ask about it and after learning about the situation, he no longer paid attention to this matter. He looked at the ce where the flowers and nts were ced and raised his eyebrows. "Did His Majesty send someone to bring flowers again?"
Among the flowers and nts, there was an extra one with arge yellow flower bud, and Shen Yu walked over to take a closer look but couldn''t tell what kind it was.
"When was this sent?" Shen Yu asked as he looked at the flower.
"It seems to have been sent a couple of days ago?" Mu Xi''s eyes shed with a moment of confusion. "Why do I have so little impression of it? I''ll have someonee and ask."
Mu Xi called the attendant in charge of taking care of the flowers.
The attendant saw the flower and thought for a moment before answering, "This flower was sent by Prince An. Prince An heard that Your Highness likes flowers and nts, so he specially searched for a rare one to send over."
Prince An?
What is the purpose of Prince An sending flowers for no reason?
"Take the flowers down. From now on, only put the flowers sent by the emperor here. Find a separate ce to put flowers sent by others," Shen Yu ordered in a calm voice.
"Yes," the attendant hurriedly stepped forward to remove the flowers.
Shen Yu turned around and didn''t see any unfamiliar flowers or nts.
"It''s because I didn''t do my job well and didn''t investigate this matter carefully," Mu Xi apologized with a lowered head.
"Just be more careful in the future. Tell your subordinates to be careful and not to ept flowers and nts of unknown origin. There are too many people who tamper with flowers and nts," Shen Yu warned.
"Yes."
"Also, send someone to find out what kind of flower that is and check its origin," Shen Yu added.
"Yes."
"Master, there''s one more thing. Many people in the pce have asked me if they can also donate some money. Although it''s not much, it''s a heartfelt gesture," Mu Xi asked on the way back.
"Hmm?"
"Didn''t you let many people in the pce watch ''The Return of Spring'' before? They have asked me several times and hope to contribute as well."
After "The Return of Spring" was staged, in order to test its effect, Shen Yu had them perform it several times in the pce. Since there were no imperial consorts in the pce, Shen Yu allowed the pce servants toe and listen. The reactions of these people could also reflect the reactions of themon people.
It''s fine to ept their kind gesture but remind them not topare themselves to others. Just do their best. I''ll leave this matter to you and Xiao Meng Gonggong," Shen Yu instructed.
Shen Yue in the Tai Fei Pce also heard about this and was amazed at Shen Yu''s ability. The donations outside the pce were managed by the court, and although Shen Yu couldn''tpletely ignore the donations inside the pce, with Mu Xi and Xiao Meng Gonggong in charge, he didn''t have to worry too much.
When Shang Junlin returned to the pce, he heard about this from Xiao Meng Gonggong.
"If you ask me, Your Majesty, your method is really wonderful. Almost everyone is now paying attention to Su Bei. Those small-minded people won''t be able to aplish anything," Xiao Meng Gonggong said.
"Hmm," Shang Junlin was proud, "Ah Yu always manages to relieve our worries."
When they arrived at the Yu Zhang Pce, Shen Yu was looking at ount books submitted by Mu Xi regarding the pce people''s donations.
"What is Ah Yu looking at?" Shang Junlin waved his hand to signal the pce attendant to leave and walked up to Shen Yu.
"I''m looking at the ounts of the pce maids'' donations. It''s more than I imagined," Shen Yu handed one of the ount books to Shang Junlin.
"The court has alsopiled a list, and it''s much more than expected. To save time on the road, I had them transported directly from their original location to Subei. It''s a good opportunity to give the stationed troops something to do," Shang Junlin said.
"What was the reaction of the prince''s side?" Shen Yu asked.
"Perhaps they were frightened by what happened in the capital during the New Year. After the court officials arrived, they worked diligently on the donations, and they are also concerned about it. Did you receive anything from the prince as a gift?" Shang Junlin remembered that Ah Yu had taken a lot of money from the prince before he left the capital.
Chapter 115
Chapter 115
07/06/23 - currently been edited.
"The people who stayed in the capital did send me some things, but I had my people exchange them for grain and medicinal herbs to donate," said Shen Yu. He then remembered an important matter and added, "His Majesty must ensure that they prepare in advance to prevent any epidemic."
After a major disaster, there will inevitably be a major epidemic. The former is a natural disaster that cannot be resisted, but thetter can be mitigated by human effort.
"I have already ordered it. This time, I will send experienced physicians from the imperial hospital, and I have also recruited physicians with research in this field from the public. They will go to Subei with the next batch of relief supplies," said Shang Junlin. Through this incident, he realized that utilizing civilian power could aplish many things.
Previously, they had thought too narrowly and overlooked the vast resources that could be drawn from the civilian poption. If it were not for Shen Yu''s reminder, this relief effort might not have been so sessful.
"Your Majesty, is there any new development regarding ''Fei Meng''? If an epidemic urs after this drought, could it be rted to ''Fei Meng''?" Shen Yu asked.
Shang Junlin shook his head. "The Hidden Dragon Guard is investigating, but there are few clues and every time it is about to be critical, the trail goes cold. I am afraid that we might startle the snake, so I have not ordered any major action."
"Who are the physicians going to Subei? Can they be trusted?" Shen Yu inquired.
"It is Head Physician Wu and his student. They will also be apanied by several physicians with less experience. Physician Gu who takes care of your health, wanted to go, but I did not allow it," Shang Junlin replied. To him, Subei was important, but Shen Yu''s health was another matter. He would not easily let Physician Gu leave.
"These people are all fine, but do you have any thoughts, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin did not think that Shen Yu would bring up this matter for no reason.
"There are some things regarding ''Fei Meng'' that I want to discuss," Shen Yu said.
Finally, after consulting with Shang Junlin, they decided to disclose some important information to Physician Wu. Physician Wu was highly skilled and had researched various epidemics. If the situation really involved ''Fei Meng,'' physician Wu would be able to identify it in time.
At the Imperial Hospital, Head Physician Wu called his student and Physician Gu over.
"I have already spoken to His Majesty. You don''t need to worry too much. There are many physicians going to Subei, so there won''t be any problems," Physician Wu reassured his disciples.
He knew that his students were worried about him, but there were some things that, if everyone gave up because of the possible risks, would only lead to more severe consequences.
Moreover, he had dealt with various epidemics before, and they were not as terrible as the rumors suggested. They only had a higher infection rate. Once the cause was identified, and the medicine was used properly, the disease could be cured.
As a physician, he had to treat all diseases equally. If he gave up because of fear, he might as well not be a physician at all.
"We know we can''t persuade you, Teacher, nor do we intend to. We just hope that you will take care of yourself and remind Third Brother to eat on time and rest regrly. Don''t overwork yourself," his students said to him.
They actually don''t oppose the idea of the teacher going, but they just can''t help worrying. After all, the teacher is getting older, and going to the harsh environment of Subei could be risky. What if something happens...
Don''t worry, fellow senior brothers, I can handle it," the third disciple stood up and saluted the group.
I originally wanted to bring Xiao Gu with me. This is a good opportunity for him to gain experience, but unfortunately, His Majesty doesn''t allow it." Physician Wu knew that Physician Gu''s medical qualifications were stillcking if he wanted to seed him. If Gu could go to Subei with him, he could umte some achievements.
Physician Gu also wanted to go. On the one hand, he came from a family with a long tradition of medicine, and on the other hand, he wanted to help heal people. He had expressed his desire to His Majesty separately, but thetter clearly hoped that he would stay in the capital and take care of the Noble Monarch''s health.
Physician Wu gave some instructions to his disciples. He was determined to go to Subei, and he knew that he was not young anymore. However, with his medical skills, he had to make some contributions.
"Don''t worry, there hasn''t been an epidemic in Subei yet. We''ll be doing more prevention work than treatment. It''s not that dangerous. Instead of worrying here, why don''t you use what you''ve learned to prepare some medicine for me to bring along?" Physician Wu didn''t want his disciples to be stuck in worry, so he made a suggestion.
Based on his experience, Head Physician Wu listed some essential items and went to the Yu Zhang Pce to make his final report.
At the time, Shang Junlin was with Shen Yu, so Physician Wu went directly to the Yu Zhang Pce.
This was the first time that Physician Wu had seen Shen Yu up close. He had initially thought that Shen Yu was a sickly beauty, but upon meeting him, he realized that he was not.
If it weren''t for knowing that Shen Yu had a congenital deficiency, Wu would have thought that he was just a normal person based on his current appearance.
He had a goodplexion, bright eyes, and showed no signs of illness. Sitting next to His Majesty, he wasn''t overshadowed in the slightest. The atmosphere between the two was so harmonious that it could not amodate anyone else.
No wonder His Majesty refused to let Gu Chong go to Subei.
At this moment, Physician Wu understood that in His Majesty''s heart, the Noble Monarch''s status was no lower than anything else, and even vaguely higher than anything else. There could be many physicians going to Subei, and having one more or one less Gu Chong didn''t matter. However, the only one who could make His Majesty feel at ease in taking care of the Noble Monarch''s health was Gu Chong.
Gu Chong was indeed the most talented physician he had ever seen. If it weren''t for his previous background, Physician Wu would not have made an exception to let Gu Chong enter the Imperial Medical Hospital, nor would he have thought of passing on his position to him now.
ording to the records in the Imperial Medical Hospital, the consort''s physical condition was not good. Even if he were to intervene, it was estimated that the effect would not be as good as it was now.
Please sit down, Head Physician Wu. Don''t be so formal," Shen Yu asked the pce attendant to bring a chair for Physician Wu.
He and Shang Junlin were originally ying chess in the courtyard. Since Wu came over to see them directly in the courtyard, it was not a formal asion, and there was no need to be too formal.
After Physician Wu sat down, he discussed the preparations and handover matters of the Imperial Medical Hospital.
"I will temporarily leave the Imperial Medical Hospital to Gu Chong to take care of. Your Majesty, please rest assured that everything has been arranged. After I leave, the Imperial Medical Hospital will operate as usual without any problems."
"I understand. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you need anything. This trip to the north is for me to handle affairs, and I will not mistreat you." Shang Junlin said.
"Your Majesty, even if you did not order it, I would still want to go there in person. I obtained this position because of my contributions to epidemic control. There have been no new epidemics in your reign these years, and I have had no opportunity to use my skills. Please rest assured, with me there, there will be no problems in the north!"
No one dared to make such a guarantee except for Physician Wu.
"With you there, I feel relieved. During the journey, please take care of your own health as well." Shang Junlin trusted Physician Wu''s medical skills.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." As a courtier, the most desirable thing was to receive the emperor''s recognition. Physician Wu felt that everything was worth it after receiving Shang Junlin''s words today.
"There are also some other things. The medical alcohol that was given to you before can not only reduce wound infections but also be used for disinfection. If there is really an epidemic, I hope Physician Wu can carefully observe whether there are any differences or simritiespared to what you have seen before. I have listed some things here. If the situation matches, I hope you can inform Official Fang as soon as possible."
Shen Yu waved his hand. "Mu Xi, bring the things over."
Mu Xi presented a sealed letter to Physician Wu.
"Just read the things inside, Physician Wu." Shang Junlin said.
"I will follow your orders."
"Why did Ah Yu write those things to Physician Wu?" Shang Junlin asked after Physician Wu left. "When Ah Yu asked about ''Fei Meng'' earlier, was he suspecting that an epidemic in the north would be rted to ''Fei Meng''?"
It had to be said that Shang Junlin was a very perceptive person. He could easily grasp the most critical information from a person''s actions, integrate it, and reach a conclusion that was very close to the truth.
"It''s possible," Shen Yu didn''t hide much from Shang Junlin now, "but it''s only my personal guess. We''ll have to see Physician Wu''s verification to know for sure."
In the letter, Shen Yu wrote about the phenomenon of the artificial epidemic and the symptoms of some of the patients. He also wrote about some of the ways to deal with it based on his memories from his past life. However, since the artificial epidemic he knew about did not happen in the present, he was not sure if the other party would take action.
"Don''t worry, Ah Yu. We''ve made such thorough preparations this time. Nothing will happen," Shang Junlinforted Shen Yu by holding his hand.
After the first batch of disaster relief materials was sorted out, they were transported to Subei from all over the country.
Shang Junlin gave a strict order that every donation of money and materials should be made public, and how they were used would bemunicated back to the people every step of the way when the materials arrived in Subei.
Previously, Shen Yu had proposed to Shang Junlin to use the separatemunication channels built in various ces for the first time. Thetest information about disaster relief would be sent to various ces through this channel at the fastest speed.
Unlike the court bulletins, this newspaper was for all the people of Da Huan, and considering that some people couldn''t read, special readers were also arranged.
At first, the court did not agree to this, and some officials felt that it was inappropriate to tell the people everything. However, Shang Junlin didn''t bother to listen to them and just gave orders. With a decree from the emperor, few dared to disobey.
The prime minister, however, had a hard time. He now had to be responsible for one more thing.
"After this, I n to send He Chengyu and the others to Subei," Shang Junlin said as he reviewed documents at night.
External assignments have always been the fastest way to increase one''s qualifications. If they could make some achievements, they could also be called back to the capital early and enter the power center of Da Huan.
Every official who passed the imperial examination had to go through this. ording to the normal process, He Chengyu and the others would need to serve in the Hanlin Academy for two to three years before being sent on an external assignment, and then step by step be called back to the capital. However, Shang Junlin was now sending them to Subei when they had served in the Hanlin Academy for less than half a year, which was actually against the ancestral system.
But to Shang Junlin, the ancestral system was there to be broken.
"Why does His Majesty suddenly want them to go to Subei?"
"I don''t n to keep any of these officials in Subei once the disaster is over," Shang Junlin said. He didn''t want to hide such a big event, and they shouldn''t stay in that position either.
"Come here, Ah Yu, let me hug you."
As soon as Shen Yu approached, the man pulled him into his arms.
Shang Junlin buried his head in Shen Yu''s neck and took a deep breath. "Let me hug you, Ah Yu. These things aren''t so troubling anymore."
Chapter 116
Chapter 116
10/06/23 - edited
"I am not a panacea, how could I have such an effect?" Shen Yu found afortable position in Shang Junlin''s arms as if it was second nature.
"To me, Ah Yu, you''re more effective than any panacea," Shang Junlin buried his head in Shen Yu''s neck, his voice slightly muffled.
"Then let me hug Your Majesty more often," Shen Yu reached back to pat the man''s head, "so that His Majesty can handle state affairs with even more vigor."
Shang Junlin tightened his embrace.
"Are all the officials in Subei dispatched by His Majestyter on?" Shen Yu nced at the documents spread out on the table.
They were sent back by Fang Jun from Subei, apanied by reports from other officials.
Fang Jun and the officials from the capital he brought with him were stunned by the devastation they saw every time they arrived in a new ce. They thought the situation was already bad enough in the first small city they passed, but the farther they went north, the more they realized that it was just the tip of the iceberg. The more they saw, the more shocking it became.
Every time they arrived in a new ce, they would gather the people after distributing porridge, and do what they could to help. When the people regained their strength, they would exchange theirbor for more food, and help those who had difficulty moving around.
Fang Jun''s report described in detail the situation in each ce they passed, and even the written description was enough to make people feel overwhelming despair.
"Some of them were promoted locally," Shang Junlin yed with Shen Yu''s fingers, "when Subei was lost, I almostpletely reced the upper-level officials there. There weren''t many people that the court could use, so only a few were sent there, and most of them were promoted locally."
If Shang Junlin hadn''t arrived in time with his troops to repel the Beimo Army when Subei was lost, it''s hard to say what would have happened to Da Huan today.
The local officials were to me for losing their territory, and Shang Junlin didn''t want to hear their excuses. He directly had them executed to appease the spirits of the soldiers who died because of their negligence and to avenge the innocent civilians who died unjustly. On the day of the execution, the whole city watched, apuding and cheering.
In the midst of the bloody atmosphere, Shang Junlin had all the officials in Subei watch the execution with their own eyes. Some officials had been living in luxury for many years and had never seen such a scene before. They turned pale and dare not look at it for long.
But each of them was apanied by two brawny soldiers, who would stop them if they tried to avoid it.
Through this opportunity, Shang Junlin also warned those who were newly promoted by him that if they couldn''t defend the north, they would be punished like these people.
Shang Junlin also used this opportunity topletely separate the military and political powers of Subei. No one dared to object under brutal means, and since then, Subei has been stable for a long time.
Shang Junlin and Shen Yu talked about their past experiences: "I thought they would learn their lesson, and they did. They didn''t dare to do anything openly and only resorted to secret actions. They also tried their best to prevent the news from reaching the capital."
Shen Yu said, "Human greed is insatiable. Once they get something, they want more. Over time, their greed grows and they can never be satisfied. It has been seven or eight years since those incidents happened. Time can erase many things and also change many things. The officials whom Your Majesty promoted back then may have been trustworthy, but after so many years, no one can guarantee that they haven''t changed at all."
Shang Junlin said, "I understand that human hearts are fickle."
Shen Yu suggested, "Once we have found out the truth, we should handle it ordingly. Those who have contributed should be rewarded ordingly. After so many years, Your Majesty is no longer the same as before. You don''t have to be constrained by others anymore. To prevent such incidents from happening again, you can specify the length of their terms and send officials to Subei. Once they havepleted their service, Your Majesty can return to the capital."
There were three types of officials in Subei: the Subei Army, those transferred from the capital, and local officials. Originally, they should have bnced each other out, but ording to the intelligence from the Imperial Guards, thetter two had merged. They had also infiltrated people into the Subei Army, and there was even another faction among the three.
"If we specify the length of their terms, officials sent from the capital will have less chance of standing with local officials than those in the Subei Army. They should be more interested in returning to the center of power in the capital. Therefore, they will spontaneously help the court to keep an eye on Subei to make their records look better," Shen Yu exined.
Shang Junlin thought about it and found that it was indeed a good idea.
The mobility of officials from Da Huan was not great. Unless they had outstanding abilities or connections in the court, most of them would stay in one ce after being sent there. Except for ces like Subei, this approach had many advantages. The more familiar and knowledgeable officials were with a certain ce, the more they could manage it skillfully.
However, the most important thing now was the disaster in Subei. They could not let their guard down until the drought had been alleviated.
---
Fang Jun and the Imperial Guards were working in both light and darkness to investigate the situation in Subei.
Fang Jun led the officials northward. The more they went north, the worse the situation was. The officials who came from the capital were getting more and more silent.
They had never seen such a scene like a purgatory before. In the past, they had at most learned about major disasters through various documents, but how could wordspare to the shock of seeing it with their own eyes?
The more they saw, the stronger their opinions were toward the ipetence of the officials in charge of the disaster relief in Subei. Especially after hearing more than once from the local poption that if the relief workers hade earlier, maybe not so many people would have died, the anger in their hearts reached its peak.
"So many people could have been saved if only the soldiers in Subei had shared some of their military pay with them..." choked the young official speaking.
No one said a word. Anyone who witnessed this scene would be speechless.
In a dpidated and impoverished house, the emaciated mother had no good flesh on her body. Her child was curled up in her arms, with a piece of blood and meat still in his mouth. It was clear that the mother had bitten it off her own body. She stared at her child until her death...
"If only we hade earlier, we might have been able to save this mother and child," one of the officials said after a long silence.
The strong smell of blood filled the room, but no one found it unpleasant. They only felt a stabbing pain in their hearts.
Along the way, they had seen various scenes of carnage. They thought they would be numb after seeing so much, but at this moment, they realized that no matter how many times they saw it, they could not be numb to what was in front of them.
"Can we really save Subei, Official Fang?" A young official couldn''t help but ask, his face full of confusion.
"Of course, we can," Fang Jun replied firmly, "we have already saved many people along the way, and the court has also raised enough supplies. Hold on for a few more days, and they will be here soon."
Fang Jun looked at the faces of the people one by one. He knew that what they had seen and heard these days had a great impact on these officials who were not yet very old, and he also knew why they were confused because he had been in their shoes before.
"Everyone, pull yourselves together. The emperor has sent word that there are also peopleing from all over to help, and the disaster funds are donated by many people in Da Huan. No one will abandon Subei!"
Subei''s main city.
In the magnificent hall, young women dressed in thin dancing clothes swayed to the music, and men dressed in luxurious clothes raised their cups to celebrate.
"That Fang Jun, are we just going to let him go on like this?"
"Don''t ruin the n of the lord, he wants to see the true situation of the disaster in Subei, so let him see it. If he voluntarily joins the refugees and gets identally hurt, it has nothing to do with us. Xun, what do you say?"
Xun Chao calmly surveyed his surroundings and drank the wine in his cup. "Naturally, we have advised him before, but he insisted on doing things his own way. If something really happens, how can we be med?"
"That''s right. Let''s continue drinking."
After pretending to agree with them, Xun Chao returned to his own residence. Although he was not the highest-ranking official in Subei, his position was not low. Upon returning home, his steward greeted him.
"Have you been drinking, my lord?"
"Yes, Lord Kang invited me and it was difficult to decline. Many colleagues were present and the topic of refugees came up. Since ancient times, refugees have always been a difficult problem to solve."
The steward''s eyes flickered with hidden light. "My lord, please freshen up first. I''ll bring you a bowl of hangover soup."
Xun Chao* rubbed his forehead, feeling a little dizzy. He had deliberately spoken those words to his steward in the courtyard just now, in order to pass on the information to the Hidden Dragon guards in the Xun residence. The steward was also a disguised member of the guards, but there were other spies in the residence who were responsible for leaking information to the outside world.
In the capital city, supplies gathered from various ces were being transported one by one to Subei. The capital city was the first to receive the news and the first to take action. ces further away would departter.
In addition to physicians, young men, and women were also recruited from various ces to join the relief efforts.
As the hot summer approached its end, rain fell in the capital city, cooling down the temperature.
"Has it rained in Subei yet?" Shen Yu looked out of the window at the raindrops falling.
"No," Shang Junlin frowned. "Although Subei has little rainfall, it is rare for it not to rain for several months like this year."
The issue of Subei''s drought for several months had already caused discussions among the people. Severe droughts often apany locust gues. Subei had suffered from a locust gue in May and June. Otherwise, there would not have been a total crop failure.
"If it doesn''t rain for a long time, there may be rumors."
Shen Yu spoke with insight. A few dayster, rumors began to emerge from various ces:
"It is said that there is a severe drought in Subei, and it is a warning from the heavens to the emperor not to act unrighteously or to break the ancestral system at will..."
It was evident that each rumor was directed at Shang Junlin''s recent actions.
Xun Chao* - Fang Jun is originally written here but I think it''s the author''s typo so I corrected it.
Chapter 117
Chapter 117
10/06/23 - edited
These rumors were almost pointing their fingers at Shang Junlin''s nose, saying that ''if it weren''t for your stirring up trouble, Subei wouldn''t have suffered from such a severe drought. All of this was caused by you.''
The rumors were discovered early and were not yet widespread. Ironically, it was thanks to themon people from various regions that they were detected so quickly.
"Ah Yu mentioned setting up a suggestion box in various government offices before. The people can anonymously write down their thoughts and ideas and drop them into the box. These past few days, many officials have received letters about this matter in their suggestion boxes. Not only from the capital but also from various other ces," Shang Junlin said without anger on his face when talking about this matter.
For an emperor, this sort of thing was normal. No matter what natural disasters or man-made disasters ur, there will always be those who like to ce me on those in power. Not to mention the previous emperors, all of them have faced simr situations.
"These people think that by cing the me on His Majesty, they can achieve their goals," Shen Yu said as he poured tea for the two of them, pushing one of the cups towards Shang Junlin. "Regardless of their goals, they are doomed to fail."
Although Shen Yu had anticipated this sort of thing happening, he was still angry when it actually urred. Shang Junlin had done his best for Da Huan, and after learning about the situation in Subei, he had made every effort to resolve the issue. However, in the end, all of this had be evidence used to attack him.
"Don''t worry about it," Shang Junlin reached out and touched Shen Yu''s cheek. "It''s not a big deal. With Ah Yu''s preventive measures, they can''t stir up any storms. As soon as there were rumors, someone informed us right away, didn''t they?"
"Although that may be true, I still don''t want to hear them say bad things about His Majesty," Shen Yu said. Since he had guessed what those people were nning, he would not sit idly by. Whether it was through the suggestion box, the newspapers avable to the public, or the special channels behind the scenes in the capital that spread news, he had made these preparations to deal with this situation.
Themon people were the most easily swayed. Those people who wanted to incite their anger towards Shang Junlin would start by spreading rumors in themunity, distorting the facts, and exaggerating certain parts to incite the people''s anger, and then they would further smear Shang Junlin''s reputation.
This sort of thing had happened more than once or twice. Shen Yu listed several examples, summarized their methods, and then resolved them one by one.
In fact, it was straightforward. The reason why the other party was able to seed repeatedly was due to theck of information among the people. They did not understand the court, and even less about Shang Junlin. All impressions were based on hearsay. Shen Yu would simply and directly tell them what the court had done, what Your Majesty had done, and why these things were necessary.
Compared to hearing from people they don''t know, themon people obviously believe more in the information given by the court, after all, the precedent of suppressing the North is here, and they learned about the situation in the North from the court every day.
By eliminating the information gap that could be caused by the middleman passing on messages, the court directly disseminates information, which is more objective and direct. In addition, Shen Yu wrote some conspiracies in "Returning to Spring", which people will unconsciously remember after reading it. When they encounter simr situations, they can''t help but think: Is this also a conspiracy like in the y?
In short, for various reasons, the situation did not develop as the behind-the-scenes maniptors had hoped but was reported to the court by the people who heard about it.
In a teahouse.
"It rained again in the capitalst night. I don''t know how the situation is in the north."
"The news that came back the other day was that it hadn''t rained over there yet, but the supplies we raised are almost there. Hopefully, they can be put to use soon."
"Don''t you think it''s strange? It''s raining everywhere, why isn''t it raining in the north?" Suddenly, a stranger in a gray coat spoke up.
The person who was speaking suddenly became quiet. After a while, someoneughed and poured himself a cup of tea, "What''s so strange about that? Rain in the capitalst night doesn''t mean it rained everywhere in Da Huan."
"Yeah, it''s normal for the weather to be different in every ce. Sometimes half of the capital is rainy while the other half is sunny. Not to mentionst night, not all ces had rain, right?"
"Yeah, my hometown didn''t have any rain. I only learned about it from you today."
The gray-coated man lost the argument and wanted to say something else, but unfortunately, the people around had already moved on to other topics. They looked at him as if he was an uncultured man, and he was almost knocked off his feet.
"By the way, have you heard that the court is nning to open a school in the capital? They will not only enroll male students but also female students. It is said that they will teach many things, not limited to the imperial examinations, and you can also directly enter the Ministry of Public Works and other departments by passing the school''s examination."
"Huh, my son can''t even study well, and I had no hope for him before. If he can learn something else and work for the court, it''s better than being stuck in the fields for a lifetime like me."
"Where did you hear this from? Is it reliable?"
"It''s from the People''s Dailynewspaper. But they only mentioned a little bit. The court is probably too busy with the situation in the north and can''t spare the energy to work on this for now."
"Can women be enrolled as well? Can I send my daughter to the school?"
"No, don''t you think it''s againstmon sense for women to be officials?" The man in gray couldn''t help but interrupt after listening to them talk for a long time, even starting to enthusiastically consider sending his own daughter to the academy.
"I don''t understand why you''re so strange, why do you think women can''t be officials? In the y, Li Niang ended up bing an official. She did much better than those corrupt officials who were men."
"But as you said, that''s just in the y..."
"So what? I just like to imagine my daughter bing a high-ranking official. If you don''t like it, you don''t have to listen."
"I have seen his daughter before, she''s smart and cute, just like Li Niang. She will definitely be a good official in the future."
They were just chatting and having fun together. The middle-aged man was honest and kind-hearted, with only one daughter at home who was smart and likable. Everyone was happy to indulge him.
In fact, they were just joking around and no one took their words too seriously. Unfortunately, the man in gray didn''t know that and thought they had truly epted the idea of women bing officials. He choked back his unspoken words.
He had wanted to say that it was against the natural order for women to be officials and that the drought in the north might be due to this reason. But now, he didn''t dare to say anything.
"By the way, about the donation you mentioned earlier, shouldn''t disaster relief be the responsibility of the court? Why do you have to contribute?"
"As citizens of Da Huan, we should do what we can. We can''t always rely on the court for everything. Besides, the court is also doing its part."
The gray-coat man once again swallowed the words he wanted to say. He really didn''t understand these people. Why did they always side with the court? Suddenly, he felt like they had be smarter. It wasn''t this difficult to manipte them before.
The atmosphere in the teahouse was still lively. The storyteller was telling a story adapted from news of the situation in the north. During this time, everyone was paying attention to what was happening in the North, and everyone loved hearing these kinds of stories.
After observing for a while longer and determining that there was no opportunity to take action, the man in gray left the teahouse in disappointment.
After he left, two men sitting nearby nced at each other and followed him.
In the alley, the gray-coat man walked quickly, his head lowered. He had to report the news from this side as soon as possible. They seemed to have been deceived, and their original n was impossible to carry out.
Suddenly, the gray-coat man in gray stopped.
Two men wearing simr clothes blocked his way, one on the left and the other on the right. "Excuse me, may we know the name of the gentleman in gray? Would you pleasee with us?"
"Who are you?" The gray-coat man eyed them warily.
"You''ll know our identity once youe with us."
The gray-coat man realized that something was amiss and turned to run.
But the two men wouldn''t let him go after they had been keeping an eye on him for days. They caught up to him quickly as the man in gray was not skilled in fighting, unlike the two men. They soon blocked his path again and, without saying a word, tied him up.
"Another little mouse caught."
The gray-coat man was frightened when he saw how well-trained the two men were. They had done this sort of thing before, and he understood why so many people had been sent out by the court, but to no avail. The court was already prepared!
Unfortunately, he realized it toote and had no chance to inform his employer.
Even now, he clung to a glimmer of hope and said, "Did you two gentlemen mistake me for someone else? I don''t know you, really. Why did you arrest me?"
"We don''t need to know you, we just need to know what you''ve done."
The gray-coat man''s heart sank, and he tried to say something else, but the impatient man next to him put his hand over his mouth.
He pped his hands and said, "Why bother talking to him? Someone will question him when we get there. There, it''s done."
The two men took the gray-coat man straight to the Court.
"Another one caught?"
"Yes, quite a fewtely. I wonder if the master has gotten any useful information."
Along the way, the gray-coat man listened to the conversation between the two men and their colleague, his face filled with despair. Their n was probably going to be aplete joke.
He did not know that things were far from over.
In the Yuzhang Pce.
Shen Yu sat by the window and poured himself a cup of tea. "Mu Xi, how''s the situation outside the pce?"
"As the young master predicted, those people are lurking in ces like taverns and tea houses, waiting for crowds to incite themon people. However, after our arranged people caught on to them a few times, the others figured it out and won''t be fooled. Instead, they were caught by the Court. Many people have been caught."
"I was just saying, how could themon people suddenly have such a unified voice, it turns out that Ah Yu has been guiding them." Shang Junlin walked in from outside, with Meng Gonggong holding the memorial behind him.
"The reason why it can have such an effect is not only because His Majesty is devoted to the people, but also because the people''s lives have been getting better and better since His Majesty ascended the throne. They are clear about it."
If there were no real achievements in the past, how could people bepletely swayed by just a few words?
"In Ah Yu''s heart, am I really that good?" Shang Junlin walked over.
Shen Yu was wearing a light blue wide-sleeved long robe today, with snow-white wrists extending from therge sleeves, ying with the tea set, exuding a romantic and free spirit.
Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s wrist and stroked it gently. The young man''s skin was as smooth and delicate as fine white jade, making it hard to put him down.
"In my heart, His Majesty is naturally the best," Shen Yu picked up the tea that had been brewed with the other hand and fed it to Shang Junlin''s lips. "This cup is to reward His Majesty."
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Chapter 118
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Shang Junlin lowered his head and took a sip of the tea from Shen Yu''s hand. He savored it for a moment before saying, "This tea seems different from thest time?"
"I learned a new technique from a book. How does itpare tost time?" The imperial pce had a rich collection of books, and Shang Junlin didn''t guard against him. At first, Shen Yu was reserved and careful not to cross the line, only reading non-sensitive materials. Later, as their rtionship grew closer, he became less constrained and interested in reading more.
"Ah Yu''s tea, regardless of the technique used, is equally delicious to me." Before Shen Yu entered the pce, Shang Junlin only knew a little about tea, but after Shen Yu asionally brewed tea and told him about the tea ceremony, he grew to appreciate it.
Rather than saying he loved drinking tea, it was more urate to say he loved the feeling of drinking tea with Shen Yu.
Drinking the entire cup of tea from Shen Yu''s hand, Shang Junlin took the empty cup from Shen Yu''s hand and ced it on a small table beside them. "How many people have they caught now? Have they found out anything?" Shen Yu''s hand was still held by Shang Junlin''s as they sat down on a soft couch.
"ording to Ah Yu''s method, I instructed them to pay more attention to ces where crowds gather. Whenever they find something unusual, they will check and confirm it before arresting them."
Not only in the capital, but the local officials in other areas had also received orders. The orders were sent through a separate special channel with the help of People''s Daily. The arrests were also carried out secretly, and the masterminds behind the scenes were still unaware. All the people they sent out to spread rumors were caught and put in jail.
"The news from the interrogations has alsoe back. Most of those caught were only following orders from above and cannot provide much useful information. However, based on the clues we obtained from them, we have learned the whereabouts of several of these people''s hiding ces. I have ordered the Hidden Dragon Guards to investigate and find out more."
They did not act immediately upon learning about the situation, fearing that it would startle the snakes. These people had been lurking in Da Huan''s territory for many years, and they were finally discovered with great difficulty. Naturally, they wanted to take down all of them at once.
As for these matters, Shen Yu only provided suggestions and did not really intervene. Not because he was worried about Shang Junlin''s suspicion, but simply because he didn''t want to.
"Your Majesty, do you still remember the flowers that Prince An sent? I always feel that there is something strange about them, but no one has been able to find out what it is." There were many things that the Princes sent, mostly gold, silver, and jewels. Only Prince An inexplicably sent over a strange flower.
Shang Junlin was also aware of the existence of this flower because Shen Yu had mentioned it to him before. "Has anyone from the Imperial Medical Hospitale to see it?"
Worried that this flower might have some negative impact on Shen Yu, the flower was ced separately and no one was specifically tasked to take care of it. However, after some time passed, the flower not only did not wither due tock of care but instead bloomed even more beautifully.
"Having seen it, Physician Gu said that this kind of flower is somewhat simr to the one that appeared in ancient books, but upon closer examination, there are some differences. Other physicians have alsoe to see it, as well as the pce officials responsible for taking care of flowers and nts. Apart from confirming that it is not poisonous, no one can tell what kind of flower it is."
Shen Yu felt very strange: "Your Majesty, why did Prince An send such a flower for no reason?"
"If Ah Yu doesn''t like it, it can be thrown away," Shang Junlin lightly stroked the hair hanging down on his back, "Whatever kind of flower Ah Yu wants, I will find it and send it over."
"Let''s leave it there for now. This flower always gives me a strange feeling. Prince An should not be so foolish as to give himself away at the pce."
"Let''s listen to Ah Yu. Just don''t go near the flower, and have someone take care of it. I''ll find someone who knows flowers and nts to look at it again, and once it''s confirmed that there''s no problem, Ah Yu can take a closer look."
That was Shen Yu''s n too. He nodded in the man''s arms.
Shang Junlin mentioned another thing: "The first batch of supplies transported from the capital to Subei is probably arriving today."
"Finally. Looking at Official Fang''s report, those officials he took with him are almost at their limit." Shen Yu was someone who had personally witnessed the aftermath of a natural disaster in his past life, and knew what kind of human purgatory it was. No matter how good someone''s endurance was, staying for a few more days would be unbearable.
"Fang Jun wants to bring those people back," Shang Junlin yed with the hair in his hand, "Especially the two younger ones who are not in good condition. When he mentioned it to them, they didn''t want toe back."
Of those two people, one was the one who had wanted to give food to the boy. The experience of just a few days had almost changed his perception of the past several years.
Knowing that besides the supplies, the court had also sent a considerable number of people, Fang Jun gathered the officials who had followed him for a while and asked, "Does anyone want to go back?"
"Howe you suddenly ask this question, My Lord? There are still so many ces in Subei we haven''t been to, how could we possibly go back?" one person replied without hesitation.
"Yeah, we have to finish what we started. Since we''re here, we naturally have to do things well before we leave."
Actually, in the beginning, some officials were very ufortable. They were aristocrats who had never experienced such hardships since childhood. They grew up with luxury and never knew how difficult life was for themon people. They didn''t deny that they had thoughts of retreating, but those thoughts were gradually worn away by their experiences.
Instead, they developed an indescribable sense of determination in their hearts, which swept away their confusion about being officials in the past and strengthened their beliefs.
Weren''t they originally hoping to be good officials who benefited the people? If they hadn''t gone on this trip, if they hadn''t seen these hell-like scenes and stirring images, they might have spent their whole lives in confusion.
But now, they know what kind of burden they bear. Officials should not be looking at power, but rather the responsibility it represents.
"The court''s aid will arrive soon. If anyone wants to rest, they can go back to the capital with them," said Fang Jun, looking at the officials whose spirits had undergone a significant change.
There was silence below.
Did they want to go back?
Of course, they did.
Compared to the capital, the environment here was too harsh and terrible. If Fang Jun had asked this question a few days ago, some people might have wavered.
But now, after experiencing so much, they had to ask themselves, were they willing to go back just like that?
They hadn''t seen the old man next door''s leg getting better, they hadn''t seen the woman next door giving birth to her baby, they hadn''t seen...there were too many results they hadn''t seen yet. Could they really leave without seeing them?
"I''m not leaving. I won''t leave until the disaster in Subei is under control," said the first person to speak up.
As the first person spoke up, the second and third followed suit. Without exception, their answers were that they were unwilling to leave.
Fang Jun had expected this. He had seen their changes with his own eyes. Some of these aristocratic sons who were clueless in the capital had undergone enormous changes at a visible pace.
Fang Jun was happy for them, but he also felt a little heartache. These changes meant that they had experienced great pain in their hearts. They used toin about doing even small tasks when they first arrived, but now they could do even the hardest and most tiring work withoutint. Their hands also bore the calluses left by doing heavybor.
Fang Jun scanned the faces of these people one by one. Their expressions were all resolute, with a look of determination in their eyes that showed they were not afraid to advance. He slowly withdrew his gaze and spoke softly, "No need to answer in a hurry. You have a whole night to consider. I have already informed His Majesty of your merits. After returning to the capital, your early departure will not affect your achievements."
The next day, everyone''s answer remained the same.
They were all willing to stay here until they saw Su Bei prosper.
Fang Jun did not say anything else, he simply wrote down the objective ount of this event and had it sent back to the capital by the Hidden Dragon Guards.
Shen Yu found the report sent from Su Bei among a pile of memorials. As usual, Fang Jun had written two copies, one to be sent back to the capital by the Hidden Dragon Guards, and the other through official channels.
Thetter would often be slower by a few days.
Shen Yu opened the report and read through it once, "It seems that Official Fang has a good opinion of these officials who followed him."
Among the officials who went to the disaster relief, half were from humble backgrounds and half were from prestigious families. In the beginning, there was some friction between the two sides, but now they could put aside their prejudices and cooperate harmoniously.
Compared to when they left the capital, both sides had changed quite a bit.
The officials who went to Su Bei with Fang Jun were mainly young officials. Unless there were any idents, these people would be the backbone of the court in the future. Having gone through such an experience, it was beneficial for both themselves and the court.
The news from the court was that the officials sent by the court would directly contact them. Fang Jun stayed in the small town to rest and wait for their arrival.
Their supplies were also running low. They had to leave some behind every time they went to a new ce. Most of the supplies they brought were left in the main city. If they did not receive any more supplies, they could only return to the main city first.
The court sent a military escort for the supplies, and the officials in the main city also received the news.
"My Lord, if we don''t act now, it will be toote when the court''s people arrive," said the person in the dimly lit study, hiding in the shadows, with a hoarse voice.
"You go and make the arrangements. Do it cleanly and don''t let anyone find out," replied the other person.
"Rest assured, sir. I am skilled in this matter and will not make any mistakes."
The door of the study was opened and then closed. The wind blew and the candlelight flickered as if nothing had happened.
After traveling for several days, Fang Jun and his team finally got a moment''s rest and took some officials around to see the area.
This small city was located further north than the one they first visited, and the disaster situation was more severe, but they had been distributing porridge for a few days and the relief work had progressed smoothly, improving the situationpared to when they first arrived.
Along the way, some disaster victims put down what they were doing and greeted them.
The officials smiled in response and asionally stopped to chat with people on the side of the road.
"I suddenly feel that life isn''t so bad," one of the officials behind Fang Jun sighed.
"Yeah, when I was in the capital, I thought I was so powerful and impressive. It wasn''t until I came here that I realized how shallow my previous self was."
The few people whispered to each other.
The atmosphere was rxed and lively, and the rift between officials from humble backgrounds and those from distinguished families hadpletely disappeared here. Fang Jun listened to their discussion and a smile appeared in his eyes.
Suddenly, the crowd ahead surged towards them.
The young man next to Fang Jun grabbed him and shielded him behind his body: "Be careful, My Lord!"
Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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As soon as the young man''s voice fell, the refugees ahead suddenly rose up and rushed towards them with a clear target in mind.
"Protect the official!"
The officials were stunned, wondering what had happened.
The guards surrounded them, but they were outnumbered and the attackers, despite looking like refugees, were skilled and focused on their target, the official named Fang.
The young man stood protectively in front of Fang Jun, like a wolf cub, watching for anyone who might approach.
The uprising happened in an instant, and those around them had no time to react.
Fang Jun remained calm in the face of the violent intent, realizing that these people were sent by some officials in the capital to eliminate him because they thought his arrival would disrupt their ns.
"Protect them, don''t worry about me," he calmly said and tried to separate from the group.
Although the officials apanying Fang Jun were frightened, they had been through a lot recently and were more cautious than before, crowding around him and refusing to leave.
Having spent time with Fang Jun, they knew exactly how much he had done and that any one of them could be injured or even killed, but Fang Jun was irreceable.
They couldn''t bear to watch Fang Jun being harmed right in front of them!
The "refugees" ignored the officials in front of them, and although they had some training, they couldn''t match the strength and focus of those who hade with a clear purpose and were quickly pushed aside.
Soon, someone broke through the crowd and headed straight for Fang Jun, brandishing something sharp.
It was intercepted by a scarred hand belonging to the young man who had been with Fang all along.
The young man had impressive physical strength, and for a moment, those people couldn''t get the better of him. However, they realized they were running out of time, and one of them lunged towards the young man.
"Watch out!"
The young man sidestepped just in time but was grazed by the de, leaving a bloody gash on his waist.
Fang Jun frowned. Over the years, he had also learned some martial arts and could barely handle the people in front of him. But he didn''t want to dy, afraid that these people might hurt other officials or civilians around them.
This road was always busy with people going back and forth. After Fang Jun arrived, he found them some work to do, so they could earn enough to eat and help their hometown. They hadn''t reacted at first, but now that they saw the unidentified people were about to harm the official who brought them food, they became instantly angry.
"What are you doing?"
"Where did youe from?"
"Dare to harm the official? Ask us if we agree first!"
The crowd picked up their tools and encircled the attackers.
The group of "refugees" did not expect that more and more people would surround them. They intentionally chose a ce with fewer people to start trouble, but they didn''t expect that Fang Jun had just sent manymoners to work in this area.
After experiencing drought, locusts, and famine, the people were sincerely grateful to Fang Jun for providing them with food. Fang Jun''s arrival told them that they had not been abandoned by the court. Official Fang brought them not only food but also hope, and they would never allow anyone to harm officials who had helped them.
With the addition of the people, the situation was reversed. The "refugees" were surrounded by the people. In order to appear more like refugees, they did not carry too many weapons that did not match their "refugee" identity, and their numbers were no match for the people who surrounded them.
"Don''t be afraid, Official Fang and all the officials. With us here, we will never let these refugees hurt you!"
The Northerners were tall and strong, and they had great strength. After Fang Jun came, they could also eat their fill. They were not at all disadvantaged when facing these refugees.
The officials helped each other up and watched as the aggressive people surrounded the "refugees". For a moment, they felt a sense of role reversal. Why did these people look even more fierce than those who had just attacked them?
The people ignored their own safety and broke through the "refugees" encirclement, protecting Fang Jun and his party.
Gradually, more and more people arrived and formed a circle around the "refugees", enclosing them in the middle.
In the deadlock, the sound of horse hooves gradually approached.
Fang Jun looked in the direction of the sound.
Trained soldiers wearing armor hurriedly arrived. "What happened?" they asked.
The people were wary of them.
The leader of the soldiers looked them up and down, and when he saw Fang Jun surrounded by the crowd, he sped his fists and said, "My Lord, I am Yang Zhiyuan, here to deliver supplies on orders."
"General Yang, please arrest those disguised as refugees," Fang Jun remembered that the general sent by the court to deliver supplies was surnamed, Yang.
Seeing that the situation was lost, the "refugees" attacked.
The people surrounding them were caught off guard and almost injured, but General Yang''s men acted quickly and prevented further casualties.
General Yang''s troops were strictly disciplined and had elite weapons, quickly capturing and defeating the "refugees".
"Today, I am writing to express my gratitude to everyone for saving my life. Thank you all in advance," said Fang Jun, expressing his gratitude.
"No need, no need," said the sturdy man in front, waving his hand. "If it weren''t for Official Fang, we wouldn''t be here today. Regardless, we can''t just stand by and watch Official Fang being harmed by those thieves."
The others nodded in agreement.
Seeing this scene, the young officials following behind Fang Jun couldn''t help but feel their eyes welling up. In fact, they had never thought about what they would gain from their actions. But today, they were being protected by those they had helped, even risking their lives. Their hearts were filled with indescribable gratitude.
At this moment, they all made a decision in their hearts: they would definitely be good officials who could benefit the people in the future!
General Yang was followed by arge troop from the capital, so they were moving more slowly. Fang Jun looked in their direction and could vaguely see the shadow of the convoy.
"We heard somemotion over here, so we came to check it out first," General Yang exined.
"Since we''ve already met, let''s go together," Fang Jun said, looking at the young man who didn''t seem to care about the injuries he had sustained. He asked, "Do you have any medicine on you, General? My guard was injured while protecting me."
General Yang reached into his pocket and took out a bottle of medicine, saying, "Some of our travelingpanions are doctors. When they arrive, they can take a look at the young man''s injuries."
"Thank you very much."
Some of themon people had also suffered minor injuries. Fang Jun found a nearby ce for them to rest and put the injured people there, waiting for the rest of the troops to arrive.
Soon, the troops arrived, and General Yang said a few words before returning with two people dressed as doctors.
"Physician Wu?" Fang was surprised to see the neers.
"Official Fang."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Physician Wu and his disciple approached to inspect the injuries of the wounded.
Fortunately, none of them were severely injured, and the young man''s wounds were carefully bandaged. Physician Wu also treated the wounds of the other injured people.
A tall, burly man said carelessly, "It''s nothing. When Subei was in chaos, we often fought with those from Beimo. We get these types of injuries every few days, and they heal on their own in two or three days."
"Would the people from Beimo stille here?" one official couldn''t help but ask.
"Yes. Before His Majesty brought peace to the north, it was chaotic here. One small mistake could have cost us our lives."
These men from the north were used to fighting with the people from Beimo, and they had a fierce nature. So when they saw someone pretending to be a refugee attacking Fang Jun and his entourage, they dared to surround them directly.
This type of situation wasmonce in the north a few years ago.
After a short rest, the group continued on to their destination.
On the road, Fang Jun learned a lot of news about the capital from General Yang.
Fang Jun looked at the convoy behind him and asked, "Are these things not being sent to the capital?"
"The Emperor said to hand them directly to you. Since the officials in the capital don''t think they need assistance, we don''t need to bother with them. The Emperor also asked me to give you a message: It''s time to act."
This message was a signal. Before Fang Jun came, Shang Junlin had privately summoned him and told him that the journey to the northern frontier was dangerous. Shang Junlin had also given him something and told him to wait for orders from the capital.
Now, General Yang was telling him that he could take action.
General Yang and his team settled down with arge amount of supplies. Fang Jun gathered the junior officials and announced, "I''m going back to the capital. You guys take care of things here."
After handing over the affairs here, Fang Jun mounted his horse and rode for a while. Suddenly, he stopped and said to the empty space behind him, "Didn''t I tell you to stay here and wait for me?"
A young man walked out from the corner.
The news of what happened in the north was passed to Shang Junlin through the Hidden Dragon Guard, and Shen Yu also found out.
"Official Fang saved a young man in the north and got attached to him?"
"Fang Jun wants to send the young man back to the capital. What he needs to do is too dangerous, and the young man is not suitable to be with him."
Therefore, when the relief convoy returned from the north, it also came with a young man.
Shen Yu was curious about the young man who saved Fang Jun and wanted to meet him.
"Fang Jun asked me to take care of him, so I will meet him first."
Directly bringing someone into the pce was not appropriate, so Shang Junlin and Shen Yu changed into civilian clothes to go out. It so happened that Shen Yu needed to talk to Yan Zheng about their future cooperation.
Shang Junlin had many mansions outside the pce, some of which he lived in before his ession. The meeting ce for him and the young man was a mansion he had briefly lived in before his ession.
Shang Junlin led Shen Yu inside and said, "At that time, I had just returned from the frontier and was not favored by thete Emperor. The mansion had nothing. Fang Jun found this residence for me."
Shen Yu looked around. The estate was not big, but the environment was very quiet. Some ces were already old, but they were carefully maintained, indicating that the owner cared about this ce.
"His Majesty has never brought me here before," Shen Yu said as he looked around.
"I have many estates in various ces. In the future, I will bring Ah Yu to live in them. But most of them are on the frontier, and I don''t know if Ah Yu can adapt to the environment there." Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand, overflowing with tenderness.
"Wherever His Majesty can live, I can live. I just don''t know how precious I am in His Majesty''s eyes," Shen Yu smiled and looked at him.
"In my eyes, Ah Yu deserves the best." Shang Junlin had spent a long time on the frontier, so he knew what the environment was like there. He could take Ah Yu there temporarily, but he did not want Ah Yu to live there permanently.
Turning a corner, Shen Yu saw the young man standing in the courtyard.
The young man turned his head when he heard the sound and looked confused for a moment.
"Have we met before?"
Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Shang Junlin led Shen Yu over. Upon hearing the words, he couldn''t help but nce at Shen Yu.
Before sending the young man back to the capital, Fang Jun wrote about the young man''s background in the note. As far as he knew, the young man had never been to the capital and Shen Yu had never been to Subei, so the two should not have any interaction.
Realizing this, Shang Junlin looked at the young man with scrutiny.
Shen Yu carefully examined the young man''s appearance. His half-long ck hair was casually tied behind his head. He had a handsome face with a hint of youthfulness. His pupils were a lighter color. If he had really interacted with the young man before, it would be impossible to have no impression at all.
"Are you sure it was me you saw?" Shen Yu asked.
Shang Junlin tightened his grip on Shen Yu''s hand.
The young man thought for a moment, nodded, and then shook his head slightly under Shen Yu''s gaze as if looking at a stranger. "I don''t know."
Shen Yu pulled Shang Junlin over to sit at the stone table. "What happened exactly?"
"When I was a child, I saw someone who looked a lot like you," the young man realized now. It had been many years since he saw that person. The man''s appearance had given him a great shock when he was young. Today, seeing Shen Yu, who looked almost exactly the same, he blurted out his question.
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin looked at each other. They didn''t expect to hear such a thing from the young man.
"Do you remember what happened back then?" Shen Yu asked.
"I don''t remember much. I just remember that Subei was in chaos at that time, with wars everywhere. I identally fell into a trap set by the people in Beimo and was saved by a person who looked particrly handsome."
Many years had passed, and the young man could only remember the man''s face in the moonlight and the cold temperature when he was held by him. It was the first time someone had ever held him in their arms and it was the only time. It was a secret that he would never reveal.
After the young man finished speaking, he nced at Shen Yu and added, "Just as handsome as you are."
Beforeing to the capital, Fang Jun told the young man a lot about the city and instructed him to follow the rules and be obedient. The young man trusted Fang Jun and agreed to everything.
On the way to the capital, the person who apanied him exined many things about the city to him, including about the emperor and the noble consort. That person told him that the noble consort was like a bright moon and could be recognized at a nce. At first, he didn''t believe it until he saw the real person and realized that the person had not exaggerated at all.
As the young man stared at Shen Yu, a sh of displeasure crossed Shang Junlin''s eyes.
This was the second person he had encountered who looked very simr to himself, in addition to Shen Yue. Shen Yu lowered his eyes in thought. In his past life, he had lived for more than ten years without encountering such a situation. Was it just a coincidence or had his rebirth changed something?
Shen Yu leaned towards thetter.
Shang Junlin knocked on the table. "Tell me what you know."
Although he was displeased, this matter was likely rted to Shen Yu''s identity, and Shang Junlin could not simply ignore it because of slight difort.
"I remember only these things. The person saved me and put me in a safe ce, then left. Later, I looked for him in many ces, but I couldn''t find any trace of him. Later, I secretly asked around, but they all said they had never seen such a person."
Suddenly appearing and then disappearing without a trace, Shen Yu thought of his mother. Could the person the young man had met have any connection to his mother?
After confirming that the young man really didn''t know anything else, Shen Yu gave up on asking and Shang Junlin did not want the young man to keep focusing on Shen Yu, so he asked about the situation in Subei.
The young man had been following Fang Jun and was well aware of what had happened in Subei. Fang Jun had also told him before he came that the emperor would ask him some questions and he should answer truthfully. The young man remembered Fang Jun''s instructions and, when asked by Shang Junlin, he recounted what had happened in Subei in a clear and concise manner.
Through the young man''s words, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin gained a better understanding of what had happened with Fang Jun in Subei. With a steady stream of supplies being delivered, the situation in Subei had greatly improved. Because the army had been dispatched to escort the supplies, and the Subei army had provided support, there had been no more incidents of bandits on the way.
The group of Hidden Dragon Guards that Gu Huai had brought was focused on investigating the problems among Subei''s upper-level officials. Apart from the time they had saved Fang Jun, they had not appeared again. No one knew that they had already infiltrated the inner circle of Subei''s officials and were gathering evidence to give them a fatal blow.
Those Subei officials were still dreaming of collecting all the relief supplies sent from various ces into their pockets.
"The court is also at fault. They crossed the main city and sent these things to the surrounding small cities. It''s just a bunch of fools, what''s there to save?"
"You can say that when we''re alone, but don''t say that in front of those officials who came from the capital."
"I know the extent of my words. Come, let''s keep drinking."
The people who were drinking and having fun didn''t know that the scythe of death was already hanging over their heads.
"And those refugees are useless, they couldn''t even kill Fang Jun in the chaos. Instead, they were caught."
"My Lord, will those people betray us?"
"Do you think this official is so stupid that he would leave evidence behind? No matter how they interrogate Fang Jun and the others, they can only get one result."
"They don''t know that Fang Jun only imprisoned them and didn''t bother to interrogate them because he already knew the result. Why bother with unnecessary steps?"
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin learned more details about the assassination from the young man''s mouth.
"It was a good idea for the disguised refugees to do it. If the n could seed, it could provoke conflict between the court officials and the local people, and they could also clean themselves up without a trace. Killing two birds with one stone." Shang Junlin''s grip on the cup tightened.
Shen Yu rescued the innocent cup from Shang Junlin''s hand, saying, "Your Majesty, why get angry at those people who will eventually be dealt with? Fang Daren has already sessfully handed them over to the Hidden Dragon Guard. Just wait a few more days, and those people won''t be able tough anymore."
Shang Junlin grabbed Shen Yu''s wrist and pulled him into his embrace. "If everyone could be like you, Ah Yu, then I wouldn''t have to worry so much."
"Your Majesty, don''t think about unrealistic things like that. Even if it''s me, after being immersed in the officialdom for several years, I can''t guarantee that I would remain true to my original intentions."
The temptation of power is great, and maintaining one''s initial intentions is easier said than done. How many people have truly achieved it throughout history?
"Let''s not talk about that. Is Yan Zheng going to lead his men north soon?" Shang Junlin picked up a strand of Shen Yu''s hair and twirled it in his fingers.
Thest time they left the pce, they not only saw the young man but also Yan Zheng. Coincidentally, there were many goods that needed to be transported to Subei recently, and there was an army escort throughout the journey. Yan Zheng wanted to take this opportunity to try his luck.
He chose the first location to be Beimo.
In the elegant room, Yan Zheng spoke of his n, "Beimo''s rtionship with our Da Huan has been rtively stable in recent years, and I have always had a caravan going there. This is a good time to go to Beimo, where I can borrow the army''s escort and gather information."
Shen Yu was surprised by his bold idea, "This is a dangerous time to go there..."
"I know it''s dangerous, but it alsoes with great opportunities," Yan Zheng poured himself a cup of tea and slowly drank it. "For a merchant, we must not forget the four words ''seize the opportunity.'' I believe that the things in my hands can bring me great wealth."
Yan Zheng never concealed his ambition, and he didn''t need to hide anything in front of Shen Yu and Shang Junlin. Sometimes, being frank and open would make people appreciate it more.
"Once you''ve made your decision, I''ll prepare what you need. Be careful when you reach Beimo."
Unexpectedly, Shen Yu spoke words of concern. Yan Zheng was stunned for a moment, then said, "Even for the sake of our long-term cooperation, I wille back safely."
Shang Junlin sat beside Shen Yu and didn''t react to this conversation at the time. Only after returning to the pce that night did he bully Shen Yu severely.
Now, there were still marks left on Shen Yu''s body.
Unexpectedly, Shang Junlin suddenly brought up this matter. Shen Yu raised an eyebrow and said, "His Majesty isn''t jealous this time?"
Shang Junlin began to caress the skin on Shen Yu''s neck, where there were red marks he had left behind. Not just on the neck, there were more ces covered.
Thinking of the youth''s skin gradually turning crimson that night, apanied by low sobs and light panting... Shang Junlin''s eyes darkened.
"Ah Yu said, why am I jealous?"
The man''s low and hoarse voice entered his ears as if it were that night again.
The man used this kind of voice to ask Shen Yu over and over again in his ear. If Shen Yu didn''t answer or his answer didn''t satisfy the man, he would be bullied even more severely.
Shen Yu couldn''t remember how many things he shouldn''t have said that night under Shang Junlin''s coaxing. Anyway, the next day he didn''t feel good anywhere on his body.
The memory was awakened, and Shen Yu felt a little hot.
"It was indeed in these past two days," Shen Yu forced himself to clear those memories from his mind, "his caravan will follow the second batch of disaster relief supplies."
Time passed in the blink of an eye. Yan Zheng left the city with the rest of the troops. During the rest period, he looked back at the capital and thought that sacrificing those useless people toe to the capital was probably the most correct decision he had made.
In the Yu Zhang Pce.
Shen Yu closed his eyes, his long eyshes fluttering uneasily, casting a shadow. Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes, and the edges of his eyes were dyed with ayer of rouge, bing even more charming.
The tall figure of the man in ck robes held him tightly in his arms and kissed him forcefully.
Like Shang Junlin himself, this kiss was domineering and aggressive, with a fierce intention to devour the youth.
Shen Yu could only endure it.
"Don''t think about other people, or I''ll be angry, Ah Yu." Shang Junlin backed off a bit, but his lips were still on Shen Yu''s.
"His Majesty is unreasonable. You were the one who brought him up earlier," Shen Yu opened his eyes, and the mist in his eyes had not yet dispersed. His eyes were shimmering, making people sink with just one nce.
Shen Yu hadn''t forgotten that it was Shang Junlin who mentioned Yan Zheng first this time. Because of what happened that night, he hadn''t mentioned Yan Zheng in front of Shang Junlin for these few days.
Shang Junlin''s kiss moved upwards and finallynded on those eyes that he was obsessed with.
Shen Yu closed his eyes and enjoyed this moment of warmth.
"This time, I misunderstood you, Ah Yu," Shang Junlin apologized in a low voice, but his words had a deeper meaning. "You can punish me in any way you want."
Chapter 121
Chapter 121
05/07/23- edited
Shen Yu gave him a re, "In the end, are you punishing me or punishing His Majesty?"
Shen Yu didn''t forget that thest time, he was the one who had to lie in bed for several days afterwards. It was more like he was rewarding Shang Junlin than punishing him.
"Of course, it''s punishing Us. Whatever Ah Yu wants to do is fine."
Shang Junlin''s voice was as soft as a whisper, with an ambiguous meaning that couldn''t be clearly expressed, like a hook that scraped across Shen Yu''s heart.
The two of them were very close, and Shen Yu clearly felt the changes in the man''s body. He intentionally rubbed against him and saw the man''s face change as he wished.
"His Majesty didn''t do anything wrong," Shen Yu said intentionally, "why do you need to be punished?"
Seeing that his goal had not been achieved, a hint of disappointment shed through Shang Junlin''s heart. He really wanted to experience Ah Yu''s passion and initiative again, but he didn''t show it on his face. "If Ah Yu doesn''t want to, then there''s no need to."
Shen Yu''s eyes flickered. He grabbed Shang Junlin''s cor, squinting his eyes slightly. "This is something His Majesty requested. Don''t regret itter."
"Of course not."
Shang Junlin was delighted.
Shen Yu released his hand and stepped back from the man''s embrace. "Let''s talk about thister tonight."
Shang Junlin had achieved his goal and didn''t mind waiting a little longer. He walked over to the soft couch and sat down, saying, "Ah Yu, do you know how many surprises those princes gave Us?"
"His Majesty is talking about the supplies they sent to Subei?" Shen Yu followed him over and sat down on the other side.
"Yes, they really opened Our eyes. Their possessions are even richer than the national treasury. We''re not joking." Shang Junlin knew that these princes were all very wealthy, otherwise, they wouldn''t be able to give so much gold and silver just to please Shen Yu. However, he didn''t expect they would have so much more than he had imagined.
Not only Shang Junlin, but other officials who received reports from the Ministry of Revenue also gasped in surprise. Without this opportunity, they would never have known that the princes had so much wealth.
"No wonder the emperors of past dynasties have always been wary of the princes."
"Yes, take a look at these. This is just one fiefdom, and it''s not inferior to what''s in the national treasury. Da Huan has more than just this one fiefdom."
"At that time, His Majesty said that the Princes should also contribute, but who opposed it? They said that the Princes themselves were also in difficulties, and we should not force them. Is having too much money and resources a difficulty?" The Minister of Revenue couldn''t help raising his voice.
Having worked together for many years, the officials all knew the Minister of Revenue''s temper and were not surprised by this.
"Don''t get angry so quickly," the Minister of Public Works patted the Minister of Revenue''s shoulder and reminded him, "This is only the first batch of supplies, and what Suibei needs, these alone are not enough."
"You''re right. If I had known they had enough money and resources, I would have asked for more. Fortunately, there is still time. His Majesty''s method of sending a batch as soon as it is collected is really good."
The others listened and quietly smirked, mourning for the Prince who was being watched by the Minister of Revenue.
The Minister of Revenue sorted out the roster and hurriedly went to prepare for the next phase of material collection. This time, someone had touched the bottom line, and he wouldn''t be the Minister of Revenue if he allowed these Princes to not bleed so much in the next batch.
The Princes still didn''t know that their belongings had already caught the Minister of Revenue''s attention.
"Your Highness, do we really have to send all these things to Suibei?" The steward of the prince''s manor looked conflicted.
"If we don''t, then what?" The Prince was also helpless. "The court and the people of the world are watching. If we don''t do anything, will they not think that we are obstructing His Majesty''s efforts? "
Did the Prince want to give away these things? Of course not, who wouldin about having too much money?
But their retreat had been blocked long ago. If they didn''t give anything, it would be an announcement to the world that they had two hearts toward the Emperor. They had been intimidated by Shang Junlin at the beginning of the year and didn''t want to confront him now.
"Your Highness, I have contacted the people I left in the capital They said that if we perform well this time and make His Majesty happy, not only can they let bygones be bygones, but we can also receive rewards from the court. I''m not asking for much, as long as His Majesty doesn''t set his sights on me."
He knew very well that anyone targeted by Shang Junlin would not end up well.
Look at the King of Li, how glorious he was before, but now he has been expelled from the royal family. Look at the King of Yue, who is still trapped in the capital. He didn''t want anything in his life, he just hoped to live out the rest of his life peacefully.
There are many Princes who share the same idea. They have seen the cruel side of Shang Junlin with their own eyes and know how ruthless he is. Anyone who can survive until now is not stupid. They were not able topete with Shang Junlin before, let alone face the emperor with his well-established power now.
However, the pain still needs to be felt.
Thend was granted to the King of Yue.
Since the King of Yue is not present, the task of raising funds is being handled jointly by the officials sent by the court and the officials of the King of Yue''s territory.
There are people sent by Shang Junlin who have already investigated how much power the King of Yue''s territory can provide, and the officials sent by the court are well aware of the situation. The final decision will not exceed the capacity of thend and will allow the King of Yue to bleed out his umted wealth at once.
The current situation of the King of Yue in the capital is unknown. The officials on hisnd naturally dare not make any small moves. The whole process is very smooth.
"If the King of Yue knew this news, I wonder what kind of expression he would have," Shen Yu couldn''t help butugh after hearing Shang Junlin''s words.
"I''ll have someone tell him," Shang Junlin said with a hint of disgust in his tone.
Shen Yu noticed that Shang Junlin is showing more and more emotions in front of him. When he first entered the pce, he almost felt that Shang Junlin was an emotionless king.
"I don''t know what they are considering. It''s been so long and they haven''t made a move. Do they really think that Your Majesty won''t take action against the King of Yue?" That''s why they had the audacity to let the King of Yue remain in the dungeon.
"It''s also possible that they are too busy to take care of themselves. Ah Yu, do you remember those people who spread rumors everywhere? The Court extracted a lot of useful information from them, and destroyed several of their bases hidden in the capital."
"Wasn''t it said that those people couldn''t provide much information?"
"Indeed, in the beginning, they didn''t know much. Butter, they caught a small leader from a certain faction in a tea house. Although his status was not high, he knew quite a bit. After being entertained by the Court for a while, he spilled everything he knew."
The Court caught so many people but still got nothing useful. The officials of the Great Court were anxious, and when they finally caught someone who knew something, they used every possible method to extract more information.
Their efforts paid off, and they did manage to get a lot of useful information. Although they have not yet caught the mastermind, it is only a matter of time.
The Minister of Revenue acted quickly and drafted a new donation n in less than half a day. He did not dy at all and directly requested an audience with the emperor.
The two-person world of Shang Junlin and Shen Yu was interrupted. Shang Junlin was not very happy, but Shen Yu wanted to see what the Minister of Revenue was nning to do, so he suggested that they go together.
The imperial study.
"Your Majesty, Your Excellency," said the Minister of Revenue with a respectful bow to the two of them.
After the donation, the Minister of Revenue had a much better opinion of Shen Yu. His excitement at seeing Shen Yu could not be ignored.
"This is the n I have drafted for the next step. Your Majesty, Your Excellency, please have a look," the Minister of Revenue presented a document.
Meng Gonggong took the document and ced it on the imperial desk.
Shang Junlin opened it and read it with Shen Yu.
The content of the document was all about the vassal princes. Even Shen Yu, who was ustomed to tricking them, could not help but nod the moment when he finished reading it. The excitement in his eyes could not be concealed.
This was simply asking the vassal princes for things while treading on the bottom line. Even a little bit more would be too much for them to bear.
It was too ruthless.
"As a vassal prince, one enjoys the treatment of the imperial family, so they should do their best to contribute to the imperial family. Besides, they are the Emperor''s rtives, and it is normal for them to help the Emperor solve problems and difficulties," the Minister of Revenue spoke a lot, but the central idea was that the vassal princes should contribute money and effort; otherwise, they would be unfair to the people and the imperial family.
Shen Yu didn''t know that the Minister of Revenue had such good eloquence.
Shang Junlin tapped his fingers on the table, and his voice was as steady as ever: "Let''s discuss it at the court tomorrow."
That meant it was approved. The Minister of Revenue was overjoyed and then looked at Shen Yu expectantly. "Does His Excellency have anything to add?"
"The n proposed by the minister is already very sound," facing such a look, Shen Yu felt the pressure and couldn''t help but tug at Shang Junlin''s sleeve.
Shang Junlin chuckled and resolved the situation for Shen Yu. "Alright, you go and prepare for this matter and discuss it with the Prime Minister."
The Minister of Revenue withdrew his gaze somewhat disappointedly. "As youmand."
After leaving the pce, the Minister of Revenue went straight to the Prime Minister''s estate. The Prime Minister and Jiang Huaiqing were having tea in the courtyard. Upon hearing that the Minister of Revenue hade to visit, the steward brought him in.
Jiang Huaiqing poured a cup of tea and handed it to the Minister of Revenue. "Please, my lord."
The Minister of Revenue was indeed thirsty. He took a sip and finished the drink, saying, "I just went to see His Majesty in the pce. Regarding the matter of further donations, His Majesty asked me to bring it up during tomorrow''s morning court."
"So it''s been decided so quickly?" The Prime Minister was shocked at how fast the Minister had acted.
"We had some ideas before. Today, we just put the specific amounts in. It wasn''t a big deal," the Minister of Revenue exined his thoughts briefly. "That''s all."
Although he knew the Minister of Revenue was always surprising in these matters, the Prime Minister still couldn''t help but smirk, "Has His Majesty agreed to this method?"
The Minister of Revenue nodded, "I was going to ask if you had anything to add, but unfortunately, you didn''t say anything."
The Prime Minister understood that any more input might cause the Prince to revolt. The Minister of Revenue was truly a man of great tact.
---
"Your Majesty, will there be any problems with letting the Minister of Revenue handle this?" Shen Yu sat next to Shang Junlin and rested his chin on his hand.
"He knows how to handle it," Shang Junlin replied without looking up from his work.
"I see. If he didn''t have good judgment, he wouldn''t have been able to hold his position for so long. I was just worrying too much," Shen Yu yawned. "I''m going to freshen up."
Shang Junlin continued to work on the documents, but his mind was elsewhere. After waiting for a while without seeing Shen Yu return, he put down his brush and went to the inner chamber.
Mu Xi was outside and saw Shang Junlin. She was about to bow, but Shang Junlin stopped him. "No need. Is he inside?"
"He is."
With a confirmed answer, Shang Junlin pushed open the door, and hot steam hit his face. A young man dressed in a red robe, with wet hair falling in front and behind him, walked over barefoot. He was as beautiful as a demon. "Your Majesty, are you here to receive punishment?"
Chapter 122
Chapter 122
05/07/23- edited
In the twinkling of an eye, mes leapt up in Shang Jun''s eyes. He walked in, locked the door without a sound, and walked towards Shen Yu.
The young man who had just taken a bath simply draped a piece of clothing over himself, exposing arge area of snow-white skin, which was dazzling against the red clothing.
Drops of water fell from his hair and soaked into his clothes, leaving a wet mark.
In the candlelight, the youth''s temperament was like that of a demon, and hiszy appearance was even more enchanting.
This kind of appearance of a lover could only be looked at but not touched, which was indeed a sweet punishment.
To avoid frightening the person, Shang Jun restrained the burning desire in his eyes and approached the young man step by step.
"How does Ah Yu n to punish me?" After approaching, Shang Jun subconsciously reached out to hold the young man in his arms.
Shen Yu put a hand on Shang Jun''s chest.
Shang Jun stopped in his tracks and looked at Shen Yu in confusion. "Ah Yu?"
There was an unmistakable heat in his gaze, inch by inch, sliding over the skin on Shen Yu''s body as if there were invisible hands caressing him.
Shen Yu gradually blushed.
"Since it''s a punishment, His Majesty should naturally listen to me." Shen Yu felt a bit hoarse in his throat and cleared it.
"Okay, I''ll listen to Ah Yu." His words were courteous, but his gaze was still audacious.
"The first thing His Majesty needs to do," Shen Yu nced at the arm around his waist, "is to let go of me and take a step back."
Shang Junplied, a tinge of regret shing in his eyes.
Satisfied with his obedience, Shen Yu turned and walked towards the inner room. "Your Majesty,e along."
Hearing the footsteps not far behind, Shen Yu''s mood improved and he curled his lips.
Entering the inner room, the heat became even more apparent. Shang Jun''s gaze wandered around until he found the source of the heat behind a folding screen.
It was a huge bathtub.
The steam rose from the bathtub and spread in all directions, filling the entire space.
Shen Yu didn''t stop, walking straight towards the bathtub. When he got close, he turned his head and issued an invitation, "Your Majesty, would you like to join me?"
The red robe slipped off the shoulder as Shang Junlin''s icy gaze settled on it, unable to move away for a long time.
His throat rolled violently as he walked over, his voice hoarse and low: "I shall attend to Ah Yu''s bath."
The red garment slippedpletely off.
Shen Yu didn''t have time to react before Shang Junlin picked him up by the waist and gently lowered him into the water.
Looking up at Shang Junlin, Shen Yu saw the suppressed emotions churning in the man''s narrow phoenix eyes. In those eyes, he saw only himself, and nothing else.
A fair arm emerged from the water and hooked around the man''s neck. Shen Yu lightly exhaled a breath and said, "Your Majesty, do you like it?"
"I do," Shang Junlin replied, stroking the youth''s back. His sleeve disappeared into the water, the only ck spot in the pool of blue.
Ice-cold skin and snow-white bones.
Shang Junlin had always known that Shen Yu was beautiful, but at this moment, the youth was so beautiful that he couldn''t take his eyes off him. Apart from the youth, there was nothing else in his eyes or his heart.
He wanted to leave his mark on the youth''s snow-like skin, he wanted the red plum blossoms to slowly bloom on this snow, he wanted the youth to bepletely covered in his traces...
He wanted to possess the youthpletely.
"Ah Yu..." Shang Junlin''s voice became even hoarser, with an irresistible desire. He closed his eyes, not wanting to frighten the youth with the emotions in his eyes.
With the man''s hand supporting his back, Shen Yu freed one hand and slid it down the man''s clothes until it rested on the waistband.
"Your Majesty, your clothes are wet," Shen Yu said, looking up and exposing his gracefully curved neck.
Shang Junlin was still wearing the imperial crown that signified his status as an emperor. His hair was neatly tied behind his head, but Shen Yu''s hair was spread out, with water droplets sliding down his shoulder and disappearing into the water.
Shen Yu''s fingers moved slightly, and the waistband came undone.
"Didn''t His Majesty say he would attend to me?"
As the steam rose, the snow-white skin turned pink, and all over his body, except for his lips, which were as red as ripe fruit.
Shang Junlin''s throat tightened as he watched, his eyes growing darker as he felt the changes in his body caused by the young man''s movements.
He indulged the fire in his heart, allowing it to spread and consume everything in its path.
"I will make Ah Yu satisfied," Shang Junlin said slowly, raising his other hand.
As his outer robe fell away, revealing his inner garment, his gaze never left Shen Yu''s body, as if he were trying to ignite the mes within the young man.
Shen Yu did not avoid his gaze, leaning against the edge of the bathtub, calmly watching Shang Junlin perform.
As thest piece of clothing fell away, Shen Yu''s eyes flickered, and before he could react, the man had already sat down in the tub, causing waves to ripple across the water''s surface.
True to his word, Shang Junlin carefully washed every inch of Shen Yu''s body, not missing a single spot.
Gasping for air, Shen Yu grabbed onto the edge of the tub and said, "I didn''t ask you to wash me like this..."
The warm water flowed into the gap, and Shen Yu''s fingers tightened.
The snow-white skin was now even more vibrant than before, covered in red plum blossoms that bloomed with the ripples of the water, creating a breathtaking sight.
"Ah Yu said to let me take care of your bath," Shang Junlin chuckled lowly. "I should do my best to satisfy Ah Yu."
"I only asked you to do what you should do, not what you shouldn''t!" Shen Yu vented his anger by biting the man''s shoulder.
Shang Junlin''s movements continued, and soon Shen Yu became limp, falling into the man''s embrace and allowing him to do as he pleased.
As more and more red plum blossoms bloomed on the snow, the sound of low sobbing asionally mixed in with the sound of water, stirring the heartstrings.
After a while, Shang Junlin lifted the limp Shen Yu out of the water and wrapped him in a cloak before heading toward the bed.
"You bastard..." Shen Yu shrank in his embrace, his voice trembling.
"Ah Yu, if you don''t prepare in advance, you won''t be able to handle itter." Shang Junlin''s tone was gentle, but his eyes hid a storm.
He wanted to truly possess this person.
Shang Junlin had been thinking about this for more than a day or two. Ordinary contact no longer satisfied him. He wanted a deeper level of possession of Shen Yu.
Shen Yuy on the bed, his face upturned and one arm resting on his forehead. The crimson color spread down his neck and disappeared into the covers.
Shang Junlin leaned over him, gazing intently.
"Ah Yu," he gently brushed aside the hair on Shen Yu''s cheek. Shang Junlin''s voice was as smooth as strong liquor. "I want you."
Shen Yu moved his arm and stared at him without blinking. "If I say no, His Majesty won''t continue?"
Shang Junlin fell silent.
It was clear that he would not back down once he had made up his mind.
Shen Yu didn''t really want to refuse. He had already prepared himself to ept Shang Junlin when he first agreed. Although that time, Shang Junlin stopped because of him.
To be honest, Shen Yu was quite surprised at the time, not to mention that there were many timester when Shang Junlin stopped whenever he frowned, never going too far.
This kind of restraint was truly rare for an emperor.
However, Shen Yu also had some resistance to this. He was not resisting Shang Junlin, otherwise he would not let him harass him every time. He just felt that he could not bear it.
Shang Junlin had too much energy.
Lost in thought, Shang Junlin had already leaned down and kissed him gently, starting from his forehead, then his eyes, his nose...all the way down until he captured Shen Yu''s lips and tasted him carefully.
Shen Yu couldn''t help but hold him tightly, indulging in this unusual tenderness.
"Um..."
Suddenly, a muffled groan escaped from Shen Yu''s throat. The crimson color faded from his face at a visible speed, and his brow furrowed with pain.
There was no warning from Shang Junlin''s action.
Shen Yu tightly grabbed onto something below him. Shang Junlin released his lips. The painful groan finally escaped.
"It hurts too much."
This is Shen Yu''s only feeling right now.
Shen Yu just wants to curl up in pain, but under the man''s restraint, he can only force himself to stretch out.
Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, but they were soon gently kissed away by the man.
"Ah Yu, I''m pleased with you." Shang Junlin kissed Shen Yu''s ear and whispered in a low voice that was as gentle as it was forceful and irrefutable.
The storm swept in, carrying Shen Yu into the eye of the storm.
Up and down.
As the dawn broke, a young man''s voice with a hint of tears rang out from the tent: "I''m sleepy..."
A snow-white wrist extended from behind the red curtain, and soon it was pulled back by another hand.
"If you''re tired, go to sleep." The man''s voice was full of satisfaction.
Shen Yu didn''t know when he had fallen asleep. When he woke up, it was already noon. When he moved his body, he took a sharp breath.
There was no part of his body that wasn''t in pain.
Shen Yuy back down weakly.
The bed curtain was opened, and the man in imperial robe carried hot porridge in and said, "Ah Yu, are you awake?"
Shen Yu turned his face away and didn''t want to look at the culprit who had caused him so much difort.
Shang Junlin, who was full of food and drink, didn''t mind Shen Yu''s little temper and ced the porridge on the table aside. "Are you hungry, Ah Yu?"
"No..." Shen Yu suddenly closed his mouth. It was hard to imagine that such a hoarse voice coulde from him.
Shang Junlin sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Shen Yu out. "Drink some water first."
The water brought to his lips was sweet. Shen Yu''s throat was ufortable and thirsty. He drank a cup with Shang Junlin''s help before feeling a little relieved.
"Yesterday, His Majesty didn''t seem to be receiving punishment, but rather a reward." Shen Yu looked at him angrily.
"I couldn''t control myself." Shang Junlin kissed Shen Yu''s forehead. If he could do it over again, he still wouldn''t be able to control himself.
"Have some porridge first." Shang Junlin brought over the porridge, blew it cool, and then fed it to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu didn''t want to move a single finger. He had been exhausted all night and was indeed hungry. He obediently ate a bowl of porridge and finally regained some strength.
Wearing his nightgown, Shen Yu moved and opened his cor, revealing some scattered marks.
Shang Junlin lowered his eyes, hiding the thick ink color in his eyes. All these marks were left by him bit by bitst night, and he knew better than anyone else how many more marks like these there were on the young man''s body that couldn''t be seen.
Sensing a danger, Shen Yu moved away. He didn''t want to experiencest night''s ordeal again.
He was still ufortable now, especially in a certain area, where the foreign object sensation was lingering and couldn''t be ignored.
Shen Yu was weak, and he hadn''t moved much before the man caught him back."
Trantor''s note:
Although it is subtle and has a slightly censored scene, I am kinda disappointed there is no explicit smut. ToT
Chapter 123
Chapter 123
05/07/23- edited
Shang Junlin seemed to scare him. He coughed softly and hugged the stiff young man back to him. "I''m not that beastly. I won''t do anything now."
Shen Yu looked at him suspiciously. "Your Majesty, you promised more than oncest night that it was thest time."
Shang Junlin smiled but didn''t say anything.
Shen Yu had been bullied too hardst night. His eyes were still red, and his lips were a little swollen. Shang Junlin rubbed his hair and said softly, "Let me give you some medicine."
Afterst night''s ordeal, Shang Junlin had given Shen Yu medicine once before. The young man, who had fallen asleep from the pain, had let out a soft whimper. Shang Junlin had almost turned into a wolf again but had managed to hold himself back.
This was the first time, and Shang Junlin had been a little too cruel. It was still a little swollen and red there, and Shen Yu couldn''t take any more.
Shang Junlin sighed and carefully applied the medicine. The medicine was specially made by the Imperial Hospital and worked very well.
"No need," Shen Yu refused without thinking.
He checked himself and found that besides feeling a little strange, everything was fine. He must have already been given the medicine once. His body was clean and fresh, and there was nothing in his body that shouldn''t be there. He remembered that before he fell asleepst night, his body had been sticky, which meant that Shang Junlin had cleaned him up.
Shang Junlin didn''t insist. The medicine worked well, and they just had to apply it once in the morning and once at night. Shen Yu''s whole body was sore, worse than ever before. Shang Junlin wouldn''t let him go, so hezily leaned against Shang Junlin''s arms, with his eyes half-closed and his thoughts drifting aimlessly.
"Shouldn''t His Majesty go and attend to official business?" Shen Yu asked when he saw that Shang Junlin had no intention of leaving.
"I want to spend more time with Ah Yu," Shang Junlin rubbed Shen Yu''s cheek. "And I want Ah Yu to spend more time with me."
After the intimate contact they had just had, Shang Junlin didn''t want to be separated from Shen Yu for a moment. If it weren''t for the morning court, he wouldn''t even want to leave. If it weren''t for the persuasion of Meng Gonggong, he would have taken Shen Yu with him. Shen Yu also enjoyed the feeling of cuddling with Shang Junlin like this.
This is the fastest morning court ever attended by the ministers in history. His Majesty seems to have more important matters to attend to, so after handling the necessary affairs, the court was hastily dismissed.
The n of the Minister of Revenue will bepleted in several steps. Once dispersed, those requests that were difficult for the regional princes will no longer be significant. By the time they are all added up, everything will have been settled, and there will be no way to change anything.
The Prime Minister took Jiang Huaiqing and the other two back to his residence. In order to facilitate their work, the Prime Minister''s residence had almost be a second home for them, and it had be the ce where they spent most of their time each day.
The Prime Minister knew about Shang Junlin''s n, and he also thought that these three people were capable of handling the task, and he trained them with more care. The Prime Minister was one of those who most wanted to see new blood enter the court as soon as possible.
Because Jiang Huaiqing and the others were going to Su Bei, the Prime Minister intended for them to have a better understanding of Su Bei, and the matters they handled during this time were mostly rted to Su Bei.
During this period, the court was busy with matters concerning Su Bei, and Jiang Huaiqing and the others had no suspicion. At this moment, they did not know that after the matter in Subei was settled, they would not return to the Hanlin Academy but instead would go to Su Bei with other court officials, officially beginning their political careers in Da Huan.
Subei.
Batch after batch of supplies was sent to Subei, but they did not enter the main city. Instead, they were sent directly to various small ces, where officials sent by the court and local officials worked together to handle disaster relief matters as if excluding the main city.
After working with Official Fang for a period of time, these young officials who came from the capital were no longer the same as they were before. With Official Fang''s hands-on teaching, they could now independently handle disaster relief matters in small towns.
With food avable, the smiles on the faces of the people increased, and their spirits were renewed. Remembering Official Fang''s teachings, the officials did not let the people idle but arranged tasks that they were capable of doing and encouraged those who had the ability to participate in the post-disaster reconstruction.
As rumors spread in the capital and other ces, a simr situation also urred in Subei.
The people of the small towns were gathered together and led by officials from the government to work together in a rxed atmosphere.
"Ten days ago, I couldn''t even imagine that we could wait for this day."
"Me neither. My family had already run out of food, and if it weren''t for the timely arrival of the officials from the court, my little one would have probably..."
The middle-aged man didn''t finish his sentence, but hispanions knew what he was going to say. The middle-aged man''s wife died when giving birth to their child. He worked hard to raise the child to his teens, and just when there was hope for a better life, the drought hit.
"I am too. You guys should remember. I fell ill before, and it was you guys who brought me food. I was lying in bed at the time thinking, even if I could just have a little food, it''s better to die full than starve to death. Then, I saw you guys bringing porridge in, and it scared me."
"No wonder you had such a big reaction."
"I really thought I was going to die at the time. It was like the gods had heard my prayers and fulfilled my wish before I died."
"The gods?" Someone suddenly sneered, "If there really were gods, why didn''t they care about our life and death? To be honest, any gods are less reliable than the officials. The food we eat now is all from various ces transported by the officials, and it has nothing to do with the gods."
"That''s right. Before, someone came to us and asked us to believe in some gods. I thought it was unreliable at the time."
"Yeah, it''s totally unreliable. When something happens, they run away faster than anyone else."
They didn''t know that the conversation they were having was overheard by a soldier nearby. Soon, it would be transmitted to the imperial court, allowing the court to have a deeper understanding of the situation in Subei.
They were chatting happily when suddenly someone asked in a low voice, "Why do we still have to work for the officials? Shouldn''t they be doing this themselves?"
The team suddenly quieted down. Then someone rebutted him, "What do you mean working for the officials? Aren''t we working for ourselves?"
"That''s right. We still have to live here in the future. Besides, the officials also gave uspensation."
"But aren''t those things given to us by the imperial court? Why do we have to work before we get them?" the person continued.
"I think you just don''t understand," the men of Subei were straightforward, but not stupid. The officials had already exined to them why the court did this. They also believed that exchanging theirbor forpensation was better than getting free food.
Besides, they still received daily food rations, and thepensation was separate. They could save it and use itter. The officials may be here now, and they didn''t have to worry about food and drink, but once they left, they would have to rely on themselves.
"Repairing Subei as soon as possible is a good thing for them. "
"Wait a minute, you sneaky kid. Howe you''re saying such things? Are you up to no good?"
Someone noticed that something was off and ran to the apanying officials, saying, "Your lordship, we''ve discovered a suspicious individual over there."
Before that person could even do anything, they were caught red-handed. Simr incidents happened in other parts of Subei, and while only a few people were incited to act, more were caught before they could do anything.
---
Feeling exhausted and unable to sleep, Shen Yuy on Shang Junlin''sp and asked him to read the documents to him.
"Did Official Fang prepare in advance? With the drought in Subeisting so long and the court''s arrival being dyed, anyone who had ill intentions could have taken advantage of the situation." Shen Yu said.
"Whenever Fang Jun arrives in a new ce, he gathers the local people and exins the reasons for their subsequent actions. When he leaves, the officials who were originally following him would have learned and could do the same, making it less easy to incite the people." Shang Junlin said as he read the documents, one hand ying with Shen Yu''s hair.
"After these people that Official Fang brought backe back, we can evaluate whether or not they can continue to be used." Shen Yu pondered.
Although Shang Junlin wanted to suppress the aristocratic families, he did notpletely disallow their existence. The most important thing for the ruler was to maintain bnce, and having equal power between the aristocratic families andmoners was the best way.
"I will pay attention to their subsequent performance." Shang Junlin nodded.
However, people were always changing. This moment of enlightenment does not represent eternity, especially in the world of officials, where it is easiest to change a person. Shang Junlin did not need every official to be a saint; it was unrealistic. As long as they could be of use to him and bring real benefits to the Da Huan, he could turn a blind eye to some things.
With the help of the country''s resources, the situation in Subei gradually improved. Although the drought had yet to be relieved, the court''s constant concern over the possibility of an epidemic did not ur.
After a natural disaster, the most frightening thing was the epidemic that followed. The court sent many physicians, led by Head Physician Wu, to Subei, and they guarded against the epidemic every day, which finally ayed their worries. Shen Yu carefully thought back and confirmed that in his previous life, there was only a drought in Subei and norge-scale epidemic, which relieved him somewhat.
His most memorable epidemic urred several yearster, after which Shang Junlin''s reputation plummeted.
There is still plenty of time until now, and that epidemic was not entirely caused by natural disasters. If the problem of "Fei Meng" can be solved in advance, perhaps the scene like a nightmare from the previous life will not be repeated.
"Master, the flower sent by Prince An has bloomed," Mu Xi came in with the brewed medicine.
Afterst night, although Shang Junlin carefully examined it, he still wasn''t very reassured. He had let Physician Gue to Yu Zhang Pce to take Shen Yu''s pulse, and Physician Gu left a new prescription mainly for nourishing the body.
Shen Yu frowned slightly at the medicine.
Shang Junlin found it funny and put down the document in his hand. He took the medicine from Mu Xi and asked, "When did the flower bloom?"
When Prince An brought the flower, it was just a flower bud. After all these days, there was no sign of blooming. Why did it suddenly bloom?
Shen Yu was also curious about this question.
"Probably at the hour of the pig21:00-23:00 hrst night," Mu Xi replied.
Shen Yu''s heart skipped a beat for some reason. That time was exactly when he and Shang Junlin...were together. Why did the flower happen to bloom at that time?
Was it a coincidence?
Chapter 124
Chapter 124
I will update one chapter a day every weekday and 2 chapters or more on weekends because I am busy with academics;-;
05/07/23- edited
Shen Yu nced at Shang Junlin and saw that he didn''t seem to think much about it, so he knew that Shang Junlin hadn''t thought deeply about the matter. Slowly retracting his gaze, Shen Yu thought to himself: maybe he was overthinking it. It''s just a nt, how could it be rted to this kind of thing? Maybe the flower would have bloomed that night even if he and Shang Junlin didn''t do anything.
When Mu Xi didn''t have any other instructions for the two masters, she withdrew. When Shen Yu and Shang Junlin were alone, they didn''t like the pce attendants to be close to them. The people who served in the Yu Zhang Pce also knew this, and they wouldn''t approach them easily unless they were summoned by the masters.
Shang Junlin stirred the medicine in the bowl and scooped up a spoonful, intending to feed it to Shen Yu, but his hand was held back by Shen Yu.
"I''ll do it myself," Shen Yu sat up with his body half supported.
No matter how much the taste of the medicine improved, Shen Yu didn''t want to drink it spoon by spoon.
"Don''t want me to feed you?"
"The taste of the medicine is indescribable. I want to drink it directly."
Looking at the hand Shen Yu stretched out, Shang Junlin put down the spoon and handed the bowl to him as he wished.
Shen Yu finished the medicine in one breath. Shang Junlin brought over a handkerchief and some candied fruit.
Shen Yu leaned over and took a piece of candied fruit from Shang Junlin''s hand, his soft lips touching his skin.
Like a precious cat.
Shang Junlin''s eyes darkened, he held Shen Yu''s waist with one hand and hugged him directly into his arms, lowered his head, and kissed him. "Let me taste it."
"Is it bitter?" After the kiss ended, Shen Yu''s forehead touched Shang Junlin''s, and he asked.
"It''s sweet."
Shang Junlin rubbed against Shen Yu like a big dog and said, "Ah Yu, everything about you is sweet."
After taking the medicine, Shen Yu felt a bit drowsy. That night, Shang Junlin was very careful with him. Although he didn''t suffer any serious injuries, he was tossed around all night, and his vitality wasn''t so easy to recover. Otherwise, Physician Gu wouldn''t have given him a new prescription and subtly reminded His Majesty to be moderate.
"If you''re tired, take a nap. Do you want to go to bed?" Shang Junlin touched his face.
Shen Yu shook his head. He didn''t want to lie in bed all day long, which would remind him of some unpleasant things from his past life.
Shang Junlin didn''t force him. In his heart, he actually didn''t want Shen Yu to rest in bed. Compared to other ces, he wanted Shen Yu to lie within his reach.
Shen Yu snuggled in the man''s arms, found afortable position, and slowly closed his eyes.
He dreamt again.
In his dream, it was a rainy day. He was lying in bed, feeling heavy and as if something was weighing him down. He couldn''t even lift a hand.
Someone was walking back and forth outside the screen, and their muffled conversation could be heard. Shen Yu wanted to hear what they were saying, but he couldn''t make it out.
It was as if something was separating him from this world. He couldn''t see the surrounding scenery clearly, nor could he hear the sounding from afar. He was in the middle of it all, yet detached.
When he woke up, it was already dusk. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window, and he suddenly felt like it ovepped with his dream.
A pair of warm hands touched his forehead. "Are you feeling unwell, Ah Yu? You''ve sweated a lot."
The man''s low voice broke through Shen Yu''s realization, and his wandering thoughts were pulled back to reality. He felt the heat emanating from the man and the stickiness on his body.
Shen Yu instinctively rubbed against the man''s hand. "My clothes are wet with sweat."
"I''ll carry you to take a bath."
After washing and changing into clean clothes, Shen Yu finally felt better. He hadn''t dreamt of his past life in a long time, so he didn''t know why he had suddenly dreamt of it that day.
"Your Majesty, did it rain just now?"
"No, when I held you just now, you kept sleeping restlessly and sweating a lot. Did you have a nightmare?" Shang Junlin took a dry towel to wipe Shen Yu''s hair.
Shen Yu nodded. "It seems so, but I can''t remember the details."
When he woke up, everything from the dream receded like the tide, and Shen Yu only remembered the urgency he felt in the dream, and nothing else.
"I''ll have Physician Gue and take a look."
Late at night, Physician Gu was once again summoned to the Jade Pce.
"Thank you foring, Physician Gu." Shen Yu extended his hand.
Forfort, Shen Yu was dressed quite casually, and his ck hair was simply draped behind him, making him lookzy but captivating.
Physician Gu focused on taking Shen Yu''s pulse, thinking that the emperor had summoned him because Shen Yu had been injured in some way. After checking, Physician Gu realized he had overthought.
"Noble Monarch is fine."
After Physician Gu left, Shang Junlin hugged Shen Yu, burying his face in his neck. "Ah Yu, don''t leave me."
"I won''t leave," Shen Yu reassured the suddenly uneasy big dog.
Shang Junlin hugged the person in his arms tightly.
Afterward, Shang Junlin met with Physician Gu alone to inquire about Shen Yu''s health. Until Shen Yu fully recovered, Shang Junlin couldn''t put his heart at ease.
"Is Ah Yu really okay?" Shang Junlin''s aura condensed around him, and his dark eyes stared at Physician Gu.
"Your Majesty, everything I''ve said is true, and I wouldn''t dare to hide anything."
"Physician Gu, don''t let me down."
"His Excellency saved my life, so I will do everything in my power to treat him. Please rest assured."
Shang Junlin tapped the armrest of the chair. "So, can you tell me what''s going on with Ah Yu today?"
"From his pulse, it seems that he''s fine. Nightmares are something that everyone experiences and aren''t a big deal. His Majesty need not worry too much."
Physician Gu''s words were true. Everyone has nightmares, so Shang Junlin naturally knew this, but because it concerned Shen Yu, he had to pay attention.
"You may leave now."
Physician Gu stood up and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Majesty, His Excellency''s body is rtively weak. Please exercise restraint in your actions..."
Physician Gu remembered the first time he came to see Shen Yu. Only one arm was stretched out from behind the curtain, and that arm was covered in red marks, even between the fingers. One can only imagine how severe the rest of his body was.
"I know I shouldn''t have interfered, but His Excellency..." can''t withstand your rough handling.
Feeling the increasingly low pressure around him, Physician Gu silently swallowed the rest of his words.
"I understand," Shang Junlin''s face darkened. "Write up a list of things to be mindful of for me."
"Your Majesty, I willply."
Shen Yu sleptfortably for a while and felt much better the next day, but still had some difficulty walking.
Shen Yu didn''t want anyone to see him in a vulnerable state, so he spent most of his time lying on the soft couch. Fortunately, Shang Junlin knew he was in the wrong and would massage the sore spots for him.
The disaster in Subei was alleviated, and those who spread rumors in various ces were arrested. However, the mastermind remained calm and did not reveal any clues, even though several strongholds were destroyed.
Shen Yuy on Shang Junlin''s leg, ying with the man''s long hair that fell down: "Did His Majesty tell the King of Yue about the situation in the fiefdom? Does he know now?"
"I let the jailer ''identally'' leak it in front of him. That night, the King of Yue caused amotion in the dark dungeon. The caretaker was so angry that he ''kindly'' told the King of Yue everything about his fiefdom, the capital, and everything rted to the King of Yue, without leaving out any details."
In fact, if the King of Yue thought about it carefully, he would realize that there were many suspicious points in this matter. For example, why would a jailer tell him these things, and why would a jailer know them so well? There were doubts everywhere, but unfortunately, the King of Yue was so angry when he heard the news that he couldn''t think straight.
In this life, the King of Yue no longer had a chance to ascend the throne. Neither Shen Yu nor Shang Junlin would allow him to take that position.
Shen Qingran was also trapped in the Marquis''s estate. Because of Shen Yu''s interference, the two had very few interactions in this life, let alone developing the same kind of feelings as they did in the previous life.
Thinking of Shen Qingran, Shen Yu found it interesting. In the same period of time, Shen Qingran was trapped in the imperial pce in his previous life and could note and go freely. In this life, he did not enter the pce, but he was still trapped, only the location changed from the imperial pce to the Marquis''s mansion.
Shen Qingran was naturally unwilling. The better Shen Yu lived, the more unwilling he felt. However, the servants in the mansion seemed to have received someone''s orders and would often say how favored Shen Guijun was outside his courtyard.
It was the same today.
Shen Qingran tossed and turned on his bed and suddenly heard the sound of people talking outside the window. The voice was not loud, but he could hear it clearly as if they were deliberately speaking to him.
"Did you see it today? His Majesty has rewarded us with so many things again, and the Marquis was so happy today that he gave us a lot of extra money."
"Is it also because of Shen Guijunrespectful title. More like Your Highness but in pinyin?"
"Of course, Shen Guijun is the Marquis''s eldest son. He''s not someone just anyone canpare to. Some people rely on the Marquis''s favor and are more arrogant than anyone else, but look at them now, they''ve been put back in their ce."
"A bastard is still a bastard. He has such a narrow-minded view. Look at Shen Guijun, he''s the true demeanor of a legitimate son."
"Shen Guijun has finally gained His Majesty''s favor. Things have finally turned around for him."
"His Majesty really favors our Eldest Master. I heard that the Yu Zhang Pce receives rewards every three to five days, all of which are precious treasures. What His Majesty rewards to the Marquis'' Estate are nothingpared to those, just a drizzle."
"..."
Shen Qingran couldn''t hear the rest of the words. Envy was gnawing at his heart like a venomous snake, and the words of the servants were like needles stabbing at him. Those words lingered in his mind, reminding him constantly of how glorious Shen Yu''s life was and how much of a failure he himself was.
He thought he could always suppress Shen Yu, but he didn''t know when their positions hadpletely switched, and Shen Yu had already stood at a height he could only look up to.
He received the Emperor''s only favor, with countless honors and favors bestowed upon him. Everyone had to bow their heads before him, but what about him? Was he destined to live the rest of his life in this small courtyard?
The light in Shen Qingran''s eyes flickered. No, he would not allow himself to end up like this!
Meanwhile, Shen Yu, who was on Shen Qingran''s mind, was locked in a struggle with Shang Junlin.
"Your Majesty," Shen Yu held his nket warily and watched Shang Junlin. "I really can''t do it."
"Why doesn''t Ah Yu agree? Is it because he doesn''t like me?"
For some reason, Shen Yu felt a hint of grievance in Shang Junlin''s tone. Before he could say anything, he saw Shang Junlin lean over and envelop him and the nket in his arms.
"Ah Yu clearly liked it the other day..."
Shen Yu raised his hand to cover Shang Junlin''s mouth and then felt something soft brush against his palm.
He quickly withdrew his hand.
Chapter 125
Chapter 125
AWSL I forgot to update. I will make it up today with 3 chapters ToT
05/07/23- edited
The palm of his hand felt damp.
Shen Yu''s fingers, which had been shrinking inside his sleeves, curled slightly.
He had noticed that Shang Junlin enjoyed his hands a lot, especially during intimate moments when he liked to guide Shen Yu''s hands to leave marks on his body. He also liked to have Shen Yu hold him when they didn''t go all the way due to concerns about his health...
Certain memories floated uncontrobly into his mind, and Shen Yu''s face gradually flushed.
Shang Junlin was propped up above him, and he could easily see the change in Shen Yu''s expression. He chuckled and asked, "What are you thinking about, Ah Yu?"
Shen Yu tugged at the nket, covering half his face. "Nothing," he replied.
He could feel the heat on his face, and it was probablypletely red by now.
Rarely did Shang Junlin see this side of Shen Yu, and he didn''t want to miss this opportunity. He propped his elbow on Shen Yu''s face, lowered his body, pulled down the nket covering Shen Yu''s face with one hand, and nearly pressed his face against his. "If you weren''t thinking of anything, why is your face red? Are you shy, Ah Yu?"
"No," Shen Yu denied.
With nothing covering his face, Shang Junlin could clearly see every change in Shen Yu''s expression. He saw a glimmer in his eyes as he spoke, and his gaze involuntarily flicked to one side, indicating that he was just being stubborn.
Shy Ah Yu was even more delicious.
Shang Junlin opened his mouth and lightly bit the crimson cheek. Shen Yu''s eyes widened suddenly, feeling the dampness where he was bitten.
"Your Majesty..."
"Ah Yu, call me by my name," Shang Junlin murmured.
"Ah Lin?" Shen Yu hesitantly called out, and he found that the man was even more excited. He could feel it even through the nket.
Shen Yu silently moved to the side.
Shang Junlin was unwilling to let him go so easily. He pulled the nket and Shen Yu back towards him. "Let me see you," he said.
Shang Junlin''s voice was low and hoarse, filled with restrained desire. Shen Yu had heard him use that voice countless times, telling him to hold him tightly when they reached their climax.
Not only his face, but Shen Yu''s body also started to feel hot.
Shang Junlin gradually pulled Shen Yu out of the nket.
The young man was only wearing a white nightgown, his long hair hanging softly behind him. His ck hair and snow-white skin were dyed with a light pink color, making him look even more stunning under the soft candlelight.
The ink color in Shang Junlin''s eyes grew stronger and stronger.
The current Shen Yu is like a bud waiting to bloom, only waiting for the final rain and dew to fully stretch out. Shang Junlin has seen the appearance of this flower in full bloom. It is the result of his hard work. His watering has allowed the flower to bloom little by little and has also left his mark on the flower from the inside out.
The man''s gaze is like a fire, easily igniting everything.
Shen Yu feels a little thirsty and unconsciously licks his lips. He sees that because of this action, Shang Junlin''s gaze bes dangerous.
Shen Yu wants to continue covering himself with the nket, but Shang Junlin won''t give him that chance.
The man lowers his head and kisses Shen Yu''s lips glistening with water.
Sucking, grinding, dancing together...
There are still marks left on Shen Yu''s body from thest time with Shang Junlin, but soon, new marks cover the old ones one by one. On the white snow, the red plum blossoms slowly bloom.
The half-open flower is forced to fully open and is imbued with a different kind of aura from the inside out.
This time, Shang Junlin is very gentle, and Shen Yu falls into a deep sleep without being awakened.
Shen Yu sleeps soundly and isn''t disturbed by nightmares. It would have been even better if he didn''t wake up feeling sore in the morning.
It''s still dark outside, and the man''s breath still envelops him. This is a rare morning where Shang Junlin hasn''t gotten up yet when Shen Yu wakes up.
The still-sleeping man hugs him and gently rubs against him.
Shen Yu bites his lip to keep himself from making a sound.
Pleasure and torment alternate, and every moment bes extremely difficult to endure.
Fortunately, Shang Junlin wakes up soon. "Ah Yu?"
"Get out!" Shen Yu grits his teeth and forgets even Shang Junlin''s identity, he''s so angry.
Shang Junlin falls silent. Obviously, he didn''t expect to encounter such a big shock upon waking up.
Shang Junlin hugs the young man in his arms and does the opposite of what Shen Yu asks.
"Bastard..."
When the two of them finally get up, an hour has passed. Shang Junlin washes Shen Yu''s body, changes him into clean clothes, and carries him to the soft couch.
The pce maid lowers her head to clean up the room, and Shen Yu lieszily on the soft couch with his eyes half-closed.
He doesn''t even have the energy to curse at anyone anymore.
On the other hand, Shang Junlin is full of energy, and his satisfied expression can''t be hidden from his face. Shen Yu simply closes his eyes and ignores it.
Shang Junlin didn''t go to the morning court today.
When the morning court was approaching, Meng Gonggong stood outside the door, listening to the muffled soundsing from inside the room, not knowing whether to speak or not.
He certainly knew what this kind ofmotion represented, but he didn''t expect to hear it at this time. The noise inside was probably not going to stop for a while. Meng Gonggong looked helplessly at the closed doors of the sleeping pce.
Seeing that time was running out, Meng Gonggong gritted his teeth and knocked on the door. "Your Majesty, it''s almost time for the morning court."
The noise inside stopped for a moment, but only for a moment. Meng Gonggong wiped his face, knowing that this was the answer the emperor had given him.
So on this day, the ministers who came to the morning court on time waited for over an hour before the emperor finally arrived.
The ministers looked at the frosty-faced Shang Junlin, and they were all puzzled.
What''s going on? He looks like a husband kicked out of the house by his wife...
They didn''t know that Shang Junlin had been driven out early in the morning by Shen Yu, who had made him furious. Otherwise, today''s morning court would have been directly canceled.
Because of Shang Junlin''s bad mood, the ministers waited a long time and did not dare to touch his bad temper. They efficientlypleted the morning court, and the time for the afternoon court was surprisingly simr to usual.
As they walked out of the hall, the ministers finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Did something happen today? His Majesty was over an hourte and in such a bad mood?"
Several ministers who had a good rtionship with each other whispered to each other.
"I''m not sure. Hasn''t His Majesty been in a good mood these past few days? Last time I made a mistake, I thought I would be punished, but His Majesty just let it go."
"The situation in the north has been stable, and there hasn''t been any major event in the court. What''s wrong with His Majesty today?"
"Could it be that he angered the Noble Monarch?" one minister joked.
"Why do you assume it''s the Noble Monarch who angered His Majesty instead of the other way around?" another minister asked in confusion.
Jiang Huaiqing followed behind the Prime Minister, listening in on the conversation, feeling a bit worried. He gently pulled on He Chengyu''s sleeve.
"What''s wrong?" He Chengyu leaned in closer and whispered, "Is His Majesty really having a conflict with the Noble Monarch today? Is His Majesty really angry at him?"
He Chengyu found it amusing. "Why are you worrying about that now? Don''t worry, His Majesty couldn''t possibly be angry with the consort."
"Why not?" Jiang Huaiqing asked, still confused.
He Chengyu''s fingers twitched slightly, wanting to rub Jiang Huaiqing''s hair, but he hesitated due to the presence of others, so he gave up the idea. "Have you noticed how the Emperor interacts with you outside the pce? Do you think the Emperor would be angry with you?" He Chengyu said. "The Emperor wouldn''t be angry with you no matter who he''s angry with."
Jiang Huaiqing thought back to the moments they had spent together outside the pce and had to admit that He Chengyu was right.
The ministers spected whether something big was going to happen, but they were getting further and further away from the truth.
---
Somewhere in a courtyard.
"Sir, are we going to destroy our stronghold as appointed by the court? But that''s..."
"Do you think I don''t know?" the man referred to as "sir" was hidden in the darkness. "Do you think I want to see this result?"
"I plead guilty," the speaker knelt down to confess.
"What''s the situation in Subei?"
"The supplies sent by the court went directly to various small towns without going through the main city of Subei. And from beginning to end, they were escorted by the military, so we couldn''t do anything."
"What about inciting the rebellion in Subei?" The man''s voice was filled with undisguised anger.
"ording to your orders," the subordinate swallowed, "except for a few ces, all of them failed. Even those few ces were quickly suppressed..."
"Useless!" The man was so angry that he smashed the things on the desk. "What have you done? You didn''t aplish anything and you lost all our manpower! Don''t forget to mention the fact that the court called for supplies from the public. You can''t even do such a small thing?!"
"Sir, it''s not fair. This matter seems to be different from what we expected. The people don''t resent the court at all, but instead, they support it everywhere."
"Support it everywhere?" The man was confused. "Shouldn''t the court have incurred public anger by doing such things?"
"Sir, we were fooled. Those supplies weren''t forcibly requisitioned but were given voluntarily by the people," the subordinate said, growing increasingly fearful. "Not just ordinary people, but also the princes, aristocrats, and merchants, all voluntarily donated."
When the subordinate realized what had happened, he realized how wrong they were. Their n was doomed to fail from the beginning.
"I see," the man said with a sardonicugh. "No wonder we never seeded even once. They knew we would take action long ago."
"Sir, what should we do next?"
"Forget about those people and the base. Cut ties cleanly, don''t let the court follow the thread, and find more important things. The situation in Subei is about to end. Shang Junlin, oh, Shang Junlin, why did you send so many things to Subei? In the end, you''ll still benefit me, won''t you? Hahaha..."
The two people in the room didn''t notice the ck cloak that shed across the roof, blending into the night.
The situation in Subei had reached a critical point. When Shang Junlin returned to Yu Zhang Pce after discussing future ns with the Prime Minister and other important officials in the Imperial Study Room, the sky had already turned dark.
"Where is Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin asked as soon as he entered, "Is he feeling unwell today?"
"His Excellency slept a little longer today and is now in the study room," Mu Xi replied, shaking her head.
Shang Jun Lin turned and headed towards the study.
Shen Yu was writing something, and the candlelight cast a halo around the young man. Shang Jun Lin gestured for the pce attendant not to follow and walked in alone.
"Why aren''t you resting on the soft couch, Ah Yu?" Shang Jun Lin walked over as usual, wanting to embrace Shen Yu.
But Shen Yu evaded him without a sound.
A soft cushion was ced on the chair where Shen Yu sat, but even after only sitting for a short while, Shen Yu couldn''t stand it and stood up with the piece of paper he had just finished writing.
"Your Majesty, we agreed on three rules."
Shang Jun Lin took the note handed to him by Shen Yu and read it silently.
It was really difficult to ask a person who had just started having sexual rtions to abstain.
"I am having a hard time controlling myself, knowing that you are carrying our childNo matter how many times i try to trante this, it says pregnant. Is this MPREG? *-*," Shang Jun Lin squinted.
"His Majesty can go back to his own chambers or stay in the small study?" Shen Yu suggested.
Chapter 126
Chapter 126
05/07/23-edited
Shang Junlin didn''t want to choose either option. He finally got someone, and he didn''t want to be separated from him even for a moment, let alone at night. He had already gotten used to sleeping with his soft and fragrant lover, and now that they had a physical rtionship, he wanted to be even closer to him.
"I don''t want to move out, nor do I want to sleep in the small study. Ah Yu and I are husbands and should sleep together," Shang Junlin insisted on staying.
Shen Yu wasn''t surprised by this result. He raised an eyebrow and said, "You can stay, but can you guarantee that you''ll abide by what I''ve written?"
Shang Junlin took a step forward and lifted Shen Yu horizontally, much to thetter''s surprise. "It''ste. I''m taking Ah Yu to rest," he said, avoiding Shen Yu''s question.
As his body suddenly lifted, Shen Yu instinctively grabbed onto Shang Junlin''s clothes and leaned against his shoulder, not wanting to change the subject so easily. "You haven''t answered my question yet," he said.
Looking down at Shen Yu''s yful eyes, Shang Junlin carried him out of the room and said, "Don''t you think ten days is too long?"
"I don''t think so. If it weren''t for His Majesty, I would think a month would be great," Shen Yu replied, shaking his head.
Meng Gonggong and the pce maids followed the two from a distance, unable to hear their conversation clearly.
"I want to be closer to Ah Yu. Don''t you want to be closer to me?" Shang Junlin refused to give up. "I did my homework beforehand, so Ah Yu should befortable."
Shen Yu didn''t deny this. It was indeedfortable, but it was also exhausting. Especially the next day, his legs felt like they weren''t his own, and it was difficult to get out of bed.
"Have you tried with someone else?" Shen Yu narrowed his eyes.
Although his tone sounded casual, Shang Junlin heard a hint of chill in it. He continued walking, but his voice was tinged with amusement. "I''m with Ah Yu all day long. If I tried with someone else, Ah Yu should know, shouldn''t he?"
"There are also times when we are not together," Shen Yu snorted coldly.
"That''s during morning court or when I''m in the study with the ministers. I also want to bring you with me. If you''re worried, why don''t you stay by my side all the time?" Shang Junlin said, feeling that this suggestion was good. He wished that Shen Yu would agree right away.
"No, I trust His Majesty," Shen Yu replied without hesitation. His previousment was more teasing than anything, and he didn''t really doubt Shang Junlin.
"I won''t try with anyone else. Besides you, I won''t do this with anyone else," Shang Junlin lowered his head and kissed Shen Yu, "And the same goes for you. Only with me."
"As for what you''re curious about..." Shang Junlin lowered his voice and said a few words in Shen Yu''s ear, sessfully making the youth''s earlobes turn red.
"I understand, His Majesty doesn''t need to say anymore," Shen Yu interrupted him repeatedly, his face growing hotter and hotter.
Shang Junlin stopped as Shen Yu wished. After a moment, he continued, "Practice makes perfect in everything. The more skilled we are, the more adept we be at it. You should practice more with me, so you won''t be so unable to bear it in the future."
Shen Yu couldn''t believe it. Shang Junlin said these words with a serious face.
Feeling Shen Yu''s incredulous gaze, Shang Junlin smirked. "Isn''t that what you said, Ah Yu?"
"His Majesty is really..." Shen Yu was once again amazed.
The small study was not far from the bedroom, and they arrived after a short walk. The pce servants opened the door gently, and Shang Junlin carried Shen Yu inside.
"You don''t have toe in," he said to Meng Gonggong, who stopped in his tracks and stayed outside with the servants.
Shang Junlinid the youth on the bed and leaned over him. "Ten days is really too long. Can you bear to let me suffer for so long, Ah Yu?"
Shang Junlin savored the moment. If it weren''t for...ahem, he wouldn''t have stayed up all night and provoked Shen Yu in the early morning.
Shen Yu was held tightly under the man, and he could look up to see the handsome face of the man and his eyes that only held him.
Shang Junlin had standard phoenix eyes, narrow and elongated, with bottomless ck pupils, like an abyss that chose its prey.
Shen Yu tilted his head, feeling a moment of hesitation in his heart.
"Ah Yu..."
"Stop," Shen Yu''s finger pressed against Shang Junlin''s lips. "We can discuss what happens nextter. For now, at least ten days. Every extra word you say, adds another day."
Shang Junlin didn''t dare to say anything more.
"Alright, I''m going to sleep," Shen Yu nced at a certain ce on Shang Junlin''s body. "Your Majesty, take care of yourself. If there is a next time, you can go to the study by yourself."
Shang Junlin had caused quite amotion in the morning, so he naturally didn''t dare to do anything now. After washing up, he hugged the youth who had already fallen asleep.
The youth found a morefortable position on his own and sank into a deeper slumber.
Only Shang Junlin was suffering, with his beloved in his arms, defenseless and sleeping soundly, he couldn''t do anything.
On the other hand, Shen Yu had a good night''s sleep.
After a few days of rest, Shen Yu''s body had recovered enough. During these few days, Shang Junlin kept his promise and didn''t do anything beyond asional cuddling and kissing. If he ever crossed the line, it was nothing too serious, and Shen Yu let it go.
After a sticky kiss, Shang Junlin withdrew his hand from his clothes under Shen Yu''s angry gaze. A hint of regret shed in his eyes.
Straightening his clothes, Shang Junlin took the initiative to shift Shen Yu''s attention to the matter in Subei.
"Official Fang has already met with Xun Chao, and the Hidden Dragon Guards have found enough evidence to deal with those people all at once."
"So, Official Fang is almost finished with his mission?" Shen Yu was indeed distracted from what Shang Junlin had done earlier.
Official Fang was sent to Subei to help with disaster relief, but it was only one part of his mission. The more important task was to find out what went wrong in Subei and solve the problem. Only a few people knew about this matter, even the officials in the court didn''t know much about it.
"It should be in these few days."
"Does His Majesty have any leads on the instigator behind the rumors?"
"Yes, it was a coincidence. The person happened to have a connection with Subei, and the Hidden Dragon Guards caught him red-handed. Fang Jun will deal with him as well."
---
This took ce in the main city of Subei.
Under the protection of the Hidden Dragon Guards, Xun Chao disguised himself as an inconspicuous servant and quietly left the mansion after dark.
With only the sound of his footsteps breaking the silence, Xun Chao made his way through the alleys and arrived at an inconspicuous tavern, where Minister Fang was staying.
Official Fang was injured and was lying half-awake in bed. If not for the Hidden Dragon Guards secretly protecting him, the sword that had pierced his shoulder might have ended up in his heart.
"Are you feeling better, my lord?" Xun Chao entered the room. He only found out that Minister Fang was injured when thetter came to his doorstep.
"I''m fine. How are things outside?" Fang Junstruggled to sit up, his face turning even paler.
"Everything is going ording to n. Shouldn''t you rest for a few more days, my lord?" Xun Chao looked concerned.
"I''m fine. We can''t afford to dy this opportunity any longer. Fortunately, we''ve caught the insider in the Subei Army, and they weren''t too deeply rooted."
It was fortunate that there were no major problems within the Northern Army, or else things would have be much moreplicated.
While Official Fang was taking action, the Hidden Dragon Guards had also infiltrated the Subei Army. They had traced the remaining insiders with the help of a traitor nted by one of the Subei officials, and then Official Fang had contacted the upper echelons of the Subei Army to coordinate their efforts. With an inside-outside coboration, they had silently captured these insiders.
The Subei Army was responsible for interrogating them, and after obtaining the necessary information, they informed Official Fang, who had locked onto several officials with the help of intelligence gathered by the Hidden Dragon Guards.
It was also around this time that Minister Fang was attacked. The assant hade to kill him but was intercepted by the Hidden Dragon Guards who were secretly protecting him. Unable to escape, the assant hadmitted suicide without leaving any clues.
Official Fang had been the target of assassination attempts more than once. He knew that Subei officials had probably realized something and did not want him to leave Northern territory alive. Taking advantage of this assassination attempt, he had gone into hiding.
The Hidden Dragon Guards had been hiding in the shadows all along and had not appeared in public since entering the Northern territory. The Subei officials were still oblivious to the fact that the Emperor''s eyes and ears had infiltrated their territory and had already extended their ws.
They were stillcent and thought they had solved a big problem.
---
"That official the court sent, Fang Jun, hasn''t shown up in a while, has he?" an official asked during the banquet.
"Doing something you shouldn''t have and disappearing, isn''t that normal?" replied another person, holding a wine ss.
Everyone sitting here was dressed in luxurious clothes, and on the table were dishes and drinks no less sumptuous than those at a pce banquet. Dancers entertained them, and they were having a great time.
This was a banquet only enjoyed by the high-ranking officials of Subei, and being able to participate was equivalent to being one of them. After so many years of development, Subei had be a one-party state, with the emperor far away and high above. If one wanted to climb the ranks and achieve higher positions, joining them was the only way.
As for the officials sent by the court, either they colluded with the locals or suffered an "ident." In Subei, except for the Subei army, they held all the power.
These people were used to getting what they wanted and thought they had everything under control, but they didn''t know that the guillotine was already hanging over their heads.
Xun Chao sat in the second row. He had been low-key all these years and had not had any major conflicts with these local officials. He held a wine ss and sipped it while looking down. He didn''t need to look to know who was present.
"This time we were able to solve such a big trouble thanks to Xun Daren. Here, let me toast you," said one of the officials.
Xun Chao raised his wine ss and replied, "It''s just a matter of duty."
In order to infiltrate their ranks, Xun Chao had done many things against his conscience over the years. He had also participated in the assassination of Fang Jun, but before it happened, he had informed Fang Jun through the Hidden Dragon Guard and Fang Jun had given him four words: "Fight fire with fire."
That was why Fang Jun was seriously injured, and under his deliberate maniption, these people thought that the assassination had been sessful. So they had this "victory banquet" and a great opportunity to take down all of Fang Jun''s people.
As they toasted and celebrated, drinking and dancing, and enjoying the spicy liquor, who would have thought that Subei was experiencing a natural disaster.
"The most unexpected thing was that the big shot would help us. If it weren''t for his knowledge of the situation in the capital, we wouldn''t have known that Fang Jun had such a motive," said the person sitting at the head of the table.
"Are you talking about me?" a slightly amused voice sounded, and the room fell silent.
Chapter 127
Chapter 127
05/07/23- edited
The sound of talking abruptly stopped, and the officials in the grand hall turned to the direction of the sound, showing expressions of disbelief on their faces.
A man dressed in a scarlet official gown walked leisurely into the hall, every step seeming to tread on the hearts of those present.
But wasn''t Fang Jun already dead? What was this appearing before them today? A person or a ghost? What had happened?
Questions raced through their minds, but no one was there to answer them. Some even cautiously looked down at the ground and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Fang''s shadow. A person was better than a ghost.
"It seems like you are not very weing towards me," Fang Jun said, his smile disappearing from his face, reced by a calm authority.
"Why would you say that?" The first official who reacted forced a smile. "We just didn''t expect Official Fangto suddenlye."
"Yes," Fang Jun agreed, nodding his head. But then he said something that made the giant boulder in everyone''s hearts rise high, "How can a dead man suddenly appear at your ''celebration''?"
"Official Fang, what are you talking about? We would never..."
Fang Jun waved his hand, indicating that he need not hear more. He walked in like he was strolling in his own garden.
"You are living quitefortably here. If I hadn''t traveled all the way here, I would have thought that the news of the drought in Subei was intentionally leaked. The court has not received any news of the severe drought in Subei. Is it because you ministers do not believe that Subei has experienced a natural disaster?"
With every sentence Fang Jun spoke, the people present grew more uneasy. They were in Subei, how could they not know the situation there? They were just trying to drag their feet and dy, hoping that the news would not reach the court.
They had already dragged on for so long, and they didn''t mind dragging it out a few more days. After all, it wasn''t them who were starving.
Fang Jun didn''t need to ask to know what they were thinking. He also had no intention of arguing with them. They had done things they shouldn''t have done and caused a lot of damage. Every ount would be settled by the court.
"You can eat your food randomly, but you can''t talk recklessly. Official Fang, do you know what you are saying?" The man sitting in the first seat stood up, his face showing displeasure.
He had a vague feeling of unease, but he couldn''t show it. Besides, his eyes and ears were everywhere in Subei. If something were to happen, he should be able to hear any whispers.
At this moment, he unconsciously ignored Fang Jun''s sudden appearance. He had not received any advance notice either.
"Did this Minister be angry because of being criticized? I couldn''t understand before, but I understand now. If you see and hear such scenes every day, it''s no wonder you can''t see that the outside world is already starving to death. Minister Hou, what you said, is and is it not?" Fang Jun stood below and looked straight at the official, who was wearing luxurious clothes.
There was a fire in his eyes, which was anger. Although Fang Jun did not show it on his face, he was indeed angry at this moment, especially after seeing this scene.
The scenes of indulgence and excess were beyond belief, even the emperor who was most qualified to enjoy these things had never done so. How dare these people?
As if burned by the fire in Official Fang''s eyes, the man turned his gaze away and dare not look at him directly. "Official Fang is joking. As an official in Subei, how could I turn a blind eye to the disaster in Subei? Today''s banquet is just to see that the situation in Subei has eased, and to let the subordinates who have been tense rx a bit."
"Is that so?" Fang Jun suddenly smiled, "Is it really not to remove the stumbling block that is me?"
The man did not expect Official Fang to be so direct. His face changed and he looked to the corner of the hall, gesturing with the hand that hung by his side. Regardless of how Official Fang escaped, since he dared toe here alone, he should not me them for using his blood to liven up the mood.
But he had been waiting for a long time, and the hall was still quiet. The music and dance had stopped, and the men he had arranged had not moved.
What''s going on?
The man panicked.
He walked a few steps to Official Fang''s side and asked in a stern voice, "What did you do?"
At this moment, his nerves, which had been paralyzed by alcohol, finally regained some rity. He remembered more things that were not right, such as he had arranged for people to wait outside. Why was there no announcement when Official Fang came in? Fang Jum was already dead. How could he appear here? He hadn''t heard any news before this...
"Shouldn''t I ask you this?" Fang Jun''s face turned cold. "Minister Hou, what did you do? The emperor handed Subei over to you, did he want you to watch the people of Subei starve to death?!"
"So, you''re not dead after all," The manughed loudly. "But what can you do bying alone? Being scolded a few times by you is nothing to me. On the contrary, it''s you, Official Fang, who has fallen into a trap. I want to see how you can escape this time."
"Come on, this man is impersonating an imperial official. Arrest him for me!" Minster Hou''s expression was stern and fearful.
"Don''t struggle anymore, Minister Hou," Xun Chao straightened his clothes and stood up confidently. "Why deceive yourself? No matter how you call them, the people you arranged to protect you will not appear."
"Have you also deceived me?!" Minister Hou''s eyes widened in anger. "I have treated you well, why would you do this?!"
"Yes, my lord, you have treated me well, but first and foremost, I am a citizen of Da Huan, and secondly, I am an official under yourmand. Oh, no, that''s not right. I am an official under Da Huan, and you should be clear about that. Subei is Da Huan''s, not your private property."
"I knew it, I should have realized that you were the one who stayed behind. How could you have the same goal as Subei?" Minister Hou muttered.
"You''re wrong, my lord. I have always had the same goal as Subei, it''s just that your heart is biased," Xun Chao retorted mercilessly.
The sound of orderly footsteps was heard, and there was amotion outside. Xun Chao and Fang Jun exchanged a nce, and the Subei army had arrived.
Fang Jun did not act together with the Subei army. He came earlier with several hidden dragon guards, and the people outside were silently dealt with by the hidden dragon guards. He entered the main hall alone, and if things went wrong, he would prompt the hidden dragon guards hiding outside to change the n. If the n went as usual, the Subei army would arrive within half an hour.
The first moment he entered the main hall, he observed the situation inside and then reminded the hidden dragon guards waiting outside ording to the n.
When the Subei army broke into the main hall, Minister Hou''s face finally changedpletely. "When did you contact the Subei army?"
The existence of the Subei army had always been a thorn in Minister Hou''s heart. Such a powerful force, of course, no one would be unhappy to use it for themselves, but what if this force could not be used for oneself no matter what?I
t only makes people feel ufortable.
The existence of the Subei Army constantly reminded him that he could never be the true master of Subei. How could he, who had already regarded Subei as a sure thing, bear with it?
Over the years, he had put a lot of effort into nting his own people in the Subei Army. Now, he had some sess. When the Subei region suffered a severe drought, why didn''t he inform the court? It was just a ploy to buy more time to gain deeper control over the Subei Army. Once the Subei Army was under hismand, he would naturally seek help from the court.
After all, vast sums of money and supplies were things that couldn''t be easily given away for free.
"You don''t need to worry about this, Minister Hou. Take them all away," Fang Jun said, nodding at the leader of the Subei Army.
These people were locked up in the government office they once upied. However, this time, they were staying in a dark and damp dungeon.
After Fang Jun finished everything and was about to say something, he suddenly cked out and fell forward.
"Official Fang!" Xun Chao subconsciously wanted to catch him, but they were not close enough. By the time he reacted, it was toote.
It was a Subei Army general who was present at the meeting who had quick reflexes and caught him before Fang Jun hit the ground.
"Quickly, get Head Physician Wu over here," Xun Chao ordered his servant to fetch the Physician and then smiled bitterly at the Subei Army general. "Thank you, General Wei, for your help. I will need to trouble you for the rest of this matter."
"What happened to Official Fang?" the general asked.
"He was already injured and has been barely holding on to keep moving. At the time, to avoid being discovered by Minister Hou''s underlings, he didn''t dare to seek medical attention too openly and just made a hasty treatment," Xun Chao exined.
Fortunately, Physician Wu happened to be in the capital these past two days. Not long after, he arrived at the government office and re-dressed Fang''s wound. After the treatment was finished, Physician Wu washed his hands and said, "Fortunately, Official Fang''s constitution is good. I will write a prescription, and he can recover after a few days of rest."
Xun Chao, who was standing nearby, breathed a sigh of relief. He had also participated in the assassination n, and if anything happened to Fang Jun, he would have been uneasy.
The report of the incident was quickly sent to Shang Junlin. Along with it was a separate report from the Subei Army and one written separately by Xun Chao.
It was at this moment that Shen Yu and Shang Junlin learned that Fang Jun was injured.
The message was transmitted to Shang Junlin in the form of a confidential letter. The court would receive the official news one stepter, but without the officials who had obstructed them like Minister Hou, the dispatches from Subei could still be delivered to the emperor''s ears.
"Fortunately, His Majesty sent the Hidden Dragon Guards to secretly protect Official Fang. Including this time, Official Fang has been attacked no less than five times. Those people really don''t give up easily," Shen Yu sighed.
"Fang Jun poses a threat to them, so they naturally won''t let him go easily. The Hidden Dragon Guards also found a lot of confidential information. Over the years, officials who died for no reason in Subei have more or less had some connection with them," Shang Junlin''s voice was cold.
"How does His Majesty n to deal with these people? Will they be brought back or directly dealt with in Subei?" Many officials were arrested this time, and the matter was quite significant. If they were to be brought back to the capital, it would be easy for something to go wrong on the way.
"I don''t n to bring them back. Let them stay in Subei tofort the souls of those who died because of them," Shang Junlin said.
"That''s good, their crimes should also be made public to the entire Da Huan. What about the person who spread the rumors? Your Majesty, do you know who it is?"
"We''ll know soon." The bait had been thrown, and they only needed to wait for the big fish to bite the hook.
"When does His Majesty n to deal with those people in Subei?" Shen Yu leaned against Shang Junlin and shifted a little.
"What does Ah Yu think?" Shang Junlin raised his hand and touched Shen Yu''s face.
"Your Majesty, let''s set the time for ten dayster. At least the first execution should be scheduled for that day."
Actually, this time was a bit rushed, but Shang Junlin didn''t ask much and just agreed, "Okay."
"Your Majesty, don''t you want to know why I chose that day?" Shen Yu turned around and looked at Shang Junlin with a burning gaze.
Chapter 128
Chapter 128
05/07/23 - edited
Shang Junlin looked deeply at Shen Yu for a while, as if he wanted to see into Shen Yu''s heart, as if everything was transparent, and the long-hidden secrets were about to be exposed to the daylight.
Shen Yu couldn''t help feeling nervous, and his fingers at his side curled up slightly.
In the end, Shang Junlin just raised his hand and touched the hair on his forehead, "When Ah Yu is ready to talk, then tell me."
Shen Yu had countless secrets hidden in him, and Shang Junlin knew better than anyone else. Not delving into them did not mean he didn''t care. He just didn''t want to force Shen Yu to do anything. He was willing to wait for the day when Shen Yu opened up and told him everything.
Shen Yu obediently leaned against Shang Junlin''s body and whispered, "Actually, I can''t say for sure. Maybe it will rain in ten days."
"It''s just a matter of time. Whenever it''s fine. Officials in Subei should give the people an ount sooner rather thanter."
The collective imprisonment of high-level officials in Subei caused quite a stir.
Themon people were puzzled and gathered to discuss the matter.
"What''s going on? Howe Minister Hou and the others were suddenly arrested?"
"Isn''t Official Fang here to help with the disaster relief? Why did they arrest other officials?"
It had to be said that Minister Hou and the others had done a good job on the surface, at least the people in the main city of Subei were willing to speak up for them. But in other ces, the people unconditionally believed in Official Fang.
"Did you hear? The high officials in the main city were all arrested by Official Fang."
"I heard, it''s true that what goes aroundes around. They used the disaster relief funds to expand their own private treasury, and they will pay the price sooner orter."
"No wonder we haven''t seen Official Fang for a while. It turns out he went to the main city to deal with those corrupt officials who filled their pockets."
"I also heard a small rumor, I don''t know if it''s true or not. It is said that at the beginning, some officials reported to the court about our situation here, but for some reason, the report did not reach the capital..."
"We waited for the court''s help for a long time, and it turns out that someone was interfering and didn''t want the court to help us."
"I don''t quite understand why they did this. It''s not good for Subei. Look at how many people have died during this time. If it wasn''t for the timely arrival of the court officials, the casualties would be even higher."
"You are silly. Think about it. If the court never sent anyone over to save us, who would take the me? It would be the high officials in the main city. By then, those people only need to say ''the court deliberately ignored us'', and they can stir up our dissatisfaction with the court, and make us grateful to the real culprit who caused all of this."
After hearing the analysis, others suddenly realized and cursed one after another.
"These corrupt officials are not human. It''s good they were caught!"
"Want us to be grateful to them? It''s just a dream."
"Thanks to the officials sent by the court who saw through their schemes."
In just a few days, these messages spread throughout every corner of Subei, and the people in the main city also learned about the ins and outs through the exnation of the officials dispatched by Fang Jun.
They had always known that the drought in Subei was severe, but since the main city had daily relief supplies, life was not impossible, and everything in the city was stable, their perception was not so acute. It was not until now that the veil was lifted from their eyes and they saw how serious the situation in Subei was.
It turned out that the stability they had thought was all an artificial illusion.
"They secretly sent sick people out of the main city and left them anywhere, telling the people in the city that they were sent for centralized treatment. At the same time, they also blocked the city gates, not allowing people inside or outside, and kept the information from flowing. The people in the city never realized anything was wrong."
By the end, Xun Chao''s tone was filled with suppressed anger.
"I didn''t know about these things. I think they sent their trusted aides to do it. Those people who were sent out of the main city, I''m afraid they have little chance of survival."
Not only were they sick and had no one to take care of them, but they were also abandoned in the wilderness without medicine or food. The oue could be imagined.
"Anyway, send someone to look for them first. We will try to save whoever we can," Fang Jun ordered, although he also knew that the chances of those people surviving were slim.
Under the leadership of Fang Jun, the main city of Subei was running in an orderly manner.
From the people who came from the capital, Fang Jun learned about what Shen Yu had done in the capital and knew that he could not allow others to take advantage of this situation and instigate conflicts between the people and the officials of Subei. Therefore, he sent people to mingle with the people and guide them to see the truth of the matter.
"Sir, what does the court say? Will those people be taken back to the capital for punishment?" Xun Chao asked.
They had caught quite a few people this time, and if they were to take them all back to the capital, considering the possible situations that might arise on the way, it would undoubtedly require a lot of effort and manpower.
"The Emperor says to dispose of them directly in Subei and has set a date for us to execute them before that day."
Upon hearing the date mentioned by Fang Jun, Xun Chao was surprised, "Why is it so rushed?"
"Never mind what the Emperor thinks, just go make the arrangements," Fang Jun patted his shoulder.
Fortunately, they had collected all the evidence, and after receiving the order, these pieces of evidence were announced one by one. It was also at this time that the people in the main city of Subei realized for the first time how many heinous crimes the officials they had trusted hadmitted.
"So, my sick father was not sent for treatment but was directly thrown out of the main city?" The moment he heard the news, the young man covered his face and knelt on the ground. He would never forgive himself for pushing his own father out to die.
He was not the only one who broke down.
"I knew it. Why didn''t they let us visit? It''s because he was already gone. How can we visit him when he''s no longer there? I can''t believe I was so naive."
"These officials, I will kill them!"
Those who were stimted by the sudden bad news were filled with remorse. After all, no one could ept the fact that they had pushed their loved ones out to die.
Fang Jun and Xun Chao watched from afar.
"On the day of the execution, let theme and witness the punishment, and have more people guard them on the side."
Hatred in the heart must be vented.
The evidence found was also handed over to the pce.
During the early court session, the Prime Minister announced the news that hade from the north, one by one. Suddenly hearing this, the hall was in chaos.
"That batch of supplies was actually robbed by collusion between officials from the north?!"
"They hid it and didn''t report it because they wanted to control the northern army?!"
"The people are starving, yet they can still drink and be merry. They don''t care about the disaster at all. These people are simply unworthy of being officials!"
"Lying about tax revenues, oppressing the people, colluding with the surrounding bandits, robbing wealth from passers-by, intercepting fleeing vigers..."
Every item was pinned on the officials, making people feel absurd.
"Punishment must be severe! This matter must be severely punished!"
The opinions of the ministers were highly unified. The actions of the officials from the north undoubtedly trampled on the authority of the court. From the emperor to the court officials, no one could tolerate it.
At the same time, the Prime Minister also announced the decision to execute these people on the spot.
The ministers started to argue about whether or not to bring the people back before executing them.
Shang Junlin propped his forehead with one hand, boredly watching the officials below arguing with flushed faces. Suddenly, his gaze stopped on a certain official who pretended to be calm for a moment before lightly moving away before being noticed.
The bait worked.
After arguing for a long time, neither side could convince the other, and they all looked at Emperor Shang Junlin, who was sitting high on the throne. "Please make a decision, Your Majesty."
"Let''s do as Official Fang suggested."
The person who felt that they should bring the people back to the capital before making a decision was dissatisfied, but could only ept it.
After the court session, the officials dispersed, and the Prime Minister was left behind.
"I really didn''t expect those people to have the guts to eveny their hands on what the court sent."
"They probably thought that the court couldn''t reach Suibei, and didn''t think that our Emperor could tolerate others imitating his belongings."
"Staying in Suibei for too long made them think they were the masters of Suibei."
Such a big incident happened in the previous dynasty, and the news also reached the imperial harem.
Seeing Mu Xi''s angry expression, Shen Yu found it somewhat amusing: "Why are you angry? Aren''t these people going to receive the punishment they deserve soon?"
Mu Xi: "This servant just can''t stand it."
Shen Yu: "I didn''t expect our Mu Xi to be someone who hates evil so much."
Mu Xi: "Master, don''t make fun of this servant. This servant really can''t understand why they would do such a thing."
Shen Yu: "Power is seductive. Since they couldn''t control themselves, they should have thought that there will be a day to pay for their sins."
Shen Yu had dealt with such people many times in his previous life. For power and money, some people can sacrifice everything, and in the eyes of those people, a little bit of conscience is worthless.
Shang Junlin left the Prime Minister behind to discuss the follow-up of the Suibei matter and the handling of the person who spread the rumors.
This person was deeply hidden in the court. If it weren''t for Shang Junlin deliberately creating a time difference in the Suibei matter this time, this person might not have been exposed.
"Why did His Majesty order Fang Jun to have them to be executed on the spot?" The Prime Minister was a little puzzled because ording to convention, those people should have been taken to the capital for the final trial, which would be more beneficial for the court and the royal family to establish their authority.
Shang Junlin stood with his hands behind his back and turned his head when he heard this, saying in a t voice, "I have my reasons for doing so."
After handling the affairs, Shang Junlin returned to the Yuzhang Pce.
Shen Yu was asking Mu Xi about the flower that Prince An had sent.
He thought about it and felt that there was something strange about this flower.
"This flower is also magical. Since it bloomed that day, there has been no sign of wilting. It''s been so many days, and it''s still blooming very well." Mu Xi had never seen a flower that could bloom for so long.
"What flower?" Shang Junlin walked over.
"That''s the one that Prince An sent before. Mu Xi said the flower hasn''t withered yet, and I want to take a look," said Shen Yu.
The flower had been in the pce for so long and nothing had happened. Specialists had been called in to check it out and confirmed that the flower was not poisonous. Even Shang Junlin had the imperial doctors check on the pce staff taking care of the flower to make sure they were okay.
"If you want to take a look, go ahead. Speaking of which, the day this flower blooms is quite interesting." It happened to be a day that was deeply engraved in Shang Junlin''s memory.
"If His Majesty knew the exact time the flower bloomed, he might be even more surprised," Shen Yu said, giving a specific time.
Shang Junlin silently calcted, "That timing is really coincidental."
As they spoke, the two of them had already arrived at the location where the flower was ced. From a distance, the flower looked extremely beautiful among the other flowers and nts.
After approaching, Shen Yu didn''t know if it was just his imagination, but he always felt that the petals were leaning towards him.
Shang Junlin also saw it. He looked at the flower, then at Shen Yu, his tone uncertain, "It seems like this flower really likes you..."
Chapter 129
Chapter 129
05/07/23 - edited
Shen Yu had been thinking about this nt for days, but when he finally saw it, he didn''t feel anything special. It was just a beautiful flower. Upon hearing the words of Shang Junlin, Shen Yu couldn''t help but cry andugh, "What are you saying, Your Majesty? It''s just a flower..."
Halfway through his sentence, Shen Yu suddenly stopped because he realized that the flower was actually swaying slightly with his movements.
Shen Yu looked at Shang Junlin, and both of them had an expression of disbelief.
"This flower..."
Shen Yu turned to look at the flower, and its stem was swaying without any wind. The petals were lighter in color than when he first saw them, like translucent jade, with slightly curled edges that were beautifullyyered.
Shang Junlin called over the pce maid in charge of taking care of the flower, "Have you noticed anything unusual about it when you were taking care of it?"
"...No," the pce maid thought for a moment, "Wait, there was one thing. This flower asionally moves around."
"Isn''t it normal for it to move with the wind?" Shang Junlin asked calmly.
"Your Majesty, I dare not deceive you. There were several times when the flower moved, but there was no wind." The pce maid kneeled down.
"I''m not ming you. Please stand up," Shen Yu said helplessly.
It seemed that this flower wasn''t just moving for him. Shen Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your Majesty, why did Prince An send this flower from so far away?" Shen Yu couldn''t understand.
Other princes followed his hint and sent him "in" gifts of gold, silver, and jewels, but only Prince An sent such a faraway flower.
"I had people secretly investigate Prince An''s estate, but we didn''t find another flower like this one. It''s said that he identally came across this flower and thought it was pretty, so he sent it over with the gift."
Actually, Shang Junlin didn''t n to keep the flower at first. He didn''t trust things with unknown origins to be near Shen Yu. But somehow, he felt that he would regret it if he threw it away. He guessed that Prince An wouldn''t dare to do anything to the gift he sent, so he kept the flower.
Shen Yu continued to observe the flower. It was about half a person tall with lush green leaves and only one flower blooming, surrounded by a multitude of leaves that were like stars around the moon, giving off a brilliant radiance.
Could this flower really emit light at night?
Shen Yu couldn''t help but wonder.
Under the cover of the night, everything seemed to disappear, leaving only this flower as the sole source of light, attracting living creatures like moths to a me.
The petals stretched to their limit, revealing the shiny white beads wrapped inside.
What was that?
Shen Yu couldn''t help but get closer to take a closer look but was suddenly brought back to reality by a voice calling his name.
"Ah Yu!"
Shen Yu turned around, with lingering confusion in his eyes, "What?"
His hand was firmly grabbed by the man, and Shang Junlin looked at him steadily, "You just wanted to pick that flower."
Before Shen Yu could react, the man embraced him tightly and took a step back, his gaze at the flower turning unfriendly.
Under the man''s cold breath, Shen Yu''s confused thoughts finally cleared up. When he looked at the flower again, his emotions were unstable.
It was too strange.
It seemed that only he had been affected.
Suppressing his thoughts, Shen Yu patted Shang Junlin soothingly, "I''m fine, I just saw it wrong."
Shang Junlin was still worried, so he carefully checked Shen Yu''s body before leaving, still holding him.
When Meng Gonggong saw Shang Junlin carrying Shen Yu out, he hurried over, "Your Majesty..."
"Summon Physician Gu." Shang Junlin did not stop and walked towards the bedroom with Shen Yu in his arms.
Meng Gonggong didn''t dare to dy and quickly went to call someone.
Shen Yu carefully sensed his body and leaned against Shang Junlin''s chest, "I''m really fine."
That flower didn''t bring him any difort.
Physician Gu was sun-drying medicine and was called urgently by Meng Gonggong to Yu Zhang Pce. He thought something big had happened, but when he came in, he saw that Shen Yu''s face was normal, and it was Shang Junlin who didn''t look too good.
After examining Shen Yu''s pulse, Imperial Physician Gu put down his hand, and something shed through his mind, but he couldn''t grasp it before it disappeared.
Physician Gu asked Shen Yu some questions, and he answered them one by one. Imperial Physician Gu pondered, "I want to go see that flower first."
Shang Junlin ordered a pce servant to take Imperial Physician Gu there.
Soon, Physician Gu came back, "Your Majesty, rest assured, your Highness''s body has not shown any problems. I went to see the flower, and it will not cause any harm to the human body."
Although Physician Gu assured them that there was no problem, Shang Junlin was still very scared. For the next few days, he had to keep an eye on Shen Yu at all times to feel at ease. He also forbade Shen Yu from going to see that flower again.
Shen Yu actually wanted to go see it again. Heter asked around, and except for him, no one who hade into contact with the flower showed any abnormal behavior. He wanted to know if it was inevitable or just a coincidence.
Of course, after that day, Shang Junlin was furious and ordered the ce where the flowers were ced to be cleaned inside and out. Actually, he knew that it might not be the flowers'' fault, but rather someone might have tampered with the ce. After all, Shen Yu was attacked on the day he entered the pce.
As it turned out, they did find something.
"It''s a hallucinogenic drug, in a very small dose," Physician Gu said, sniffing at the small piece of wood he held under his nose. "Such a small dose doesn''t have any effect on the human body, just a whiff, and it will be metabolized quickly. No wonder we didn''t find anything wrong with Your Highness that day."
Shang Junlin was emitting a chilling aura. The small piece of wood was found on the flower rack, and it was obvious that someone had deliberately put it there. Shang Junlin had been on high alert, but he had not expected someone to still tamper with it.
The flower rack was brought over, and Shang Junlin said coldly, "Physician Gu, check if there''s anything else here."
Physician Gu walked around the flower rack and shook his head. "Your Majesty, there''s nothing else."
Shen Yu, with a veil over his face soaked in a specially prepared drug by Physician Gu, walked over. Shen Yu''s body was slightly weaker than usual, and many drugs that were not a big deal for ordinary people could affect him. Shen Yu was also interested in things that could cause hallucinations, so he came up with this method.
The veil was not transparent, only revealing a pair of clear eyes.
Shen Yu''s eyes were extremely beautiful, with the corners slightly upturned. Even when he wasn''t smiling, he gave people the feeling of smiling, especially when half of his face was covered, the charm of those eyes became more prominent.
"How was this piece of wood discovered?" Shen Yu lowered his head and looked at the piece of wood ced on the small table, about two fingers wide, and the same color as the wooden flower rack, so it was impossible to notice it was embedded inside.
"It was an ident," Shang Junlin''s chilling aura dissipated upon seeing Shen Yu, "a clumsy little pce maid identally knocked over the rack when moving the flowers, and the piece of wood fell out and was discovered by the responsible pce attendant."
Knowing that His Majesty was investigating, the pce attendant didn''t dare to conceal it and reported it immediately upon obtaining the piece of wood. That was how Shen Yu came to see it.
All the flowers and nts were moved to another ce. Shen Yu walked around but didn''t see the flower that Prince An had sent. He walked over to Shang Junlin and poked the man''s arm. "Your Majesty, what about the flower Prince An sent?"
"It''s been moved to another ce. Don''t worry, it won''t be thrown away." Knowing that the flower was not rted to Shen Yu''s strange behavior that day, Shang Junlin''s hostility towards the flower subsided.
"Who put this piece of wood in here? They certainly came up with a clever idea."
"We''re still investigating," Shang Junlin put his arm around Shen Yu''s waist and led him away. "Don''t get too close, Ah Yu."
The piece of wood was ced right next to the flower sent by Prince An, no wonder Shen Yu was affected when he was near the flower.
"What does this person want? To make Your Majesty think that Prince An harmed me?"
"When we catch the culprit, we''ll know what they want to do." Although Shang Junlin''s tone was gentle, his eyes were cold.
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin stayed for a while before Meng Gonggong came in and said that a minister was looking for Shang Junlin. Shen Yu then left with him.
The prime minister came to the pce, still for the matter of the Subei. Upper-level officials in Subei had been arrested, leaving many vacancies that were temporarily filled by people sent by the court. However, this was not a long-term solution and suitable officials had to be arranged to go there soon.
Not all local officials were corrupt, especially those in small towns nearby. Many of them were capable and were selected by Fang Daren. After examination, they were transferred to the main city for official positions. Some small officials who were originally stationed in the main city were also kept based on their abilities, while the others were sent to small towns for retraining.
The court officials who came to help with disaster relief were also called to the main city and temporarily assumed some duties. Hou Daren and others had been operating in Subei for many years and had a deep foundation. Although they were caught now, thework of rtionships they left behind could not be cut off in a day.
To clean up the mess, Fang Jun was busy as a bee.
Time flew by, and soon it was the day of execution.
The Subei region was still clear and sunny, with no signs of rain.
Early in the morning, when the people learned that Minister Hou and others were to be executed, they went to the execution site one after another. The deceased would note back, but they could at least see the chief culprits being punished with their own eyes.
The prisoners were escorted to the execution ground. The people present did not show any fear in the face of the impending bloody scene. They had excitement, desire for revenge, satisfaction, and hatred, but no fear.
Fang Jun sat in the main seat, with Xun Chao sitting at the lower end. Feeling the angry gazes from the execution ground, he smiled back.
"It''s time!"
The sharp de was raised high and then fell--
As if it had also cut away all the sins.
The bloody smell filled the air, in memory of the wrongfully executed souls in heaven.
"Boom--"
When thest person was disposed of, arge dark cloud drifted over and covered the scorching sun. The people watching the execution raised their heads in surprise, feeling cold water droplets falling on their faces.
--It was raining!
Just as these corrupt officials were being punished, it started to rain!
The people all knelt down and shouted, "Long live Your Majesty," in the direction of the imperial pce.
Even Fang Jun, who was ustomed to big scenes, was bewildered for a moment when he experienced this moment firsthand.
No one had expected that the rain that Subei had been hoping for woulde at this moment, at this time.
The news was transmitted back to the court, and everyone was shocked.
"Ah Yu," Shang Junlin embraced the young man as soon as he walked in. "Sometimes I wonder if you''re an immortal sent from the heavens, here toplete a mission before returning to the heavens again."
"Or perhaps," Shang Junlin continued, "you''re a fairy among the flowers, and that particr flower only shows affection towards you. You even have control over the rain..."
As he spoke, Shang Junlin nted kisses on Shen Yu''s face eagerly, as if trying to confirm Shen Yu''s existence through this physical act.
Shen Yu responded with a worried expression, touching Shang Junlin''s forehead. "Your Majesty, what happened to you? Why are you talking nonsense?"
Chapter 130
Chapter 130
I seriously dont have any face to address how I broke my promise one by one. So sorry. myziness caught up my butt.
05/07/23
The kisses on his face were intimate and urgent, and Shen Yu could feel the thick unease emanating from Shang Junlin''s body. It was the first time he had ever experienced such strong emotional fluctuations from Shang Junlin.
"I''m not sick," Shang Junlin said, his lips pressed against Shen Yu''s forehead, his breath spraying onto Shen Yu''s skin. He grabbed Shen Yu''s hand and ced it in his palm. "I''m not sick."
"Why did His Majesty suddenly say such a thing? I''m just an ordinary person, how could I be the immortal in His Majesty''s mouth?"
But Shang Junlin couldn''t listen now. He was caught in his own spection, thinking more and more that it made sense. "If he''s not an immortal, how could Ah Yu know so much? How could he know that there would be rain in Subei?"
Everything Shen Yu brought out was unprecedented.
Shen Yu opened his mouth but found himself unable to exin. Reincarnation was too terrifying to talk about, and he hadn''t decided whether to tell Shang Junlin yet. It was his biggest secret and his biggest trump card.
However, he soon heard the key point from Shang Junlin''s words.
"It''s raining in Subei?"
His shocked expression was not feigned, and Shang Junlin looked at him for a while. "Didn''t Ah Yu already know?"
"How could His Majesty think I knew? If it weren''t for His Majesty telling me, I wouldn''t have known."
"Subei is raining, isn''t it because of Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin spoke while staring at Shen Yu''s face, not missing any changes in his expression.
"Why would His Majesty think that?" Shen Yu was at a loss. "How could I make it rain in Subei?"
"The time was set by Ah Yu," Shang Junlin finally regained some sanity and sat down on the couch with Shen Yu in his arms. "Subei reported back that it rained heavily after the execution that day, and the rain continued for several days. Now the disaster in Subei has basically been alleviated."
"Why does His Majesty think that the rain has something to do with me?" Shen Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Because the timing was too coincidental, just at the moment the execution ended." Shang Junlin stroked Shen Yu''s fingers. When he received the news, his first reaction was that the rain was rted to Shen Yu. Otherwise, how would one exin Shen Yu''s choice of timing?
At that moment, he was very grateful that he did not expose Shen Yu when he gave the order. Then he was overwhelmed by fear, and as he connected all the mysterious aspects, he became more convinced that Shen Yu was the immortal in the rumors.
"Your Majesty, the rain in Subei really has nothing to do with me. I just checked the books and found that it rains heavily in Subei every year at this time. I just set the time before the heavy rain came. If it didn''t rain, we wouldn''t have suffered any losses, but if it rained, we would have more room to maneuver afterward."
Shen Yu did not want to let Shang Junlin continue with this dangerous idea. He understood this man well, and if he was convinced that Shen Yu was a fairy who could leave at any time, who knew what he might do.
Moreover, this statement wasn''t a lie. It was just that he had memories of his past life and was certain that it would rain during this period of time this year. However, he didn''t expect the specific time of the rain to be after the execution was over.
"If His Majesty doesn''t believe me, he can look at the notes I''ve made." In order to calcte a rtively small range, Shen Yu had looked up a lot of information about Subei during this period of time and transcribed information about the autumn rainfall time. Combining this with the records from his past life, he estimated a rough time frame.
Shen Yu''s manuscript was ced nearby, and Shang Junlin''s thoughts wandered back to the time when Shen Yu had asked him for books. "You asked for so many books back then just for this?"
"Otherwise?" Shen Yu reprimanded him, "His Majesty should know that I don''t like reading those kinds of things."
"I thought you had changed your preferences." As soon as Shen Yu brought it up, Shang Junlin remembered that there was a time when Shen Yu stopped reading novels and started reading books that recorded local conditions.
Shen Yu brought the notes he had recorded and ced them in front of Shang Junlin. "Your Majesty, take a look for yourself."
After flipping through them, Shang Junlin''s furrowed brow gradually rxed.
"At that time, I thought His Majesty would ask," Shen Yu said half-jokingly, relieved that Shang Junlin was no longer tense. "If you had asked, I could have received a reward."
"What does Ah Yu want? It''s not toote to say now."
"After the Subei matter is over, His Majesty can apany me to stay at the Zhuangzi for a few days. I always go there for a few days during this time of year."
Shang Junlin felt guilty, so of course he agreed to whatever Shen Yu said.
"Ah Yu, you''ve worked hard," Shang Junlin embraced him again, "but the role you yed in this matter, I''m afraid it can''t be made public."
This matter was too bizarre. If it were spread, Shen Yu would be pushed to the forefront and scrutinized by everyone, which was not a good thing, especially since it was because of something so inexplicable.
People feared the gods, but there were always those who had the courage to do things they shouldn''t. Moreover, there were still several forces hiding in the dark, enemies disguised as friends. Shang Junlin didn''t want to take risks with Shen Yu.
"Your Majesty, even if you don''t say it, I will ask His Majesty to conceal my existence. Besides, I haven''t done anything wrong."
Shen Yu has always known that words can be dangerous. This matter can be made big or small, but the effect of keeping it mysterious on him is far less than ideal.
The rain came at just the right time and the timing was so perfect. This was such a good opportunity that it would be a waste not to take advantage of it.
The rain was heavy, but no oneined. The people of Subei were almost moved to tears. There was a feeling of unreality. They had been hoping and waiting for this rain for so long, and it fell suddenly and unexpectedly.
Everyone was happy about the rain after the long drought.
Fang Jun was a very clear-headed person. After a moment of confusion, he quickly realized that this was a good opportunity to gather public support.
It rained for a whole day and night without stopping, but the rain gradually decreased. The cracked earth absorbed sufficient water, and the flowers, trees and grass on the roadside also blossomed with new life.
Themon people walked in the drizzle wearing straw hats or raincoats, feeling the hard-earned rain and discussing the long-awaited rain.
"We''ve been waiting for months, and it''s finally raining."
"Yeah, but do you guys think this rain is a reward from heaven for the court''s punishment of corrupt officials?"
"I think so. Otherwise, why didn''t it rain earlier orter? Why did it rain at the exact moment when those corrupt officials were being punished?"
"They disregarded human life and deserved to die!"
The whole Subei was talking about this rain, and those officials who were punished were also discussed.
Originally, there were still some remnants of power who wanted to cause chaos, but after a heavy rain, many of their followers ran away. To make matters worse, many of them went to the government to report them in order to reduce their own guilt.
Because of this timely rain, the power that Minister Hou and others had been operating in Subei for many years was easily destroyed. These people couldn''t even cause chaos, and they were grateful just to avoid being caught by the government.
Fang Jun issued a reward order, and the people of Subei had already concluded that the drought was a punishment from heaven to punish these corrupt officials. They showed no mercy in catching the remnants of the power.
Everyone thought that if it weren''t for them, Subei wouldn''t have had such a severe drought.
The news from Subei spread from the capital to all parts of Da Huan. When the people who were closely following the disaster in Subei heard about it, it caused a great stir.
In restaurants, teahouses, and streets, everyone was talking about it.
"Have you heard? It''s raining in Subei now, so we don''t have to worry about it anymore."
"Cutting off corrupt officials results in rain. Do you think the previous drought was rted to these corrupt officials?"
"Speaking of that, do you remember the rumors that were circting a while back, saying that the drought in Subei was caused by dissatisfaction with the emperor''s policies and deliberately causing a disaster?"
"How could we forget? It was simply groundless. Even if it was dissatisfaction with the emperor''s policies, why was it a drought in Subei instead of the capital? The capital is much closer to the emperor."
"They just wanted to nder the emperor. I don''t know what kind of intentions they had. When the emperor sent people to execute the corrupt officials, it immediately started raining heavily. This shows that even if heaven is dissatisfied, it''s not with the emperor, but with those corrupt officials."
"Since the emperor ascended to the throne, our lives have indeed been getting better. We don''t even have to worry about enemy armies attacking the city gates at any time. I also can''t understand why someone always wants to nder the emperor, saying that the emperor kills the innocent and is cruel and unfeeling. But since the New Year, every person the emperor has punished deserves it. If punishing criminals is also considered killing the innocent, then I have nothing to say."
"Now that you mention it, it seems to be true. Were there hidden reasons for the ministers the emperor killed before? Who didn''t cry foul for Zhang Yushi at the time?"
"You can''t just look at the surface of things. Were those previous criticisms of the emperor true or not? If the court could give an exnation, it would be great."
"Doesn''t the government have a suggestion box? Why don''t we ask them?"
As the discussion ended, there was silence all around.
Turning around, the officials received anonymous inquiries from the people. Those anonymous letters that could be solved at the lower levels would not be brought up to the court, but this matter was obviously beyond their control, and they also wanted to know if there was any inside information.
After much thought, the officials brought up the matter in court.
The ministers looked at each other, mainly because many of them were not clear about the inside story. If there really was some hidden information, it would be understandable, but if not...
"He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing, Fang Jiayi, I am entrusting this matter to you. Don''t disappoint me."
"We obey, Your Majesty."
No one expected that Shang Junlin would hand this matter over to three inexperienced young officials to handle. Some people instinctively wanted to speak out against it but were pulled back by those around them.
It was obvious that Jiang Huaiqing and the other two would be heavily relied upon, and they had never been able to influence the emperor''s decisions.
"Your Majesty, didn''t you n to send these three to the north? Why are you giving them this task?" Shen Yu understood Shang Junlin''s n. Soon, Fang and his team would return, and the officials sent by the court would also set off.
"Ah Yu, didn''t you want to know who was behind the rumor-mongering? We will know soon enough." Shang Junlin did not directly answer Shen Yu''s question.
"Your Majesty, are you trying to force that person''s hand through this incident?" Shen Yu asked.
Seeing the stigma that had been gradually building up on Shang Junlin''s name being resolved one by one, and even causing him to be more beloved by the people, would the person behind the scenes be able to sit still?
Chapter 131
Chapter 131
It''s obvious that he can''t sit still.
In a private residence somewhere, a trembling servant knelt on the ground, surrounded by shattered porcin. The servant''s body was bleeding, and it was evident how the injury urred.
"A bunch of useless people! You''ve ruined the great situation!" The man was trembling with anger. Only now did he realize that every step the court took was directed against him.
He, who considered himself clever, had unknowingly fallen into someone else''s trap.
And the Emperor, who had previously disregarded these matters, who influenced him to start digging up old ounts?
The man couldn''t understand.
After years of nning, everything was destroyed in a single morning. No one could ept it. After venting his anger, the man reluctantly calmed himself down. "Tell me, what should we do now?"
A loyal follower knelt nearby, trembling, and raised his head. "Sir, regarding this matter..."
He wanted to say that at this point, the situation was beyond their control, and they could only find a way to extricate themselves quickly and try to prevent the fire from spreading to them. But looking at the man''s furious expression, he swallowed the rest of his words because he knew that''s not what the man wanted to hear.
"The Emperor entrusted a group of inexperienced kids to handle this. Should we say he trusted himself too much or underestimated the enemy too greatly?"
All those carefully nned events had already left a bad impression in the hearts of the people. Their original n was to deepen this impression step by step, stacking it up to the point of eruption, and then ignite it. The incident in the north was the perfect fuse.
Just when the final step of the n was about to seed, it suddenly backfired, not only changing the Emperor''s impression among the people but also unearthing the seeds they had so painstakingly buried.
Now, outside, everyone was praising the Emperor''s wisdom and martial prowess, seeing him as a good ruler, which waspletely contrary to their initial expectations.
After Jiang Huaiqing and his twopanions received the imperial order, they were called aside by the Prime Minister.
"The Emperor has entrusted this matter to you, as a sign of his trust and a test. I won''t be involved too much in this matter. It''s all up to you."
Because of this matter, Jiang Huaiqing and hispanions became busier than ever.
They examined the case files, understood the true nature of the situation, and released the truth. Every step had to be wless.
Thus began a covert confrontation.
"Brother Chengyu, have you noticed that we have encountered many obstacles in our progresstely?" Jiang Huaiqing asked while flipping through the documents.
Initially, everything went smoothly, but then, starting from an unknown day, there were people openly or secretly obstructing them. These were seemingly insignificant matters that could easily be dismissed as idents.
Jiang Huaiqing was sensitive to people''s emotions and could feel that these actions were intentional.
"Yes, we should focus on carrying out the tasks given by the Emperor, and others will take care of the rest."
What they could sense, the Hidden Dragon Guards naturally noticed as well. They were the eyes and ears of Shang Junlin, and their discoveries were equivalent to Shang Junlin''s discoveries.
"Why hasn''t the Emperor taken action yet?" Shen Yu questioned, full of doubt.
In a pavilion, two people sat facing each other, deeply engrossed in a fierce battle on the chessboard between ck and white pieces.
"We have to give them some time to catch their breath, so as not to cause any additional trouble."
Jiang Huaiqing and his twopanions operated in the open, while the Hidden Dragon Guards operated in the shadows. The person who couldn''t sit still for long had already exposed many ws, and the Hidden Dragon Guards, following the clues, caught hold of the person''s tail.
"Do you think that person would take a risk and harm Jiang Huaiqing and the others?"
"With the Hidden Dragon Guards following them, if they really make a move, I''ll make sure they have no way out."
A few dayster, Jiang Huaiqing started feeling increasingly uneasy. There was a constant lingering feeling of being watched, but he didn''t know if it was just his own perception or if the other two also felt it.
Finding an opportunity, he subtly asked the other two.
They exchanged nces and confirmed that it wasn''t a misconception. There was indeed someone constantly monitoring them.
Apart from the additional tasks assigned by Shang Junlin, they still served under the Prime Minister. It was only in the Prime Minister''s residence that they didn''t feel the sense of being closely watched.
After finishing their immediate tasks, Jiang Huaiqing hesitated for a moment before bringing up the abnormal urrences they had encountered during this period to the Prime Minister.
Upon hearing their ount, the Prime Minister had hot tea served to them before saying, "You haven''t sensed it wrongly. The tasks assigned by the Emperor have touched upon the interests of certain individuals. They won''t let it go easily. However, you need not worry excessively. Just focus on your work."
The Prime Minister''s words provided them with an answer and subtly addressed their safety concerns, confirming their suspicions. The three of them continued to attend to their tasks.
As the investigation delved deeper, one by one, the past events unraveled, revealing the true faces of the ministers whom themon people believed to have died unjustly.
These forgotten events, which were nearly buried by time, resurfaced before the world, presented in apletely different light than before.
Discussions about the events in the north gradually diminished among the people, reced by the resurfacing of these long-forgotten stories.
Because of the events in the north, the people still had trust in the court. The official reports were directly managed by the court, and the credibility of the news published on them was highly regarded by the people. When the news came out, it caused a huge uproar.
"I told you that His Majesty wouldn''t indiscriminately kill innocent people. Look at those who were killed. Every single one of them was burdened with guilt. They deserved to die!"
"I remember when the former Prime Minister died, there were rumors everywhere about how he worried for the country and the people, and that''s why he died under the tyrant''s sword. It was said that the tyrant changed his decrees out of fear of the rumors. But now the court tells us that the former Prime Minister died because he obstructed the implementation of the newws, engaged in corruption, and bought and sold official positions... Why is it so contradictory to what we believed to be the truth?"
Simr situations were not limited to just this one.
Themon people went from initial shock and disbelief toter numbness and eptance. In the end, they even found it strange if they weren''t being deceived.
It was at this time that they began to notice something amiss in the whole affair.
"Once or twice could be considered idents, but so many times, are they all idents?" someone voiced their concerns.
"I also feel that something is not right. Think about it, every time His Majesty deals with an official, aren''t there always rumors that are unfavorable to him? Those people assertively proim the so-called ''truth,'' arousing dissatisfaction in our hearts towards His Majesty. Even in the case of the purging of the north, there are people tirelessly trying to smear His Majesty."
"Now that you mention it, I remember hearing someone say that the severe drought in the north was due to the heavens'' displeasure with His Majesty''s actions..."
"I''ve heard such talk too."
"So have I."
As the people gathered together, they looked at each other, realizing that everyone seemed to have heard such words. The sense of strangeness became even more apparent.
After a moment of silence, someone couldn''t help but speak up, "Isn''t this all orchestrated?"
"If we hadn''t known in advance what the court was doing, wouldn''t we have believed those people''s words?"
"So," a middle-aged man swallowed nervously, "there have been people deliberately fueling our dissatisfaction with His Majesty from the beginning to the end. What exactly do they want to achieve?"
A vague idea began to form in the minds of the crowd, but it was too subversive, and no one dared to speak it out directly.
---
"Minister Feng seems somewhat preupied today. Has something happened?" After the morning court session, the officials from influential families gathered to discuss matters concerning the purging of the north.
With so many official positions vacant in the north, it was clear that many were eyeing them covetously. They still couldn''t discern His Majesty''s intentions, so they had to prepare early and dispatch more officials from influential families if possible.
After some conversation, someone noticed that Minister Feng seemed out of sorts. In fact, it wasn''t just Minister Feng; even Minister Duan, who was also a cab minister, appeared dispirited.
"It''s my mischievous child causing me some concern. I''m pondering how to discipline him. Even at this age, he still causes trouble," Minister Feng sighed.
The other ministers were aware of this matter as well. The youngest son of the Feng family had set his sights on amoner girl and insisted on marrying her with all the formalities of a legal wife. However, this young master had already been engaged to another girl from an influential family...
Thinking of this, the people involuntarily looked toward the other minister, seeing that his expression was not too good, they tactfully skipped over that topic.
"The Emperor is giving significant favor to He Chengyu and the other two. They might be transferred to the north," someone spected.
"It''s also possible that if a group of officials from the capital is sent there, the vacant positions can be filled by them. It seems that His Majesty is determined to promote them."
"The Prime Minister also has a good impression of them. He personally guides them and imparts knowledge. How many people in the world have received such treatment?"
"Since Shen Guijun entered the pce, His Majesty has truly changed."
"Back then, when Minister Feng and the others proposed to bring the eldest son of the Marquis of Zhenbei into the pce, they probably didn''t expect such a day toe."
They thought sending a scion of a noble family into the pce would be advantageous to the aristocracy, but they didn''t expect it would exacerbate the conflict between His Majesty and the noble families.
"He''s just a sickly child, what difference can he make?" Minister Feng had something on his mind, his tone not particrly pleasant.
"Speaking of which, it''s quite interesting how the Marquis of Zhenbei treats his legitimate son as if he''s nothing while cherishing his illegitimate child like a precious gem. And what''s the result? He raised a white-eyed wolf who is devoted to outsiders."
The topic had unknowingly veered off in another direction, and Minister Duan nced at Minister Feng, who seemed more anxious than usual, furrowing his brows slightly.
Inside the pce, Shen Yu received a greeting card from the Marquis of Zhenbei. As Shen Yu''s birthday was approaching, the Marquis wanted to seize this opportunity to repair their father-son rtionship.
Shen Yu traced the edge of the greeting card, his eyes filled with a hint of obscurity. From childhood to adulthood, the Marquis had never celebrated his birthday, but now he suddenly remembered it.
Shang Junlin walked over, took the greeting card from his hand, and nced at it before tossing it aside. "Ah Yu''s birthday. I want to celebrate it grandly."
This would be Shen Yu''s first birthday celebration since entering the pce, and Shang Junlin didn''t want to disappoint him.
Shen Yu didn''t want it to be too extravagant. "The drought in the north just ended, so it''s not suitable to hold a grand feast at this time. I also don''t enjoy being in the pce hall with unfamiliar people and feeling constrained. It would be better to just be with Your Majesty."
Shang Junlin was intrigued by Shen Yu''s proposal, but he also wanted to hold a grand banquet to announce to the world that Shen Yu was the person closest to his heart. He wouldn''t allow anyone to nder them, and he wanted Shen Yu to be associated with him in the minds of the people. Whenever anyone mentioned one of them, they would think of the other.
"Don''t you want to be alone with me, Your Majesty?" Sensing his hesitation, Shen Yu walked around the table and approached Shang Junlin. He ced his hand on the Emperor''s shoulder and leaned in close, whispering, "Besides Your Majesty and me, there won''t be a third person. For the whole day, Your Majesty can do many things..."
"Anything?" Shang Junlin embraced Shen Yu''s waist and asked in a hoarse voice.
Chapter 132
Chapter 132
In the mind of Shang Junlin, an irresistible image of being alone with Shen Yu emerged. Shen Yu''s proposal was very tempting, especially for Shang Junlin, who had always been in a state of half-satisfaction.
Shen Yu could see his interest at a nce and continued, "If Your Majesty wishes to hold a feast, it can be arranged on Your Majesty''s birthday. As for my birthday, let it be a private celebration for the two of us."
"Ah Yu, do you know why I want to celebrate your birthday grandly?" Shang Junlin''s gaze dimmed slightly as his fingertips caressed the delicate skin on Shen Yu''s neck.
"I want to proim to the world that Ah Yu belongs to me." Without waiting for Shen Yu''s response, Shang Junlin had already given the answer.
"I have long been bound to Your Majesty. I am Your Majesty''s noble consort, and no one can deny that." Shen Yu leaned his head and rubbed Shang Junlin''s hand.
Noble consort.
Shang Junlin used to think this title was excellent, but now it sounded like something was missing.
"Does Ah Yu want to be the Empress?"
When asking this question, Shang Junlin''s tone was calm, as if he were asking about an ordinary matter, rather than a significant issue concerning the session of a nation.
"Why does Your Majesty suddenly ask about this?" Shen Yu was slightly surprised. "I actually think things are fine the way they are now."
Shen Yu was not particrly interested in the position of Empress.
"Just feeling that besides Ah Yu, no one else can take that position."
Before Shen Yu entered the pce, Shang Junlin had never thought that one day there would be someone in his life whom he couldn''t let go of.
Seeing Shen Yu''sck of enthusiasm, Shang Junlin didn''t continue the topic. He silently made a note of it in his heart, waiting for an appropriate moment to announce it.
"If Ah Yu doesn''t want a grand feast, what about a small one?" Although Shang Junlin wanted to have some private time with Shen Yu, he also didn''t want Shen Yu to have any regrets.
"Your Majesty doesn''t need to think about these things. I used to celebrate my birthday at the estate in previous years. Why not apany me there this year?" Having lived two lifetimes, Shen Yu truly wasn''t interested in such things.
"Then let''s do as Ah Yu wishes."
There was still some time before Shen Yu''s birthday, and although Shang Junlin agreed to go to the estate with Shen Yu, he hadn''tpletely abandoned the idea of having a birthday banquet in the pce.
He wouldn''t let Shen Yu miss out on anything that others had. Shang Junlin couldn''t be a part of Shen Yu''s past, but in the present and future, he would ensure that Shen Yu wouldn''t have any regrets.
After heavy rain, the Subei region began to recover, and Fang Jun and Xun Chao joined forces to stabilize the situation.
Because of the abundant rain brought by the heavens, the remnants of the Hou family and other officials'' forces were unable to stir up any trouble, which saved Fang Jun a lot of trouble.
With timely prevention and intervention, the drought didn''t bring about more severe consequences, and the epidemic that everyone was worried about did not ur.
Before the newly appointed officials took office in the court, Fang Jun and his group needed to temporarily stay in Subei to handle follow-up matters.
Thanks to the efforts of Jiang Huaiqing and the other two, Shang Junlin''s reputation among themon people underwent a great reversal. The stains that should never have been associated with him were gradually cleared, and the people couldn''t help but specte who was behind all of this.
Shen Yu knew that part of it was done by the King of Yue, but aside from that, there was another hidden force that had been lurking in the capital for many years. However, this force was also on the verge of being discovered and dealt with by Shang Junlin.
With the news released by Jiang Huaiqing and the others, the misunderstandings about Shang Junlin that had persisted since his ascension gradually dissipated. This was undoubtedly a situation that the mastermind behind the scenes didn''t want to see.
They had beenying the groundwork for so long, only to incite discontent among the people towards the current monarch. Over the years, this umted dissatisfaction would have a significant impact when they finally wanted to take action.
"How long do you think they can endure, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu thought that the masterminds behind the scenes would have already lost their patience. However, so much time had passed, and the situation remained calm outside.
"They dare not do anything now. Perhaps they think weck concrete evidence to take real action against them, so they want to retreat and wait for this storm to pass."
Shang Junlin would naturally not give them the opportunity.
After all the rumors were rified, Shang Junlin ordered his people to spread a certain direction among the people, letting them specte on who could have done such a thing. At the same time, he brought up the matter during court sessions.
"In these past few days, I have heard some interesting words. Tell me, who has been tirelessly smearing my actions in the hearts of the people year after year?"
In the grand court, Shang Junlin sat calmly on the dragon throne, speaking his doubts slowly, and his eagle-like gaze swept across the faces of the ministers.
"In the past, I didn''t care about these empty titles. I never knew that in the eyes of the people, I was such an emperorindiscriminate killings, disregarding human lives, harming the loyal, cruel, and merciless..."
With each word Shang Junlin uttered, the breath of the people in the court became lighter.
They had certainly heard such rumors and even some officials who were unclear about the truth believed in those rumors. After the court announced the deeds of the deceased officials, they felt ashamed for having once believed in the rumors.
"Who is behind all this maniption? I need a result," said Shang Junlin as he pointed at several ministers. "I''m assigning this task to you. If you can''t find any useful information, then you can forget about holding your positions."
Minister Feng, who remained silent, felt a jump in his heart. It was quite coincidental that the officials the Emperor had pointed to had varying degrees of connection to him.
After the morning court session, Minister Feng hastily got on a carriage and rushed back to his residence, disregarding the calls from people behind him.
"Why is Minister Feng in such a hurry today?" asked Minister Duan, frowning as he watched Minister Feng''s hurried departure.
Minister Duan and Minister Feng entered the cab almost at the same time and had worked together for many years. He had noticed Minister Feng''s unusual behaviortely.
Everything happening outside the pce reached the ears of Shang Junlin and Shen Yu.
After hearing about what happened during Shang Junlin''s morning court session, Shen Yu smiled and asked, "Did Your Majesty intentionally assign those ministers to investigate?"
"The Prime Minister has beenining that they have upied their positions without doing any work for a long time. Moreover, it''s almost time for the officials who were sent outside to return to the capital and report on their duties. I n to keep a group of them here."
It was equivalent to admitting that it was intentional.
"I''m sure Minister Feng''s expression must have been quite interesting," Shen Yu said as he picked up his teacup and took a sip. "When did Your Majesty discover that this matter was rted to Minister Feng?"
"In fact, I had some candidates in mind from the beginning. The aristocratic families initially supported me not out of genuine sincerity, but because they thought I had no foundation in the court and could be easily manipted. However, they were mistaken from the start. I have never been an easily manipted person and always sought alternative paths," Shang Junlin exined.
"But at that time, when I reimed thend of Da Huan and had military power in my hands, even if they wanted to do something, they wouldn''t have seeded. I didn''t pay much attention to my reputation among themon people before, but it was thanks to Yu''er''s reminder that I realized there were some conspiracies against me that were set in motion from the very beginning."
"It has been over a decade, and the officials in the court have changed batch after batch, but only a few have remained. The scope has narrowed down all of a sudden," Shen Yu pondered.
"Indeed, and those who have the capability to do this are even fewer. Once we identified the suspected targets, I ordered the Hidden Dragon Guards to investigate every detail about these people. Initially, we didn''t find much, but it was after the rain in Subei that I had Jiang Huaiqing and the others ''clear the false usations'' and finally caught a glimpse of the culprit''s true intentions."
Minister Feng knew he had been too impatient during this period. Despite having the matter of his young son as a cover, it was still easy for others to detect clues. But to expect him to sit back and do nothing was something he simply couldn''t ept!
After returning to his residence, he dismissed all the servants and entered his study alone. The secretpartment was opened, and he walked inside.
Through a long underground passage, he arrived at a small house on the outskirts of the capital.
"I suspect that I''ve been exposed. What should I do now?" Minister Feng paced anxiously in the empty study.
"I work for you. You can''t just abandon me!"
After a while, another person''s voice echoed in the room, "Minister Feng seems to have misunderstood something. Do you remember our deal back then? We helped you enter the cab, and in exchange, you were supposed to assist us with some small favors. Now that you have exposed yourself due to your own mistake, do you expect us to clean up after you?"
"Aren''t you afraid that I will expose you? Our current Emperor is not someone with a forgiving nature. If he finds out about your existence, guess what he would do?" Minister Feng threatened with a menacing tone.
"If you behave, there''s a chance we might consider your years of hard work and help you protect your bloodline. But if you insist on telling Shang Junlin something, we won''t be able to stop you."
Minister Feng was suddenly shocked, realizing that these people weren''t afraid of being known by Shang Junlin. Who were they, and why were they so confident?
Cold sweat started to trickle down his back as he took a step back and slumped onto a chair. He suddenly realized that despite working for these people for many years, he knew very little about them. He wasn''t even clear about their identities.
"You can''t just abandon me. I am a minister of the cab. Without me, who will provide you with information from the court?"
"Why would Minister Feng think that when such a situation arises, Shang Junlin would allow you to remain unscathed in the court? He has wanted to reim that position of yours for a long time. Do you think he would let this opportunity slip away?"
"Minister Feng, you better take care of yourself."
After the mysterious person left, Minister Feng remained seated in the same spot for a long time. Now he knew very well that he had be a discarded pawn.
His nk expression gradually turned fierce. After sitting in a high position for so many years, he was no longer the coteral branch scion that could be easily manipted. He had so many resources at his disposal, couldn''t he fight for an escape route?
"Why is Minister Feng not satisfied even after reaching this position?" Shen Yu couldn''t understand. Entering the cab was already the highest achievement for a civil servant in Dahuan. What more did Minister Feng want?
"Who wouldin about having more power in their hands?" Shang Junlin spread his palms. "Even I sometimes feel unsatisfied."
"People like Yu''er"er: another endearment way to say a loved one''s name, who doesn''t crave power, are few and far between."
Shen Yu smiled. He had also been lost in the pursuit of power, exhausting everything in the chase, but now he was simply tired of it.
"Minister Feng probably realized that he has been exposed; otherwise, he wouldn''t be acting so abnormally."
"I intentionally let him know. If he didn''t realize the danger he was in, how would he seek help from the person who has always been hiding behind him?"
With each step closing in, Minister Feng did exactly as Shang Junlin had anticipated and sought out the person behind him.
Unbeknownst to him, the individuals arranged by Shang Junlin were following closely behind, apanying him to a hidden stronghold.
Chapter 133
Chapter 133
A big shout out to @nura_o-st for thements! Thank you so much <3
Shang Junlin''s actions were indeed telling Minister Feng that he knew there was a problem. Otherwise, he could have acted as he did initially, without anyone noticing anything amiss.
Unfortunately, Minister Feng was already flustered and didn''t notice the deliberate message conveyed in these actions. He had the audacity to do such things butcked the courage to face the consequences.
Minister Feng sat in ce for a while, quietly returned to his residence, and immediately summoned his trusted advisors for a discussion.
The things he had done were known to those who had always been by his side. After all, in many cases, he himself couldn''t personally intervene. At such times, it was his trusted advisors who represented him.
Inside the study, the atmosphere was heavy.
"The Emperor has ordered someone who stands firmly behind me to investigate this matter. It is highly likely that he knows it is rted to me and is using this opportunity to reprimand me. What do you think I should do?" Minister Feng sat in his chair, his face no longer showing the initial panic.
"These are merely spections, as the incidents did not involve your direct involvement. If the Emperor were to use you, you could easily shift the me onto someone else..." one of the trusted advisors suggested.
This suggestion was not unfounded. Although Minister Feng orchestrated these events, he wasn''t the one executing them. He was a powerful figure in the cab and wouldn''t personally engage in such actions.
"It''s not appropriate. If the Emperor truly knows something, wouldn''t doing so be equivalent to admitting guilt? We need to find another way," Minister Feng replied.
Unfortunately, after discussing back and forth, they couldn''te up with a practical solution.
Growing impatient, Minister Feng had no choice but to continue listening to their discussions.
Among the officials named by Shang Junlin, there were a few who were aware of some internal affairs. In order to defect, they had also been involved in the past. Now that the Emperor was investigating, they felt as if their throats were being choked, living in constant anxiety.
A few of them gathered privately to discuss countermeasures.
"What should we do now?"
"Has Minister Feng given any instructions?"
"No, ever since that day, Minister Feng hasn''t received any guests. I''ve sent several visitation requests, but they were not granted."
"Minister Feng''s own safety is probably at stake now."
As the words fell, a deathly silence enveloped the surroundings. They had thought about this point, but they were unwilling to admit it. After serving as officials in the court for many years, they were somewhat familiar with Emperor Shang Junlin''s style of governance. This time, it was evident that he was angry and determined to investigate thoroughly.
"The Emperor has ordered us to investigate this matter. It could very well be a warning to us." Otherwise, given the Emperor''s tendency to favor officials from humble backgrounds, he wouldn''t have entrusted this task solely to aristocratic officials.
It was precisely because they had unsettling suspicions that they were in such a panic, carrying out their duties with gritted teeth, willingly walking themselves into the abyss.
They had no other choice.
The matter proceeded methodically. The court began screening officials to be sent to Subei. Although Subei was located in a remote area, it wasn''t disregarded like other remote regions. On the contrary, many eyes were on that ce precisely because of the presence of the Subei Army.
In the past, there had been no opportunity, but now the upper echelons of Subei had been nearly wholly purged, and many people were tempted.
"Recently, all the documents are rted to the screening of new officials for Subei." Shang Junlin opened a document, nced at it, and put it down.
Shen Yu took a look. "With Subei currentlycking leadership, it''s a good opportunity to make achievements. It''s not surprising that it''s being closely watched."
"I don''t want this incident to happen again in Subei," Shang Junlin rubbed his temples.
"Even if they remain loyal for now, it''s inevitable that they will change over time," Shen Yu never had too high expectations for human nature. "Instead of relying on them, it''s better to find a way to prevent such incidents from happening at the source."
"The Prime Minister and I have discussed the method you proposed. It''s feasible, but there are many challenges to face."
When officials are transferred to a new location, they require a period of adjustment. Only after the adjustment period can they be more adept at their work. That''s also why many officials, after being sent elsewhere, choose to stay there.
The situation in Subei is more peculiar, making the adjustment process even more difficult. If too much time is spent on adjustment, it would be detrimental to the development of Subei.
Shen Yu pondered for a moment, roughly understanding Shang Junlin''s concerns. He sat down across from him, propped his chin with his hands, and said, "Solutions are always devised by people. If Your Majesty is concerned, you can stagger the time for officials'' rotations."
"I will discuss it with the Prime Minister. This matter needs to be settled quickly, and Fang Jun should be returning soon." With Minister Feng''s matter resolved, a vacancy in the cab would open up, and Fang Jun, who had made great contributions in Subei during the disaster relief efforts, could rightfully take that position.
Fang Jun has been very busytely.
Subei was severely understaffed, but unfortunately, there were too many messes left behind by those who had departed. It had to be resolved, so Fang Jun had to promote some local officials to help with the work.
At night, the study was brightly lit, and stacks of documents nearly half a person high filled the room. Afterpleting one document, Fang Jun rubbed his wrists and finally understood the Prime Minister''s previous irritable mood.
Dealing with an endless stream of documents every day was a burden that nobody could bear.
"Has His Majesty mentioned when new officials will be sent?" After several days of holding it in, Fang Jun couldn''t help but ask.
Not far away, a man dressed in ck robes with a mask covering his face sat, toying with an empty teacup in his hand. "Da ren, please don''t worry. The court is already selecting suitable candidates."
The man in ck was Gu Huai. He also wanted to return as soon as possible. When he came here, he never expected to stay in Subei for so long. Since being saved by Physician Gu, he had never been separated from others for such a long time. He had been thinking about it a lot.
"It probably takes time," Fang Jun sighed. "This is the first time I''ve been away from my wife for such a long time. I don''t even know how she''s doing at the mansion."
Because he was carrying out a special mission, he couldn''tmunicate with the capital. Perhaps it was easier to be sentimentalte at night, and he unintentionally spoke about many things from before with his wife.
Gu Huai listened silently, a hint of peculiar emotion flickering in his eyes.
Fang Jun said, "I''m sorry, I unconsciously said so much."
"It''s alright. The affection between Daren and your wife is something that others envy," Gu Huai replied.
Looking around the capital, there were hardly any couples who could maintain the same deep love and affection as Fang Jun and his wife for decades.
After much consideration, Fang Jun decided to submit a petition to the court, hoping to arrange for the officials for governing Subei as soon as possible.
After several days of dispute, the first batch of officials sent to Subei was selected. Although they didn''t hold important positions in the court, they would have greater development opportunities after going to Subei.
Upon learning that the court had dispatched officials, Fang Jun breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your Honor, we found this at the Marquis Zumin Hou''s estate." A soldier rushed in.
"What is it?"
The soldier brought out an item, a letter. "I found this in a secret room in the Marquis''s residence. I thought that something important enough to be kept in a secret room shouldn''t be dyed, so I immediately brought it to you, my lord."
After the Marquis and others were imprisoned, they were sentenced ording to the severity of their charges. As the mastermind, the Marquis received the harshest sentence, and his residence was confiscated.
Fang Jun borrowed some manpower from the Subei Army to help search the Marquis''s estate, hoping to find any new discoveries. After several days, they had only found things they had anticipated, and Fang Jun had lost hope. However, they unexpectedly made a new discovery.
The letter had signs of being opened. Fang Jun ordered someone to open it and, after reading its contents, his face changed dramatically.
Since the Marquis and others were imprisoned, they had been searching for the whereabouts of the stolen goods. However, all those items seemed to have vanished into thin air, without a trace. It was only now that Fang Jun realized why they hadn''t been able to find them after searching for so long.
Those things were no longer in Subei!
Fang Jun was filled with anger, trembling all over. He thought the charges against the Marquis and the others were already extensive, but he didn''t expect there to be even more.
"Your Honor, are you alright?" The soldier saw Fang Jun''s unfavorableplexion and asked with concern.
"I''m fine. How many more letters like this are there? Bring them all to me. No," Fang Jun put the letter back in its envelope. "Where did you find this letter? Take me there!"
He had to figure out the extent of the collusion between the former high-ranking officials in Subei and those people.
Considering the gravity of the matter, Fang Jun didn''t dare to dy. He directly sought out the Hidden Dragon Guards who were still in Subei and instructed them to ry the information directly to the pce. He didn''t know if only Subei officials were involved in this matter or if there were others. Until it was confirmed, no leaks could be allowed!
Using a special method, he informed Gu Huai of this news, and Gu Huai would investigate the matter discreetly with the Hidden Dragon Guards.
The atmosphere that was rxed after the heavy rain, became tense once again.
As the weather gradually turned cooler, Shen Yu, who had been recuperating for over half a year, was no longer as sensitive to the cold as before. Concerned about him catching a chill, Shang Junlin had people make thicker clothes and sent them over early.
Shen Yu was currently in the phase of growing taller, and the Imperial Attire Bureau''s personnel came to measure him again.
Furrowing his brows, Shang Junlin pushed aside the pce maid who was standing close to Shen Yu, took the ruler from her hand, and walked toward Shen Yu.
"Ah Yu, you''ve grown taller."
Shang Junlin didn''t want anyone else to touch Shen Yu, so he directed the pce maid and personally measured Shen Yu''s dimensions.
Shen Yu looked at the pce maid who was trying hard to remain calm and found it amusing. "It''s just a small matter. Your Majesty, why bother doing it yourself?"
"How can Ah Yu''s matters be considered small?" Following the pce maid''s instructions, Shang Junlin measured Shen Yu''s shoulder width, waist size...
He would never allow someone else to have such intimate contact.
After taking the measurements, Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s waist with both hands. "Ah Yu, you should eat more. You''re still so thin."
Shen Yu had a slender waist that was usually concealed by his clothes. Only Shang Junlin knew how fair and delicate the skin on his waist was. Whenever Shang Junlin ced his hands there, the warmth and slight tremor transmitted through his palms to his heart, giving him a sense ofplete control over the person.
It was intoxicating, and he couldn''t free himself from it.
Once the measurements were done, the personnel from the Imperial Attire Bureau left without staying long.
"Make the clothes quickly and send them over," Shang Junlin instructed while embracing Shen Yu.
"Yes."
The clothes being made this time included the regr attire and two sets of riding clothes for the uing autumn hunt.
Meng Gonggong, with keen insight, led the remaining pce maids out. They preferred to be alone without maidservants present.
"To be honest, there was no need to measure. I already know Ah Yu''s measurements," Shang Junlin whispered into Shen Yu''s ear, his voice low and maic. "If it weren''t for the presence of the Imperial Attire Bureau personnel just now, I really wanted to touch..."
In front of him, Shen Yu let his guard downpletely.
Exhaling warm breath against his ear, Shen Yu squirmed ufortably. "How did His Majesty know? Did you secretly measure me?"
"Every inch of Ah Yu''s body, I am well aware of," Shang Junlin lightly bit the flushed earlobe of the young man. "After all, I have experienced each and every one..."
Chapter 134
Chapter 134
On many nights, he used his hand as a ruler, measuring every inch.
"Your Majesty, since you already know, why do you need to measure again?" Shen Yu couldn''t hold back his shame and asked.
"Naturally, it''s to obtain more urate measurements. The clothes made for Ah Yu must fit perfectly," Shang Junlin replied, refusing to admit that he was intentionally using this opportunity to get closer to Shen Yu.
It''s just to have a more precise understanding of his beloved''s measurements, how could it be considered scheming?
"Your Majesty, you''ve finished measuring. Shouldn''t you let go of me now?" Shen Yu raised an eyebrow at him.
Shang Junlin, still holding onto Shen Yu, was unwilling to release him easily. "There''s no one else in the room. Why should I let go when I''m holding my esteemed consort?"
Shang Junlin not only didn''t let go, but he also sat with Shen Yu on the soft couch.
"We''ve already arranged a group of people to go to Subei. He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing will leave with this group. As for Fang Jiayi, Fang Jun hasn''t returned from Subei yet, so I''m not sure if I should let her go."
Until all matters in Subei are settled, Fang Jun has to stay behind. There is much to be reorganized in Subei, and besides Fang Jun, Shang Junlin doesn''t trust anyone else to handle it.
"Official Fang will return sooner orter. Your Majesty can ask Miss Fang herself about her intentions. If she wants to go, it would be good for her to gain some experience. The Prime Minister also said that this youngdy has a methodical approach to work. Subei is in need of fresh blood after the disaster, and once the difficulties are ovee, there will be much to be done. He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing, and Fang Jiayi each have their own strengths. They will definitely be able to contribute more in Subei."
How capable is Jiang Huaiqing? As someone who had worked with him for many years in their previous lives, Shen Yu was well aware. During this time, he also learned about the working styles of the other two through Shang Junlin. He had to admit that sending these three individuals to Subei was the fastest way for them to grow.
"I will have the Prime Minister ask her, and if she is willing, she can go together."
Turning his head, the Prime Minister received a subtle hint from Shang Junlin. He knew that the three of them couldn''t always work under hismand, but knowing they would eventually leave still made him somewhat reluctant.
After finishing their official duties for the day, he asked the three of them to stay behind.
"What are your thoughts on the matter of Subei?"
This was not the first time the Prime Minister had asked them about Subei. Since they were initially brought to work by his side for the sake of Subei, he would periodically inquire about their opinions on the matter. The three of them expressed their views from different perspectives, but their conclusions were the same. Compared to the beginning, their ideas were moreprehensive, and the Prime Minister was pleased with this.
"If you were to go to Subei, do you have confidence in achieving what you''ve just said?"
"What do you mean, sir?"
"The court will send officials to Subei, as you might have heard. This is a great opportunity. Today, I''ve asked you to stay to hear your thoughts. Are you willing to go to Subei?"
Although it was the first time the Prime Minister had brought up the matter, the three of them were not particrly surprised. During this period, discussions were taking ce throughout the court, and as individuals involved, they naturally felt the undercurrents.
"I am willing," Jiang Huaiqing was the first to speak.
Following suit, He Chengyu and Fang Jiayi also expressed their willingness. For them, going to Subei was another shortcut and an unprecedented opportunity.
"Since all of you are willing, then prepare yourselves properly."
The Prime Minister did not ask Fang Jiayi separately. He had already gotten his answer from her eyes. Having interacted with her personally, he hade to realize that women were just as capable as men. Treating Fang Jiayi differently just because she was a woman was inappropriate.
In the realm of officials, everyone should be treated equally, and the oue would ultimately depend on oneself.
The next day, the Prime Minister handed a report to Shang Junlin. He held high hopes for Jiang Huaiqing and the other two, and most of his words were praises.
After reading it, Shang Junlin handed the report to Shen Yu. "I thought he wouldin a bit. It''s not easy to cultivate a few capable individuals, and just like that, I end up reassigning all of them elsewhere."
"Isn''t Official Fanging back? Once he enters the cab, the Prime Minister won''t be as busy as he is now. Xun Chao, what are your ns, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu finished reading the document and set it aside.
"I n to have him take over Fang Jun''s previous position. He definitely can''t stay in Subei." Regardless of the circumstances, Xun Chao made significant contributions to the matter of Subei. At the same time, he had also made many enemies among the local forces in Subei. From whichever perspective, Shang Junlin couldn''t possibly let Xun Chao remain there.
"Have there been any other news from Subei during this time?"
"Fang Jun has sent quite a bit. Take a look at this letter." Shang Junlin pulled out a letter from the pile he had reviewed and handed it to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu took it and smiled. "Official Fang has started urging already. His Majesty should act swiftly."
This letter was interestingly written. It didn''t mention how hard Fang Jun had worked or anything like that. Instead, it subtly expressed his longing for his family and gently hinted that the court should send someone over.
The court had indeed been arguing about this matter for several days, and it was only under Shang Junlin''s forceful intervention that the final decision on the candidates was made.
The ministers didn''t have many opinions about the addition of Jiang Huaiqing and the other two. They had known early on that Shang Junlin would cultivate the top three of this generation. Even if they opposed it, they would only incur the displeasure of the emperor. So, instead of opposing, they thought it was better to find a way to arrange for more of their own people to go over.
After the morning court session concluded, everything was settled. Jiang Huaiqing and the other two were rtively inexperienced among this group, but no one underestimated them because of it.
Those who held positions in the court had a keen eye for talent. From various indications, it was clear that the emperor intended to promote and utilize these three individuals. Currently, they had no conflicts of interest with other ministers, so it was best to establish good rtions with them.
Being a woman, Fang Jiayi faced some inconveniences. However, He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing started receiving noticeably more invitations in the following days.
"I''ve never been to the northern region before. I wonder what Subei will be like," Jiang Huaiqing said. He had only read descriptions of Subei in books and was quite curious about the ce they were about to reach.
"It has rained in Subei, and the weather is gradually getting cooler. When we arrive, it shouldn''t be much different from the capital city."
"I originally thought that in a few years, I would be separated from Brother Chengyu in our respective positions. I didn''t expect His Majesty to send us both to Subei together."
Since they arrived in the capital for the imperial examination, Jiang Huaiqing had been with He Chengyu all this time. If they were suddenly separated, it would definitely be ufortable. Now that they could be assigned to the same ce, Jiang Huaiqing felt delighted.
"In the days toe, I hope Brother Chengyu will take care of me."
He Chengyu tightened his grip on the wine ss, his expression unchanged. "Even if Huaiqing didn''t say it, I would still do it. I also hope that Huaiqing can take care of me."
Jiang Huaiqing smiled and patted his shoulder. "Don''t worry, with me here, I won''t forget about you."
The officials heading to Subei were not only appointed from the capital but also selected from various localities. There were both noble andmon families among them. Just as they were preparing to depart for Subei, an urgent secret letter arrived on the imperial desk.
After reading it, Shang Junlin stood up abruptly. "This is outrageous! Summon the Prime Minister to the pce for discussion!"
The pce attendants knelt down one after another, silent as cicadas.
Shang Junlin was truly furious this time. He forcibly restrained himself from smashing the things on his desk because he remembered that they were specially selected and ced there by Shen Yu.
Since Shen Yu entered the pce, Grand Preceptor Meng had rarely seen the Emperor get so angry. He dared not dy and quickly fetched the ques to summon the ministers to the pce.
When the ministers hurriedly arrived, they also received the news that Shang Junlin was raging in the study.
"Do you know why His Majesty is angry?" Shen Yu, who was originally tending to the potted flowers, put down his work and asked upon hearing the news.
The news was delivered by Xiao Meng, "It was Grand Preceptor Meng who informed me. His Majesty read an urgent letter from Subei and flew into a rage. He summoned several important ministers to the pce for discussion."
"Subei... if it has made His Majesty so furious, it must not be a trivial matter." Shen Yu whispered. The situation in Subei was almost settled. What could have angered Shang Junlin to this extent?
Shen Yu reviewed the entire situation in Subei in his mind, vaguely finding some key points. However, did the people in Subei really have the audacity to do such things?
When Shang Junlin returned in the evening, his face no longer showed anger, but it was clear that his mood wasn''t good.
"Ah Yu,e here and let me hold you."
Shen Yu walked over. "Who has upset Your Majesty this time?"
"It''s about Subei. I never expected them to have such audacity. Did they not know the consequences of their actions before they did those things?" Shang Junlin embraced Shen Yu and sat down on the couch.
"Meng Chang, present the letter to your lord."
Grand Preceptor Meng quickly retrieved the letter from the documents and respectfully handed it to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu took the letter, and the more he read, the deeper his frown became. The content written in the letter undoubtedly represented the worst possible oue.
Knowing that the incident of the stolen supplies was rted to the high-ranking officials in Subei, Shen Yu had discussed it with Shang Junlin before. They had wondered where those missing supplies had been hidden by them, and even though those people were imprisoned, they had been actively searching. Unfortunately, they had found nothing.
Now, it seemed that it was no wonder they couldn''t find anything. The supplies had long left Subei, and they might not even be in Da Huan anymore.
After the supplies were stolen, before the court could react, they were transported from Subei to the northern borders of Beimo and then taken away by the people of Beimo. In exchange, they provided Official Hou and other officials with arge amount of gold, silver, and jewels.
This matter only came to light when Fang Jun''s house was raided, and a secret chamber was discovered.
"These supplies must be retrieved!" Shang Junlin said firmly, expressing his intention.
Shen Yu agreed with this point. It concerned the national prestige of Da Huan and couldn''t be resolved hastily. However...
"Is Your Majesty nning to go to war with Beimo?"
"Depending on their attitude, if they willingly return the supplies and severely punish those involved, I can choose not to pursue further action." When it came to war, Shang Junlin feared no one. Everything he possessed now was gained through battles on the battlefield.
"The letter ims that it was just a trade with some low-ranking officials on the border, but I don''t believe it. Without orders from higher-ups, the lower-ranked individuals wouldn''t have the audacity. It''s likely that some people from Beimo were involved in the initial robbery as well," Shen Yu ced the letter on the small table, not fully trusting the secret correspondence between Hou Daren and the people of Beimo.
"I will have Gu Huai investigate. Now that we have a lead, it won''t be difficult to uncover the truth," Shang Junlin grasped Shen Yu''s wrist. "It seems I have been too lenient."
Shen Yu asked, "Does Minister Feng also know about this, Your Majesty?"
As one of the ministers in the Cab, if Minister Feng was also involved, it wouldplicate matters.
Chapter 135
Chapter 135
Shang Junlin realized that to obtain the truth, they would have to interrogate Minister Feng. He had originally intended to expose the people behind Minister Feng, but now there was no time for that. They needed to control Minister Feng first.
At the same time, urgent messages were sent to Subei. Fortunately, with Fang Jun stationed there and the Hidden Dragon Guards brought by Gu Huai, investigating this matter wouldn''t be difficult.
Along with the information from Fang Jun, there was also all the correspondence between Minister Hou and the people from Beimo. Shang Junlin had already gone through them once and had shown them to the Prime Minister and others. Now, he and Shen Yu were reading through them again.
The earliest dates on the letters were five years ago. At first, both sides were in a testing phase. Gradually, Beimo offered more benefits, and the attitude on this side became more rxed. After a year, they conspired together for the first time.
The first event was insignificant, and hardly anyone noticed. Afterpleting it, Minister Hou and the others gained significant benefits. There were a few more such instancester, all minor matters. Even if they were discovered, they could easily be covered up. They were just helping out and using their influence to gain substantial benefits. Who wouldn''t be tempted?
Slowly, the trade between the two sides evolved from minor incidents to more significant ventures. The early sesses gave Minister Hou and the others greater audacity, and their actions became more extreme.
But due to the caution exercised by both sides and the fact that most of the Subei high-ranking officials were under Minister Hou''s influence, coupled with the inherent antagonism between Da Huan and Beimo, their secret coboration went undetected for many years.
"At first, Beimo asked Minister Hou and the others to perform small tasks that didn''t raise suspicions. Later, as their audacity grew, their ambitious nature was revealed," Shen Yu clenched one of the secret letters, his eyes filled with chilling coldness.
For example, the contents of this particr letter stated that Beimo wanted them to stage an attack on Subei, making it appear as if Subei''s army was mobilizing. Then, they would pretend to be overpowered, allowing the Subei troops to im a great victory. The general leading the Subei army, who seemed to have pledged allegiance to Minister Hou, was actually in league with Beimo from beginning to end.
Of course, this n failed. Coincidentally, during that period, Subei''s army was undergoing reforms, and the designated troops were not the ones originally nned. The person who received the military achievement was also different.
After this incident, Beimo remained quiet for some time and dared not plot against Subei''s army. The Subei troops had brought them nightmares, and even after many years, the deep-rooted fear remained.
"Are there still people from Beimo within Subei''s army?" Shen Yu asked.
"By the time Fang Jun transmitted the message back, the Subei army had already been notified, and they will conduct a thorough investigation. No matter how deeply they are hidden, they can be uncovered," Shen Yu replied.
This was the most infuriating aspect for Shang Junlin. To meddle with the Subei army was equivalent to provoking Da Huan, and Shang Junlin would never allow such a situation to ur.
"When I reimed Subei back then, it wasn''t for them to be treated like this," Shang Junlin''s voice was soft, but the implications in his tone were impossible to ignore.
The next morning during the court assembly, Shang Junlin announced the news received from Subei. It was like pouring boiling oil into a drop of water, causing an explosion among the ministers.
"They are actually colluding with Beimo?"
"Do they not remember the state Subei was in under Beimo''s control?"
"What do they intend to do? Do they want to send Subei back to Beimo?"
"How dare they?!"
The ministers argued loudly, while Shang Junlin sat on the throne appearing indifferent, but he was discreetly observing the expressions of each person, especially Minister Feng.
He had dispatched Hidden Dragon Guards to closely monitor Minister Feng''s movements. For now, they hadn''t apprehended him yet. Instead of focusing solely on Minister Feng, Shang Junlin was more concerned about the forces behind him.
Yesterday, an enraged Shang Junlin had initially nned to capture Minister Feng and hand him over to the Ministry of Justice for interrogation without considering the potential involvement of others in the court. If Minister Feng was implicated, were there other individuals involved as well? Could he ensure that not a single one would be overlooked after capturing Minister Feng?
Acting recklessly would only leave behind more severe hidden dangers.
Observing Minister Feng''s behavior today, it seemed he was unaware of the true situation.
After themotion subsided, Shang Junlin raised his hand, and the great court instantly fell silent.
"Your Majesty, do you have conclusive evidence for this matter?" Coborating with an enemy nation was no trivial matter. Once the ministers calmed down, they began to contemte the credibility of the situation.
"If there were no conclusive evidence, I would not have brought it up during the court assembly. Since you have doubts, Meng Chang, bring the evidence forward."
Meng Gonggong hurriedly left and soon returned with pce maids carrying the evidence in their hands.
All of this evidence waspiled and sent back by Fang Jun. Given the gravity of the matter, he would not convict anyone based solely on a few letters. After discovering the existence of the letters, he immediately ordered a thorough investigation. Using the information from the letters and other clues found in the residence, he had obtained substantial evidence.
Official Fang is not a reckless person. Before reaching a conclusive verdict, he would never hastily report the matter. Having worked under Shang Junlin for many years, Shang Junlin knew his character well.
That''s why he became so furious upon receiving the news.
The facts wereid before them, and the courtiers fell silent.
Even if they couldn''tprehend it or were unwilling to believe it, facts were facts, and their attitudes would not change the truth.
What followed was a sense of remorse and anger. If not for this natural disaster, if the hidden dangers had remained undiscovered, what would be of Subei in the years toe?
"I implore Your Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation. This matter cannot be tolerated!"
"I beseech Your Majesty..."
The ministers knelt down one after another, loudly expressing their support.
"I will have Fang Jun continue the investigation, and in addition, I will send others to assist in the inquiry. Do you have any candidates to rmend?"
Given the significance of the matter, the ministers did not take too long to decide on the candidates. One was from a humble background, and the other was from a prestigious family. Both were skilled investigators serving in the Ministry of Justice.
The atmosphere in Subei was tense, but only those privy to the information were aware of it.
After the rain, the disaster alleviated, and the lives of themon people returned to normal. Official Fang revoked some policies that were detrimental to the development of livelihoods, and for the people, everything was improving.
Fang Jun had been busy during this period, thinking that the matter hade to an end and he was only waiting for the arrival of the officials sent by the court. But unexpectedly, another major issue arose.
He probably wouldn''t be able to return to the capital for the time being.
That''s what Official Fang thought.
And as expected, shortly after he reported the information, the emperor''s decree arrived, appointing him as the special envoy with full authority to handle the collusion between internal officials in Subei and external enemies.
Xun Chao was also asked to stay behind and assist. Compared to returning to the court, it was evident that the matters here were more important.
For convenience, Shang Junlin granted Fang Jun partial authority over the Subei army. The general had been sent to assist Fang Jun before officially bing his subordinate.
That general happened to be the one who inadvertently reced Beimo''s nted chess piece and unexpectedly rose through the ranks.
Holding the imperial edict, Fang Jun said, "It seems that the general and I will continue to work together for some time."
"My Lord, there is a woman outside who says she wants to see you." A constable entered and bowed.
"A woman? Are you sure she wants to see me?" Official Fang recalled that he hadn''t had any interaction with any women during this period.
"Yes, the woman seems a bit anxious. She is holding arge package and ims to know something of your interest, wishing to inform you."
"Bring the woman in."
Before long, the constable brought in a woman dressed in coarse linen clothing.
"Official Fang," the woman knelt as soon as she entered, "I have an important matter to disclose."
"I am Yao Ji, formerly a dancer in Minister Hou''s residence..."
Based on the woman''s description, Fang Jun gained insight into the other side of the high-ranking officials in Subei.
Apart from his love for various treasures, Minister Hou also had an affinity for beautiful women. Every once in a while, his subordinates would present him with a group of women as a tribute. Most of these women could only stay in his residence for six months before disappearing without a trace.
Yao Ji had learned to dance from a young age, hoping to one day catch the attention of influential individuals. She had exceptional looks and talent, surpassing her peers, which led to her selection and cement in Minister Hou''s residence. Ever since childhood, she had learned about such things, and after entering the residence, she quickly gained favor from Minister Hou. Thanks to her outstanding dancing skills, Minister Hou often paraded her around, showing her off. It was through this that she unintentionally stumbled upon a shocking secret.
"On that day, as usual, Minister Hou went to attend a banquet, and he instructed me to perform well at the event. The banquet was peculiar, with everyone wearing masks. One of the attendees took an interest in me, and Minister Hou wanted me to serve that person. Perhaps due to excessive drinking, that person said many iprehensible things, intermingled with words in thenguage of Beimo."
As she spoke, Yao Ji imitated the person''s speech, "Later on, I found out that it was thenguage spoken in Beimo. That person spoke about matters rted to cooperation with Minister Hou, and I managed to jot down a few keywords: ''Beimo,'' ''Subei Army,'' ''failed n,'' and ''abduction.'' Afterward, I realized I had learned information I shouldn''t have known, so I seized an opportunity to pretend to be ill and was sent out of the main city."
"Why did youe back then?" Fang Jun asked calmly.
"Because I heard many stories about you, Official Fang, and I thought you must be different from those people. So I wanted to hand over these things to you." Yao Ji presented therge package she was holding in her arms.
"These are what the people who attended the banquet left behind."
The constable took the package, opened it, and found mostly jewelry and essories for women, but the style was not in line with the current fashion in Da Huan.
Yao Ji took out a jade box, opened thepartment, and retrieved a small piece of folded paper from inside.
"What I want to give you, Lord, is this. It was left behind by that person."
Fang Jun had someone bring the item up to him, looking puzzled. "Why did you leave these things behind?"
"Because I hate Beimo. After I learned that person was from Beimo, I wanted to seize the opportunity to expose this matter," Yao Ji smiled bitterly. "I knew my power was limited, so after leaving the main city, I initially nned to leave Subei and head south to the capital. But then I heard about your achievements from many people, My Lord, so I decided to hand over these items to you."
"Based on the information Yao Ji has gathered, the people from Beimo have been rooted in Subei for quite some time. They periodically disguise themselves as Da Huan citizensand be entangled with the original Subei officials. However, Yao Ji''s abilities are limited, and she couldn''t uncover any further useful information..." As she continued speaking, the woman''s breathing became increasingly unstable.
"I will handle this matter with the utmost seriousness," Fang Jun assured her. He would investigate the woman''s background, and as for the information she mentioned, it required a thorough investigation.
"Thank you, Lord," the woman said, and then she seemed unable to hold on any longer and slowly copsed.
"Quick, help her up and fetch a physician," Fang Jun instructed, calling for Xun Chao, who was busy with other matters. He exined what had just transpired, saying, "This woman''s words are about 80% credible."
Fang Jun looked at the paper the woman had presented. It was a letter, different from the ones they had found at Minister Hou''s residence. This letter was written by Minister Hou to the people from Beimo, and it matched the clues they had uncovered.
"So, it seems that the people from Beimo have been infiltrating Subei, and they are right here in the main city. After all these years, I hadn''t noticed a thing," Xun Chao furrowed his brows.
"It seems our decision not to publicly announce the collusion between Minister Hou and the people from Beimo was correct. Now, we are in the dark, and it will be easier to flush them out."
When the woman woke up, Fang Jun asked her a few more questions, but unfortunately, she had no knowledge of the location of the banquets held by both parties.
"When we were taken there, our eyes were blindfolded, and we were transported in a tightly sealed carriage. All we knew was that it was arge mansion with splendid decorations. Once we arrived, our movements were restricted. Apart from performing at the banquet, we could only stay in a small courtyard and had to leave the same way we came."
The woman shared all the information she knew, and since Fang Jun couldn''t extract any more useful details, he left.
With such a significant matter, Fang Jun naturally had to report to the Emperor at the earliest opportunity. Regardless of whether the people from Beimo had a foothold in Subei or not, they needed to take this matter seriously.
When Shang Junlin received the news, the officials he had dispatched to Subei were already halfway there. Without Jiang Huaiqing and the other three assisting him, the Prime Minister returned to his usual busyness, even busier than before since Fang Jun was absent.
Having vented his anger, Shang Junlin spoke about this matter with a smile on his face when discussing it with Shen Yu. However, the smile did not reach his eyes.
"So, the people from Beimo have already infiltrated deep within Subei?" Shen Yu picked up a pastry and fed it to Shang Junlin, saying, "It''s not surprising when you think about it. If they hadn''t entered Subei, how could they establish rtionships with the former Subei officials?"
Shang Junlin took the pastry, holding onto Shen Yu''s hand as he took a bite. Afterward, he released it and said, "You''re right, Ah Yu. Since they''vee to Subei, they shouldn''t even think about going back."
Those who offend Da Huan will always pay a price.
Chapter 136
Chapter 136
"We''ve found out who was behind the incident in the pce."
Shang Junlin suddenly brought it up, and it took Shen Yu a moment to recall which incident he was referring to. "Are you talking about the incident with the hallucinogenic wood block?"
"Yes. There aren''t many people who have ess to that flower room. Meng Chang had people guarding it for a few days and found a few suspects. They were taken for interrogation, and we got the results yesterday."
There was a specific ce in the pce for dealing with pce members whomitted offenses. When a pce member got into trouble, they would generally be sent there. The methods of torture inside the pce were even more brutal than those outside, with various ways to torment people. When those individuals were sent in, they initially remained stubborn and refused to admit anything. The eunuch in charge of the matter knew Shang Junlin''s attitude, so he used whatever means were effective in extracting information. After a few days, those people couldn''t hold out anymore and confessed.
Shang Junlin lowered his gaze; there was no need to tell Ah Yu about these details.
"Who was responsible?" Shen Yu wasn''t interested in how they extracted the information. "What is the purpose of the person behind this? If they truly wanted to harm me, these methods alone wouldn''t seed. Besides, how did they know that I would go and see the flowers sent by Prince An?"
"Ah Yu''s thinking is correct. Their true purpose isn''t to cause harm to you, but rather to shift the me onto Prince An. They chose a small dose of a hallucinogenic drug because even a slightlyrger amount would be detected before it could be brought inside. As for the person behind this, it''s Feng Pingqi."
"Feng Pingqi, Minister Feng. I don''t think I have any grudges against him, right?" Shen Yu pondered. In this lifetime, he hadn''t entered officialdom and had no dealings with Minister Feng. "Were the previous incidents also rted to Minister Feng?"
Shen Yu now knew that someone deliberately caused both of his previous episodes. However, that person was deeply hidden, and they hadn''t been able to catch any evidence against them up until now.
"The previous two incidents were indeed unrted to him." If they truly discovered Minister Feng''s involvement, Shang Junlin had already ordered his arrest. It was only this time that he hadn''t caused any substantial harm to Shen Yu, allowing him to maintain a semnce of calm. Otherwise, tearing him apart limb by limb would not be excessive.
"I also don''t think it has anything to do with him. No matter how influential the Feng family is, they wouldn''t be able to hide any suspicious activities from His Majesty." Shen Yu wasn''t surprised by this oue.
"Why would he do this? We couldn''t extract much from the pce servants, but this particr servant owed a favor to Feng Pingqi from before she entered the pce. Feng Pingqi used that leverage to coerce her into helping him. She had no choice but toply."
Shang Junlin''s tone turned cold when mentioning this person. Whether that person acted voluntarily or under duress, it was an undeniable fact that they had caused harm to Shen Yu. If they had done something wrong, they should bear the corresponding consequences.
"His Majesty previously mentioned that there is a mysterious force behind Minister Feng. Could all these events be rted to that force?"
Shen Yu wasn''t shooting in the dark. That force had remained hidden in the shadows until now, and even the Hidden Dragon Guards hadn''t uncovered anything. They were masters at erasing all traces aftermitting an act.
"I also have this suspicion. Let''s wait a little longer. There has been progress on that front. Feng Pingqi won''t be able to enjoy his freedom for much longer. When the timees, I will definitely give you justice."
"With me by your side, Ah Yu has been through unnecessary worries and fears."
Shen Yu shook his head. All the conspiracies and tricks were aimed at Shang Junlin. He was just an apanying figure. The one who needed to be constantly vignt against these visible and invisible threats was Shang Junlin.
"You should also be careful at all times, Your Majesty."
One day, they would uproot these enemies lurking in the darkness.
"Earlier, I assigned a squadron of Hidden Dragon Guards to you. If you have any tasks, let them handle it. And don''t keep them too far away from you on regr days. Some of my uing actions might make certain individuals desperate." Shang Junlin instructed.
"You can carry out your ns without worry, Your Majesty. Don''t concern yourself with me. Why did Your Majesty mention that they want to shift the me onto Prince An? What is it about Prince An?" Shen Yu knew very little about Prince An. In his previous life, the man had always had a low profile.
"Prince An once had hopes of ascending to the throne, but for some reason, he voluntarily gave up on it. Since then, he has quietly reduced his presence in the court. When I led the troops to infiltrate the pce, he lent a helping hand."
After discussing for a while, they still couldn''te to a conclusion, so they temporarily put the matter aside.
----
Subei.
Fang Jun received Shang Junlin''s response in the shortest possible time. To facilitate their actions, Shang Junlin granted Fang Jun partial ess to the Hidden Dragon Guards. Gu Huai was also withdrawn from the Subei Army and began investigating the hidden Beimo people covertly.
After a few days of recuperation, Yao Ji''s condition improved, and she took the initiative to offer help: "I was one of the participants, and I can certainly assist all of you."
As she spoke, Yao Ji was nervous. Prejudices against women were deeply ingrained in society, and she genuinely wanted to help but was afraid of being excluded due to her identity.
"In that case, you cane along. Your assistance will be valuable in the uing tasks. Miss, we appreciate your efforts," Fang Jun said. His own daughter had already entered the court as an official, so he naturally had no bias against women.
Seeing this, some junior officials subconsciously felt it was inappropriate. Not only was Yao Ji a woman, but she was also a dancer. It didn''t seem right for her to be involved in the investigation alongside them.
Fang Jun nced at them and understood what they wanted to say. He interrupted their unspoken words in a calm voice, "Yao Ji has more information than you and mebined. With her involvement, things will be more convenient. I understand what you''re thinking, but it is a critical period now. It''s more important to uncover those individuals than to worry about unnecessary matters. Focus on your work and put away any improper thoughts."
Feeling ashamed by Fang Jun''s words, the junior officials lowered their heads and admitted their mistake, saying, "You''re right, my Lord."
Undeniably, Yao Ji was indeed beautiful. When she revealed her true appearance, many people were stunned. Aware that her looks would attract attention and cause unnecessary trouble, she disguised herself for the following period.
Yao Ji was a very attentive person. Based on subtle clues, she could gather more useful information. With her involvement, things progressed smoothly.
A few dayster, the officials sent by the court arrived in Subei.
Fang Jun led the team to wee them and was surprised to see his own daughter.
Fang Jiayi wasn''t supposed toe at this time. Shang Junlin had nned to reunite the father and daughter in the capital before sending Fang Jiayi to Subei. However, ns changed, and due to the situation in Subei requiring arge number of personnel, Fang Jiayi volunteered. Shang Junlin decided to send the three of them together.
Fang Jun''s expression changed for just an instant, noticed only by Xun Chao, who had be familiar with Fang Jun during their recent coboration. No one else detected the subtle change in his demeanor.
After arranging the new officials, Fang Jun returned to his study. Xun Chao followed and asked, "My Lord, your expression just now wasn''t right. Is there a problem with the selected officials?"
"No, it''s just that I saw someone unexpected," Fang Jun replied. The list of officials who were going to be sent had been sent to Subei in advance, so Fang Jun had a rough idea of who would being. It just so happened that Fang Jiayi''s name wasn''t on the list.
"Are you referring to those few particrly young officials? I heard that His Majesty personally sent them to gain experience," Xun Chao said, not objecting to it. As long as the officials sent could do their job well, he had noints.
"Why didn''t His Majesty inform me beforehand?" Fang Jun sighed. Even if he had been informed earlier, would he have been able to stop it?
Turning his head, Fang Jun received a letter from the court. Shang Junlin exined why the names of Fang Jiayi and the other two were not on the list because they were not supposed toe at this time.
Fang Jun arranged a small banquet to wee the officials who hade from afar to work in Subei, allowing them to rx and get to know the local officials in Subei.
After having some wine, Fang Jiayi walked out of the main hall.
Subei and the capital hadpletely different styles, but the moon hanging high in the night sky was just as it had been in the capital.
"Come out, why have you been following me?" After standing for a while, Fang Jiayi suddenly spoke.
"Is My Lord a youngdy?" Yao Ji walked out from behind a pir, her gaze flickering uncertainly.
"As you can see." Fang Jiayi opened her arms generously.
"My Lord is truly remarkable," Yao Ji''s eyes revealed envy. "Has the court already allowed women to be officials?"
"Don''t you know?" Fang Jiayi was surprised. This matter caused quite a stir back then, and logically speaking, everyone who should know should know.
Fang Jiayi had heard her colleagues mention this woman before and admired her. Since they had some free time, she invited her to sit at the stone table in the courtyard and began a conversation.
Unbeknownst to them, they started discussing the most critical matter at hand.
"When I came to seek Official Fang, I was prepared for the possibility of failure. I didn''t expect Official Fang to value what I had to say and even make an exception to involve me. My lifelong wish is to capture these Beimo people and find out the whereabouts of other missing women," the woman said.
"Whatever you desire in your heart wille true," Fang Jiayi contemted. The relief supplies that were sent to Subei were plundered by the Beimo people. It made her wonder if some of those women might also be in Beimo.
With the addition of new officials, the pressure on Fang Jun and Xun Chao was greatly reduced. They delegated the matters concerning Subei to these new officials and focused most of their attention on rooting out the Beimo people hiding in Subei.
Beneath the seemingly calm surface, a hidden storm was brewing.
Subei was like this, and so was the capital.
Minister Feng discovered that he was being monitored. From an unknown day onwards, no matter what he did, there always seemed to be a pair of eyes following him closely.
After enduring it for a few days, Minister Feng contacted the mysterious force once again.
The Hidden Dragon Guards were waiting for this opportunity. They silently followed him, fully prepared to close the.
When Shang Junlin received the report from the Hidden Dragon Guards, it waste at night.
He nced at the young man sleeping soundly in his embrace and gently sat up.
The leader of the Hidden Dragon Guards was kneeling in the outer chamber, and Shang Junlin put on his clothes and walked out.
"Master, the person has been captured."
Shang Junlin nced behind the folding screen. "Speak outside."
The source of warmth beside him disappeared. Shen Yu woke up from his slumber, blinking his eyes in confusion. He looked around the room but couldn''t find Shang Junlin.
Faint sounds could be heard outside, muffled by the thick night. Separated by the darkness, Shen Yu had a momentary feeling as if he were still in a dream.
Before long, Shang Junlin, exuding a chilly aura, walked in. He noticed the young man sitting on the bed in a daze, took three quick steps, and shook the nket to wrap him up. "Did I wake you?"
"Where did His Majesty go?" Shen Yu was still a little dazed.
Shang Junlin could tell that he hadn''t fully awakened yet. He embraced him andy back down. "I went out to attend to some matters. It''s nothing. Just go back to sleep."
In his semi-conscious state, Shen Yu was unusually soft,pletely different from his usual self. Shang Junlin loved his usual appearance but also enjoyed the asional glimpses of this different side of him.
He seemed particrly easy to tease.
Chapter 137
Chapter 137
I know itste and I dont have any excuse.
When he thought about it, he had only been out for a while, and Shen Yu woke up waiting for him. Shang Junlin''s heart softened instantly, and he gently patted Shen Yu''s back, intending to coax him back to sleep.
Shen Yu firmly grasped Shang Junlin''s clothes, his mouth opening and closing as if he was saying something, but no sound came out.
"Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin called softly.
Shen Yu snuggled closer, not responding to Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin held him and leaned down to ce a gentle kiss on Shen Yu''s forehead, moving down to his lips.
Shen Yu showed no resistance and allowed it, but just in time, Shang Junlin stopped himself from going too far before losing control.
Surrounded by the familiar scent, Shen Yu''s tense nerves gradually rxed, and his consciousness slipped into sweet dreams.
When he woke up, it was already bright outside. Shen Yu sat up, holding the nket, and had some memories ofst night. He looked around but didn''t find Shang Junlin.
Hearing some movement, Mu Xi came in to attend to him.
"The Emperor isn''t here?" she asked.
"The Emperor went to the morning court and hasn''t returned yet," Mu Xi paused in her actions, feeling a bit surprised. Her young master rarely asked this question, so why did he suddenly ask today?
Shen Yu usually didn''t ask because he knew that if Shang Junlin wasn''t here, he was probably attending the morning court or was dyed by some other matter after the court. It was normal not to see him in the morning. The reason he asked today was that he cared about what happenedst night. He didn''t know if it was a dream he had or if it actually happened.
"The young master''s clothes are a bit small. In a few days, the ministry should send new clothes over," Mu Xi said as she tidied up Shen Yu''s clothes.
Suddenly, her hand paused, and at that moment, she noticed the red marks under Shen Yu''s cor. Compared to the initial panic she felt when she first saw such marks, Mu Xi could now maintain a poker face.
After all, she had seen it too many times. No matter how surprised she was at first, she eventually became desensitized. She was a senior courtdy in the Jade Pce, and Shen Yu was a noble lord. The Emperor always resided in the Yu Zhang Pce, so it was quite normal for things to happen.
Shen Yu adjusted his sleeves. "It''s a bit small."
Perhaps the pce provided ample food, as Shen Yu had gained some weight and had a healthierplexion. He had grown taller since entering the pce. The clothes he brought with him when he entered the pce no longer fit.
"Did anything happenst night?" Shen Yu asked, drinking a cup of warm water after finishing his morning routine.
"No, why does the young master ask?"
It seemed that Mu Xi was unaware of what had happenedst night, which wasn''t surprising. The Hidden Dragon Guards were elusive, and if the person Shen Yu spoke withst night was one of them instead of Shang Junlin, it was normal for Mu Xi not to notice.
"Young master, the potted flower brought by Physician Gu has bloomed," Mu Xi remembered this important matter. She recalled that her young master was quite interested in the flower sent by Imperial Physician Gu.
Among the flowers and nts that Shen Yu personally cared for, except for this one, the rest were sent by the Emperor.
"It bloomed?" Shen Yu was surprised. Can "Jun Ling" bloom?
Since Mu Xi mentioned it, Shen Yu decided to go and take a look. "Jun Ling" was rare enough, let alone blooming. Shen Yu had never seen it in bloom and was quite curious.
Shen Yu walked into the small courtyard specifically designated for flowers, and a faint fragrance greeted him. It was an indescribable scent that made all fatigue seem to disappear with just a light sniff.
Most of the flowers here were personally tended to by Shen Yu. He was certain that before this fragrance appeared, entering the courtyard didn''t evoke such a feeling.
Looking at the other pce maids, each had a rxed expression on their face.
Shen Yu walked further in, and "Jun Ling" was ced on a shelf on the left side. At this moment, among the delicate branches and leaves, a few light green flower buds were clustered together.
"How long have the flower buds been growing?" Shen Yu hadn''t seen them during hisst visit.
"I discovered themst night," Mu Xi replied. Shang Junlin was present at that time and ordered no one to disturb them, so Mu Xi didn''t mention it.
Shen Yu approached to observe.
The flower buds were very small, each only the size of a little finger, nestled among the branches and leaves, not easily noticeable. As he got closer, Shen Yu noticed that the fragrance grew stronger, but it wasn''t overpowering. It was still a gentle and pleasant scent.
Unlike the tranquility in the harem, the former dynasty was almost boiling.
Shocking news followed one after another, catching people off guard. The situation in the Northern Frontier was not yet resolved, and a major event urred in the court.
The cause of the turmoil began during the court session today when everyone noticed that Minister Feng was absent. Not only Minister Feng, but several officials under his jurisdiction were also missing. Before they could specte too much, Shang Junlin directly announced the crimesmitted by Minister Feng and his associates.
This news caused a greatmotion.
The ministers werepletely unsettled. They had thought that the situation in the Northern Frontier was far from them, but today they were suddenly informed that their long-time colleagues were involved, even leaking detailed information about various actions within the court to the enemy. How could they ept this?
"Why would Minister Feng, who was part of the cab, do such a thing?"
"I knew it! Why did the ''bandits'' know about the forces we sent? It turns out someone had been leaking information!"
"Does this mean that all our movements were under the enemy''s surveince? Minister Feng is a senior minister in the cab, with more knowledge of ssified information than us. How much of this information did he disclose to the other side?"
"Is it true that Minister Feng is truly colluding with Beimo?"
Thest question was what they urgently needed to know. If Minister Feng was indeed colluding with Beimo, they needed to prepare early.
"This matter will be handled by the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Justice together. We must obtain results as soon as possible," Shang Junlin dered.
Not only Shang Junlin, but other ministers also desired quick results. The officials who were usually close to Minister Feng''s faction paled even further.
Shang Junlin''s move had caught thempletely off guard. It didn''t give them any time to react. In an instant, the aristocratic families lost one-third of their positions in the cab. Minister Duan was shaking with anger.
He had sensed that something was amiss with Minister Feng during this period, but he never imagined that his audacity would reach this level,mitting such a deed. Even if the aristocratic families wanted to protect him, they couldn''t.
Due to Minister Feng''s actions, significant turbulence urred within the court''s power structure. Alongside their concerns, many people''s eyes were fixed on the vacant positions left by Minister Feng''s faction.
Especially Minister Feng''s position.
That was the cab. Since the Prime Minister''s assumption of the cab six years ago, there had been no changes. Now that there was finally a vacancy, various forces were eager to send their own people there.
When Shang Junlin returned from the court session, Shen Yu asked about the events of the previous night. Shang Junlin did not conceal anything and shared the news of capturing Minister Feng and the individuals who had been in constantmunication with him.
"Why did His Majesty take direct action this time? How did the court react?" Shen Yu inquired.
"The Hidden Dragon Guard has already found the hideout of those people in the capital. They were capturedst night, and there is no need to keep Feng Pingqi alive anymore." If it weren''t for capturing the individuals behind him, Shang Junlin would have disposed of Feng Pingqi himself, based on what he had done to Shen Yu.
For the past few days, the Hidden Dragon Guard had been closely monitoring Feng Pingqi''s movements. Under Shang Junlin''s pressure, Feng Pingqi couldn''t bear it any longer and sought out the individuals behind him. Their actions were secretive, but they couldn''t escape the vignt eyes of the prepared Hidden Dragon Guard.
Through the contact person between Feng Pingqi and the others, the Hidden Dragon Guard discovered the location of their force in the capital. Instead of alerting them, they seized the opportunity to infiltrate and only made their move when they were certain of the perfect execution of the operation.
At the same time, news reached the guards stationed at the Feng residence, and they took control of the entire Feng family.
Everything happened within a very short period, giving no one time to react. Last night, when Shang Junlin woke up, he received a report from the leader of the Hidden Dragon Guard about the matter.
After the court session, the Prime Minister went straight to the Ministry of Justice. The case involving Feng Pingqi had wide implications and needed to be resolved quickly.
Other ministers were not idle either. With Feng Pingqi''s downfall already a certainty, the position he left behind became a highly sought-after prize, and various forces wanted to take a bite.
The officials from the aristocratic families were especially unwilling to simply hand over this position to others.
"What was Minister Feng thinking? He was a well-respected minister in the cab, but look at what he has done! Conspiring with the Northern Frontier to steal disaster relief supplies, opening the door wide for Beimo, and even poisoning Shen Guijun... Why did he provoke Shen Guijun for no reason?"
Everyone knew that the Noble Monarch was like the reverse scale on His Majesty''s side, and any contact with him was met with death. There was no turning back for any of the crimesmitted by Minister Feng.
"No wonder we never received any reports rted to the disaster situation from the Northern Frontier. It wasn''t just the high-ranking officials of the Northern Frontier preventing it, even the ministers of the court didn''t want the court to know about this." Shen Yu looked at the reports submitted by the Ministry of Justice and sneered.
During the severe drought in the Northern Frontier, not only the officials in the main city but also the local officials could seek assistance from the court. Yet, all these reports had vanished without a trace. Shen Yu had been pondering how the Northern Frontier managed to block all the information, and now he realized it was because there were insiders within the court.
Due to Shang Junlin''s rtively shallow foundation in the court during his early years, the cab had significant power. Even now, the cab could still contend with the imperial authority. Minister Feng, as a senior minister in the cab, had been operating within the court for many years, making it not difficult for him to conceal the news from the Northern Frontier.
"Did he collude with the people from Beimo?" Among other things, this was what Shen Yu was particrly concerned about.
"The Ministry of Justice says that when they informed Feng Pingqi about the collusion between the Northern Frontier and Beimo, his expression of surprise did not seem fake. He also refused to admit that he had colluded with Beimo. Perhaps he knew that there was no hope for aeback, but he is very clear about what he has done these years." Shang Junlin
said.
"But isn''t it because the force behind him has been captured?" Shen Yu couldn''t believe that Feng Pingqi would reveal the truth out of genuine repentance.
People who abandon their principles don''t shed tears until they see the coffin.
"That''s also a significant reason. At first, he refused to say anything, butter, when the people from the Ministry of Justice showed him an execution scene, he became honest."
The person who received the punishment was naturally the one who had been cooperating with him all along. The people from the Ministry of Justice had to find a way to extract useful information from him.
The Ministry of Justice acted swiftly and, based on the clues provided by Feng Pingqi, they also arrested many hidden individuals in the capital. However, Feng Pingqi''s knowledge was limited. Despite working with them for many years, he had never been aware of the true identity of the individuals behind him.
"If Feng Pingqi was telling the truth and he did not collude with Beimo, then what about the force behind him? Did they have any connection with the ones who have been supporting the King o Yue from behind the scenes?" Shen Yu pondered, rubbing his chin. "Are they the people left behind by thete Emperor?"
"I''m not sure either. It''s just spection. We''ll have to wait for the Ministry of Justice to uncover the results." It would be excellent if they could capture the individuals behind the King of Yue in one fell swoop.
Chapter 138
Chapter 138
The person hidden behind the King of Yue can be said to be a knot in Shen Yu''s heart. In his previous life, he followed the King of Yue but never really had direct contact with that force. Unless the situation was extremely urgent, that force would not take action.
Shen Yu originally thought that force helped him because the King of Yue saved Young Master He, but this time, things were different. He learned some secrets that he didn''t know in his previous life, and his perception of that force changed.
He wondered who they really listened to and what their purpose was, but he had little clue at the moment. Shang Junlin stroked Shen Yu''s wrist and said, "I have been having the Hidden Dragon Guards investigate the King of Yue. They have also gathered information about the King''s fiefdom while making donations. Speaking of which, the person who gave the King of Yue the maxim has been captured."
Shen Yu''s thoughts immediately focused, "Your Majesty, are you talking about the one who orchestrated the meeting between the King of Yue, me, and Shen Qingran?"
"Yes, the Hidden Dragon Guards have secretly taken the person to the capital. They should arrive in a few days." Shang Junlin''s tone carried a chilling edge when he mentioned that person.
"Your Majesty, please remember to take me to see him when the timees." Shen Yu was curious about the authenticity of the maxim and why that person would say such things.
"I won''t forget," Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand and brought it to his lips, giving it a kiss. "Regardless of the circumstances, Ah Yu can only belong to me."
Shang Junlin didn''t care about the saying "Whoever obtains a member of the Shen family obtains the world." He only wanted one person, Shen Yu, from beginning to end.
"Naturally," Shen Yu embraced Shang Junlin''s neck and smiled mischievously. "And Your Majesty can only be mine."
Shang Junlin''s eyes darkened slightly as he held the back of Shen Yu''s head, bringing him closer and kissing him passionately.
In the warm and peaceful pce, waves were stirring up in the former dynasty.
After announcing Minister Feng''s crimes, Shang Junlin dismissed and imprisoned all the officials involved. No matter how much they were involved, they could never regain their official positions in this lifetime. This incident had wide-ranging implications. With officials being dismissed, vacant positions opened up, and everyone wanted a share of the spoils.
Minister Feng had operated in the court for many years, and there were many officials who served under him. Among them were third and second-ranking ministers. Now that these officials had been stripped of their positions and Shang Junlin hadn''t appointed new officials immediately, both the noble families andmoners focused their attention on these vacant positions.
During the morning court, some officials proposed that Shang Junlin appoint new officials as soon as possible. Although the absence of a few officials wouldn''t immediately affect the functioning of the court, instability for even a single day could lead to trouble.
Shang Junlin was aware of this, and he had some candidates in mind. After gathering a few important ministers for consultation, some positions found new upants. These officials came from both noble andmoner backgrounds, achieving a delicate bnce. However, the position previously held by Minister Feng remained vacant.
Originally, this position was filled by officials from noble families, and due to this, noble families had always maintained a firm advantage over themoners. Now, with only one noble family official left in the cab, the noble families'' influence was significantly weakened.
Furthermore, Shang Junlin had promoted several new individuals, most of whom were schrs who had been sent away after passing the imperial examinations and were now returning to the capital. Their inclusion had a significant impact on the existing factions in the court.
"This time, Your Majesty has be the biggest winner." Shang Junlin shared everything he did with Shen Yu, and Shen Yu was delighted to see that Shang Junlin had managed toplete his ns ahead of schedule using Minister Feng''s case.
"I never expected Minister Feng to do such a thing."
Many of Minister Feng''s actions, taken individually, were crimes worthy of exterminating his entire family, not to mention the series of things he did. The Feng family, which had been hovering in the capital for years, waspletely removed from the stage of history with his withdrawal from the Grand Court. It was almost impossible for them to make aeback.
Shang Junlin wouldn''t give them that chance, and neither would the other noble families.
"Minister Feng''s actions were truly reckless." The influential figures of the major noble families gathered together to discuss what to do next.
"Not only did he implicate himself and the Feng family, but he also involved us. Now that the cab positions are vacant, His Majesty doesn''t seem to have any intention of appointing anyone."
"I personally think that we have rmended so many candidates, yet His Majesty hasn''t made a decision. It''s already quite clear."
"I''m afraid His Majesty already had someone in mind. As long as Official Fang doesn''t return, the cab will remain vacant."
None of the people present had made it this far by being foolish. They had already arranged people for other positions, but the cab remained untouched, indicating that either Shang Junlin was dissatisfied with the current nominees or he already had someone in mind.
All signs pointed to thetter being more likely.
"His Majesty has been wanting to make changes to the cab for a while now. If he had the opportunity, do you think he would allow the noble families to dominate for so long? We all know what kind of person His Majesty is. In the previous incident with the women entering the court as officials, both Minister Feng and Minister Duan refused to back down. But His Majesty found another way to force them to yield."
"What can we do? Just watch as someone else takes that position?"
"What else can we do? The Feng family holds considerable power, and many noble families had alliances with them before this incident. Right now, everyone is concerned about protecting themselves. Who has the energy to resist whatever His Majesty ns to do?"
After these words were spoken, a brief silence fell in the room. Not to mention others, even their own families had ties with the Feng family. They were afraid of being implicated inadvertently and only wanted to ensure their own safety. They had no mind to do anything else.
"This time, it was easily achieved, thanks to the influence of the Feng family." In the afternoon, Shang Junlin and Shen Yu were resting in a pavilion, discussing court affairs.
"His Majesty is currently in a rage. Who would dare to provoke him at such a time?" Shen Yu chuckled. "If they remain obedient, it actually makes it easier for His Majesty to act."
Compared to uncertain power struggles, these noble families clearly valued their own interests more.
"The Ministry of Justice has gained a lot of information, but Minister Feng still refuses to admit his collusion with external enemies. No matter how they torture him, he insists that he knows nothing about it," Shang Junlin caressed the teacup in his hand, his eyes filled withplexity.
"Does His Majesty believe his words? Did Minister Feng have dealings with Beimo for a long time, or is it only rted to this incident?" Shen Yu asked.
"It''s not a matter of whether I believe him or not. I need a definitive answer. If he is truly colluding with Beimo, the court needs to prepare in advance."
Shang Junlin didn''t tell Shen Yu that Minister Feng had tried to manipte him. He received "special treatment" in the Ministry of Justice, making it highly unlikely that he was lying. But even if there was a one-in-a-million chance of him lying, it couldn''t be allowed to happen.
Beimo had long held grudges against Da Huan. If they truly had inside information about the court, the consequences would be unimaginable.
The court''s actions were significant, and the people of the capital sensed that something was amiss. The expressions on their faces were no longer as rxed as before.
Regarding the matter of officials colluding with external enemies in Beimo, the court informed the public through newspapers.
"Damn it, it turns out that the ones who took away the disaster relief supplies were not bandits, but those high-ranking officials in Beimo? What are they trying to do?"
"If it weren''t for His Majesty, Subei might not have returned to Da Huan. Those officials were born and raised in Da Huan. They knew what happened when Beimo was invaded. How could they not know?"
"They definitely knew. They just didn''t care about the lives of themon people. Otherwise, why did they go to great lengths to hide the severe drought in Subei? They only cared about their own enjoyment. They are truly despicable!"
"They deserve to be executed. Traitors like them should be punished severely!"
"No wonder it rained in the drought-stricken Subei on the day they were executed. Even the heavens couldn''t tolerate them. It rained as soon as they died."
"Thanks to His Majesty''s keen insight, he sent Official Fang over there to expose their true nature."
"His Majesty is truly dedicated to the people. None of the confiscated items from the corrupt officials'' mansions were added to the national treasury. They were all left in Subei."
The matter involving Minister Feng had not been made public yet, as a definitive conclusion had not been reached.
In the neighborhoods, people were discussing nothing but the affairs of Beimo.
The theater troupe that Shen Yu had guided earlier had prepared a new y based on the events in Beimo. After Shen Yu reviewed the script, it began its performance in the capital.
"The troupe master knows how to seize opportunities," Shen Yu remarked after watching the theater troupe''s submitted script.
Shang Junlin nced at it while reviewing the documents. "It''s based on the y ''The Return of Spring'' that you previously arranged, isn''t it? The ywright is indeed clever."
The storyline of the y was inspired by the events in Beimo, but it was not an exact replica. However, it would make people inevitably reflect on the situation in Beimo after watching it.
After reading it, Shen Yu handed the script to Mu Xi and said, "Tell them they can proceed with the y, but they must not cross certain boundaries."
Upon receiving the order, Mu Xi left to carry it out.
"Is Ah Yu interested in these things?" Shang Junlin paused his writing, curious.
"Not really, I just nced at the script that was sent over. I can''t say I''m interested," Shen Yu replied, genuinely uninterested in such matters.
"By the way, how much does His Majesty know about ''Jun Ling''? It seems like it bloomed a few days ago."
"The nt that Physician Gu sent?" Shang Junlin had always been curious about the flower that Shen Yu treated with special care.
Shen Yu nodded.
Since Shang Junlin was almost done with his work, Shen Yu thought it would be a good idea to go and take a look together.
As they approached, a faint fragrance greeted their senses. Upon entering, Shen Yu discovered that a few days had passed, and the flower bud had already opened.
The flower was small, even in its fully bloomed state, it was norger than a fingertip. The petals were tightly stacked together, with a light green outeryer that gradually turned whiter towards the center. The area near the center had a jade-like color.
Shen Yu had never seen "Jun Ling" in full bloom before and couldn''t help but slow his breathing.
"It''s truly beautiful."
"Ah Yu has taken good care of it." Shang Junlin nced at the flower and then shifted his gaze to Shen Yu.
"Jun Ling" was a difficult nt to cultivate, and Shang Junlin didn''t know where Physician Gu obtained this particr flower and why he chose to give it to Shen Yu. However, seeing Shen Yu''s delight at the flower''s bloom, a slight itchiness stirred in his heart.
"Ah Yu is happy?"
Shen Yu turned to look at Shang Junlin, his eyes filled with unhidden admiration. "I didn''t expect it to be so beautiful when it bloomed."
Although itcked the mboyance of other flowers, its elegance was impossible to ignore. Shen Yu loved everything beautiful.
"If you like it, I''ll have people find a few more." Shang Junlin cupped the young man''s face and kissed those eyes that were even more dazzling than the starry sky.
Chapter 139
Chapter 139
To my very first kofi donator, Missahful, words cant exin how much I appreciate your generosity. <3
Im gonna update 5 chapters today. Thank you so much for giving me kofi to /serafintrantions
Shen Yu closed his eyes, feeling the warm kissnd on his eyelids.
Sunlight streamed in through the cracks, half of it falling on the two figures, casting a golden veil over them.
Shen Yu reached out and grabbed Shang Junlin''s cor, feeling his breath descending, until their lips finally met.
His hand, which tightly gripped the cor, weakly fell down. In a daze, Shen Yu felt his body being lifted, and when he came to his senses, they were already on the bed in the chamber.
"What does His Majesty want to do?" Shen Yu pressed his finger against Shang Junlin''s lips, which were about to touch his. "It''s not even the tenth day yet."
"Ah Yu..." Shang Junlin''s ck eyes were deep, like an abyss one couldn''t see the bottom of, drawing the person who met his gaze into it.
Light and shadow flickered, and everything faded away.
Physician Gu arrived, as usual, to check Shen Yu''s pulse for his well-being, but before he could enter, he was led to a side chamber by Meng Gonggong. "The Noble Monarch and His Majesty have something to attend to. Physician Gu, please rest here for a while."
Physician Gu encountered this situation for the first time and although he was puzzled, he didn''t ask further. After waiting for about two-quarters of an hour, Meng Gonggong came in and led him to the main chamber.
Shen Yuzily reclined on the soft couch, his eyes misty and his lips redder than usual.
Physician Gu focused on examining his pulse without looking away and said, "The Noble Monarch''s body is as usual."
Shen Yu sat up, and Shang Junlin, who was by his side, helped him. Shen Yu couldn''t help but give him a sidelong nce.
He didn''t know what had stimted him today, but after their kiss, Shang Junlin carried the still-dazed Shen Yu back to the chamber and had his way with him inside and out.
Shen Yu hadn''t anticipated Shang Junlin''s sudden actions and easily sumbed to them. If Physician Gu hadn''te to check his pulse, he didn''t know how long he would have been taken advantage of.
"Physician Gu, do you remember the ''Jun Ling'' you sent before? It bloomed." Shen Yu thought it would be proper to inform Physician Gu, the previous owner of the flower.
Physician Gu paused for a moment and said the same words as Shang Junlin, "The Noble Monarch has taken good care of it."
"Why is Physician Gu saying the same thing?" Shen Yu was curious.
"One of the reasons ''Jun Ling'' is rare is because it''s not easy to keep it alive. I happened to obtain a nt many years ago, but it never bloomed even after nurturing it for a long time. Unexpectedly, when I sent it to the esteemed gentleman this year, it bloomed," Physician Gu smiled. "It seems I made the right decision by giving it to the noble monarch."
"Is there any special significance to its blooming?" Shen Yu knew that ''Jun Ling'' was rare and had significant benefits for the human body.
"It''s all hearsay. It is said that ''Jun Ling'' only blooms under the care of someone destined for it. I don''t think so. Flowers and nts are all the same. If they are to bloom, they must meet the conditions for blooming. Perhaps, in the His Excellency''s care, it just happened to fulfill the conditions for blooming."
Shen Yu was more inclined to believe Physician Gu''stter exnation. Just like some flowers that bloom once a year and others that bloom once every three years, no matter how much time passes, they can''t bloom until their blooming period arrives.
No longer dwelling on the matter of ''Jun Ling,'' Shen Yu turned to ask about another thing. "Physician Gu, have you received any news from my younger brother?"
Shen Yu remembered how worried Physician Gu had been for Gu Huai some time ago. During that period, Gu Huai''s mission was at a critical stage and he couldn''t have any contact with the outside world. After the matter was resolved, Shen Yu didn''t know if he had managed to find a way to send a message to Physician Gu.
"Please don''t worry, Noble Monarch. I received a letter from my younger brother a few days ago. He went out on a mission, but he will be back soon," Gu Huai had been attached to him since childhood, and Physician Gu had a hard time adjusting when he left for those few days. It took him a while to get used to it.
After exchanging a few more words with Physician Gu, Shang Junlin''s gaze grew increasingly unfriendly. Unable to do anything about it, Shen Yu had to dismiss Physician Gu for now.
"Why did His Majesty scare Physician Gu just now?" Shen Yu turned his head and looked at Shang Junlin, displeased.
"Why did Ah Yu keep talking to him?" Shang Junlin was even more dissatisfied. He had only taken a bite to satisfy his craving when he was interrupted. How could he possibly maintain a good mood?
"Your Majesty is being unreasonable. You broke the agreement yourself, and now you me others," Shen Yu raised an eyebrow and covered Shang Junlin''s eyes with his hand. "We agreed on once every ten days, but what day is it today?"
Shang Junlin released Shen Yu''s hand and lightly bit it near his lips. "Ah Yu clearly likes it too, yet he keeps enticing me..."
"If His Majesty could exercise restraint and make an exception asionally, it wouldn''t be a problem," Shen Yu nced at him sideways.
Because Shen Yu had set a ten-day interval, every time the appointed time arrived, Shang Junlin would unleash the beast within him and indulge to his heart''s content. It''s not that he didn''t want to restrain himself, but with his beloved in his arms after being deprived for several days, he simply couldn''t control himself.
After all, when given the opportunity, one must savor it fully.
However, this resulted in Shen Yu being unable to get out of bed for a day or two afterward. It was only today, due to the need for Physician Gu to examine him, that Shang Junlin reluctantly stopped after their encounter.
"If Ah Yu didn''t insist on a ten-day interval, I wouldn''t..." Shang Junlin coughed softly and didn''t continue his sentence.
Shen Yu understood his unfinished words. He wasn''t truly opposed to this matter either. Intimate contact with a loved one was instinctual, and he was no exception. However...
Until he could fully adapt to it, it would be better for Shang Junlin to restrain himself.
Shen Yu thought expressionlessly.
As if sensing his thoughts, Shang Junlin pinched Shen Yu''s waist and pulled him into his embrace.
Having just been ravished, Shen Yu''s body still had remnants of pleasure lingering. With the sudden movement from the man, he trembled lightly.
A flush spread across his cheeks and disappeared into his cor.
Shang Junlin''s eyes darkened.
The hand pressing on Shen Yu''s waist applied moderate pressure, relieving the difort. Shen Yu squinted his eyes as he was kneaded.
"Do you know how Gu Huai sent the letter back?" Shen Yu, who was on the verge of falling asleep, didn''t forget his curiosity.
Shang Junlin''s hand paused slightly, and amidst Shen Yu''s dissatisfied murmuring, he continued to massage him. "It was sent back together with Fang Jun''s family letter."
"Fang Jun only sent one family letter to the capital, and it was sent back together with those who recently went to the capital," Shang Junlin added.
"Your Majesty, if Official Fang sees that Miss Fang has also gone to Subei, would he be surprised?" Shen Yu asked.
"Fang Jiayi was addedter, and she wasn''t initially included in the list sent to Subei. When Fang Jun sees her, he''ll probably think I''m squeezing the Fang family," Shang Junlin replied, understanding his daughter''s arrival was a surprise to Fang Jun at first, but after meeting He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing who came along, Fang Jun roughly understood Shang Junlin''s intentions.
"My Lord, our people have alreadymunicated with Beimo. They said they bought those things at a high price and refuse to return them to us. They even insist that they didn''t collude with the traitor Hou," reported an official who returned from Beimo.
"What are your thoughts?" Fang Jun asked in a deep voice.
Beimo''s reaction was as expected. Their willingness to admit directly was strange. Fang Jun also didn''t expect to retrieve the items all at once. This was merely an attempt to test their attitude.
"In my opinion, it would be difficult to achieve the goal of retrieving these goods through negotiation alone. We must provide them with enough deterrence during the negotiations so that they won''t have absolute confidence," one of the officials suggested.
Others nodded in agreement. The reason the Beimo people were so arrogant was that they believed no one could do anything to them regarding Beimo. What if they didn''t have such a reliance?
Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu were responsible for investigating the infiltrated Beimo people in Subei. They were neers and not on the list, so they disguised themselves as ordinary wealthy youths moving around the city.
They obtained information about the people from Beimofrom Fang Jun and wanted to try finding the hiding ce of these people through alternative means.
"Those people who stayed in Subei must have some ulterior motives. Now that their previous coborators or protectors are gone, they will definitely need to find new people to cooperate with," said He Chengyu, sitting across from Jiang Huaiqing in the tavern. Jiang Huaiqing dipped his finger in water and wrote the character "Shang" on the table.
"Brother Chengyu, what kind of people do you think are easily chosen?" he asked.
"ording to Yaoji''s information, it''s not just officials who can establish rtionships with those people, but also some wealthy merchants. With the recent changes in Subei''s officials, the previously stable triangr rtionship is now missing a piece, which will inevitably create some friction. This is our opportunity," He Chengyu replied.
They exchanged a nce and saw the tacit understanding in each other''s eyes.
The next day, news spread in the businessmunity of Subei that a generous businessman had arrived, intending to leave Subei and buy some exotic treasures to bring back. It wasn''t surprising, as for years there had been merchants passing through Subei to enter Beimo. Not long ago, there was even a prominent merchant named Yan who hade out of Subei, and it was said that the things brought by the Yan merchant were highly sought after in Beimo, especially by the women.
With his abundant resources, He Chengyu smoothly integrated into the inner circle of Subei''s businessmunity.
Their appointment had not yet been announced, and they were acting independently of the government. The only person who knew their movements was Fang Jun.
Meanwhile, Fang Jiayi stayed by Fang Jun''s side to assist him.
The first negotiation failure left many people with psychological shadows. Compared to Beimo, they had more concerns because nobody knew how long the Beimo people had been lurking in Subei and how well they understood Subei.
Without rifying these aspects, they couldn''t act freely.
When discussing the next negotiation candidate with Beimo, Fang Jiayi stepped forward voluntarily. "I''m willing to give it a try."
"But... you''re a woman. Would it be inconvenient?" someone raised the concern.
"In the face of righteousness, what difference does it make whether it''s a man or a woman? Since I dare to speak up, I must have confidence. Instead of choosing someone unwilling and risking another failure, it''s better to let me try," Fang Jiayi confidently responded.
When it came to eloquence, few could surpass Fang Jiayi. After a few words, the officials were left speechless. In the end, they had to admit that Fang Jiayi was the most suitable person to negotiate.
"Miss Fang has made the right choice this time." Shen Yu couldn''t help butugh when he heard the news from Shang Junlin. The scene of Fang Jiayi standing up to the Crown Prince was still vivid in his mind, and he had never seen anyone confront the Crown Prince like that before.
"Your Majesty, the clothing from the Shangyi Bureau has been delivered," announced Meng Gonggong, bowing his head as he entered.
"Let them in," Shang Junlin said.
As Shang Junlin spoke, several pce maids carrying the clothes walked in. Due to Shang Junlin''s attention, every piece of clothing was made from the best fabric, and the style and color were tailored to Shen Yu''s preferences.
"Take a look, Yu''er. Do you like them?" Shang Junlin walked over with Shen Yu, carefully examining each piece of clothing. His gaze lingered on a red garment for a long time.
Shen Yu touched the fabric of the garment and against the fiery red, his fair skin appeared even more delicate.
"It seems His Majesty really likes this one. How about wearing it for His Majesty tonight?"
Chapter 140
Chapter 140
The young voice was soft, with a lingering tail that seemed to hide a hook, gently arousing the fanciful thoughts in their hearts.
Shang Junlin''s throat rolled violently.
"Ah Yu, you must keep your word," he said.
The pce maids all lowered their heads, wishing they were pirs. Shen Yu let go of the red garment and looked at the others. The remaining ones were all lighter in color, in line with Shen Yu''s usual style of dress.
In addition to the ones held by the pce maids, there were also some that were not yet finished. With only Shen Yu in the harem and Shang Junlin''s orders, all the good ones were prioritized for Shen Yu''s use.
"Why does His Majesty want them to make a red garment?" Shen Yu rarely wore this color, and his noble status did not suit wearing red garments in the pce.
"The red outfit you worest time looked very good."
And that night, their first night, Shen Yu was also dressed in red, blossoming before him, reaching the pinnacle of beauty. The image of Shen Yu that night was so mesmerizing that he couldn''t take his eyes off him.
Shen Yu lived up to his words and appeared in front of Shang Junlin that night wearing the red garment.
Shen Yu''s figure had be even more slender, his features more radiant. Wrapped in the red garment, he exuded a scorching beauty.
"Your Majesty, do I look good?" Shen Yu approached calmly.
Since Shen Yu put on that garment, Shang Junlin''s gaze had not moved away from him, burning with intensity. If gazes could materialize, Shen Yu felt like he would be set aze.
"It''s beautiful," Shang Junlin''s voice was hoarse, filled with desire.
Unlike the previous time, Shen Yu was dressed neatly today. His long hair was tied back with a hairband of the same color, and the red garment tightly enveloped him, revealing nothing but enticing the heartstrings even more.
Shen Yu walked towards Shang Junlin, and before he could get close, he was pulled into the man''s embrace. "No matter what Ah Yu wears, no one can surpass him in my heart."
Feeling the change in the man''s body, Shen Yu''s eyes shed with a hint of teasing. "Your Majesty speaks such sweet words, but tonight, you can only look."
Shang Junlin held his wrist, reaching into the wide sleeve of his robe. "The ten-day deadline has arrived."
Shen Yu held the hand that the man had ced in his sleeve and nced sideways. "Your Majesty, have you forgotten what happened during the day? It hasn''t been ten days since then."
"Ah Yu..." Shang Junlin held his earlobe, gently grinding it with his teeth.
A tingling sensation spread from his earlobe, causing Shen Yu to tremble. The hand on the man''s shoulder instinctively tightened.
A few wrinkles appeared on the smooth ck dragon robe.
Shen Yu was imprisoned in Shang Junlin''s embrace, unable to escape. He could only let the man''s kissesnd on his face, lips, neck... all the way down.
The red petals unfolded, revealing the pure white snow within. Soon, red plum blossoms bloomed on the snow.
Shen Yu tilted his head back, drawing a graceful arc with his neck.
The red string slipped off, and his ck long hair spread out on the bed. Some strands fell on his chest, mixing with the strands that fell from the man''s hair, inseparable.
Half of the red garment fell on the bed, and the other half fell to the ground. The candlelight was bright, and the shadow of the figures swayed faintly. asionally, one could hear a few suppressed low groans.
The red candles burned throughout the night.
When Shen Yu woke up the next day, his whole body ached. He sat up, supporting himself, and couldn''t help but inhale sharply at the pain.
Shang Junlin pulled back the bed curtain and saw Shen Yu sitting up slowly. He hurriedly reached out to support him. "Why don''t you sleep a little longer?"
"What time is it?" Shen Yu asked, leaning on Shang Junlin''s strength as he sat up.
"It''s not yet noon."
Compared to previous times, Shen Yu woke up early this time.
Shang Junlin brought honey water and fed it to Shen Yu. Sitting up made Shen Yu feel even more ufortable. He instructed Shang Junlin, "Come over and let me lean on you."
Following hismand, Shang Junlin sat on the bed and embraced Shen Yu, cing his hand on Shen Yu''s waist, and exerting a moderate amount of pressure.
"Still feeling ufortable?"
"What do you think, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu asked sarcastically. Last night, he had tried to stop several times, scolded, and even cried, but Shang Junlin not only refused to stop but also exerted more force. Whenever Shen Yu made a sound, Shang Junlin would be even more excited, leaving Shen Yu no choice but to try not to make any sound.
"Ah Yu, where are you ufortable? Let me massage you," Shang Junlin said.
Shen Yu rxed and reclined on Shang Junlin''s body, allowing the man to massage him. It must be said that Shang Junlin was quite talented in this aspect. After the massage, Shen Yu''s body felt noticeably less sore.
After the difort in his body eased, Shen Yu got up from the bed. When he was clear-headed, he didn''t like lying in bed.
Apart from being in bed, Shen Yu generally wants to do anything, and Shang Junlin will follow him.
Shen Yu changed his clothes, still wearing the light blue outfit today. He didn''t know where the red clothes went, which were taken by Shang Junlin. He asked Mu Xi, but Mu Xi said she hadn''t seen it.
Thinking about the traces left on the red clothes, Shen Yu felt it was better that Mu Xi didn''t know. It would be best if the clothes had already been thrown away by Shang Junlin. He didn''t want to wear red clothes for a while.
News from the Northern Frontier kepting back continuously, and Shen Yu also learned about Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu disguising themselves as merchants to find a breakthrough from another direction.
Coincidentally, Yan Zheng also sent back a message.
He had been in business for many years and had his own connections. Although the rtionship between Da Huan and Beimo was currently tense, when he arrived in Beimo, he didn''t encounter much trouble, thanks to his prior arrangements. On the contrary, the goods he brought were warmly weed.
The people of Beimo and Da Huan had different habits. They were nomadic tribes, living on the grasnds year-round, with significant differences in clothing and lifestylepared to Da Huan. However, this didn''t prevent the women of Beimo from loving the clothing of Da Huan.
The things Yan Zheng brought were well received in the capital city and even more so in Beimo, where fashion was not as developed as in Da Huan.
Because he mostly traded women''s items, which many Beimo men considered useless, they didn''t pay much attention to him.
From the beginning, Yan Zheng could only interact with ordinary Beimo women, but gradually he was able to meet noble women. Through their introductions, he even had contact with the women of the royal family.
While building rtionships with these people, he discreetly investigated the movements in Beimo.
"Is Yan Gongzi returning to Da Huan?"
In the evening, Yan Zheng attended a banquet hosted by Beimo nobles, at the invitation of a noblewoman.
Yan Zheng took a sip of wine and said helplessly, "As you can see, my goods are almost sold out. I have to go back to replenish my stock."
"The things from your Da Huan are really beautiful. I wish I could go and see them," said the woman wearing a delicately crafted headdress, with beautiful lip color purchased from Yan Zheng.
"I wish the same. Before I met Yan Gongzi, I had no idea there were so many colors of lip color, as well as dedicated cleansers and hand washes. Now I smell good every day, and I love this fragrance."
"Do the women in Da Huan have ess to these items from birth?"
"Not really," Yan Zheng smiled. "These are new products in the capital city, and they haven''t been popr in Da Huan for long. It''s just my good fortune to be able to bring them to Beimo for sale. Apart from the person I bought them from, these items can''t be found anywhere else. That''s why I have to go back."
"So, these items are not essible to everyone in Da Huan?" Several noblewomen exchanged nces, excitement evident in their voices.
"Of course not. I can assure you that apart from the person I bought from, you won''t find these items anywhere else."
"Next time Yan Gongzies, will you bring different goods? I heard that women in Da Huan like to decorate their nails. Can you bring some nail decorations next time?"
Other women also mentioned various things they desired, and Yan Zheng responded to each one. Casually, he asked, "Many of the things you mentioned are everyday items in Da Huan. Has no onee to sell them before?"
"There have been some, but those people are not like Mr. Yan. They never considered our needs. The things they brought werepletely useless to us."
Yan Zheng''s eyes flickered slightly. "What do they usually sell?"
"Salt, ironware, tea..." The noblewomen didn''t think much of it, as they had been dealing with him for a long time.
"Ah, those things are indeed different from what I sell."
"Yan Gongzi, please don''t be like them. Next time youe, remember to bring more things suitable for us."
By the end of the banquet, many people were drunk, and Yan Zheng took the opportunity to gather useful information.
Yan Zheng''s trip to Beimo can be said to be quite fruitful. The goods he brought were much more popr than he had imagined, and he returned earlier than nned.
With his connections to many noblewomen, he didn''t encounter any trouble along the way. In Beimo, the status of women was nearly equal to that of men, and their power was no less. No one would dare to provoke Yan Zheng and his caravan under their protection.
When they went, the caravan mostly carried women''s items, but when they returned, they were filled with various goods purchased in Beimo. Da Huan''s items were well received in Beimo, and likewise, certain Beimo items were highly sought after in Da Huan.
After leaving the Beimo region, upon reaching the borders of Subei, Yan Zheng managed to contact the undercover Hidden Dragon Guard through the method provided by Shenyu beforehand. He disclosed all the information he had gathered in Subei.
To avoid arousing suspicion, he refrained from delving too deep into sensitive matters. However, due to his interactions with those women, he had gained a general understanding of the situation within Beimo, which he shared in its entirety.
Afterward, he didn''t stay long in Subei and continued southward with his caravan.
The information from the Hidden Dragon Guard reached the capital earlier than Yan Zheng and his caravan.
"Ironware, salt..." Shang Junlin pressed his fingers forcefully, leaving creases on the confidential letter. "These are all explicitly prohibited items from being sold to other countries. ording to the information sent by the Hidden Dragon Guard, they have conducted more than just one or two transactions!"
"These people might be rted to the Beimo individuals who stayed in Subei. Any progress from Fang?," Shang Junlin inquired.
"Fang Jiayi and other officials led the second round of negotiations with Beimo. This time, the oue was favorable. They are willing to send back the goods. However, they haven''t found any leverage yet on those hidden in Subei."
Subei had recently experienced a disaster. To stabilize public sentiment and avoid alerting the suspects, this matter was not made public. Only those involved knew the details.
"Speaking of which, the sess of these negotiations owes much to Fang Jiayi. The news from Subei says that at the beginning, the Beimo side mocked the negotiator, thinking she was just a woman. However, Fang Jiayi silenced them with a few words, and she skillfully pushed them into retreat afterward."
Shang Junlin gently stroked Shen Yu''s hair. "Thanks to Ah Yu''s proposal, Da Huan has gained another formidable general."
Chapter 141
Chapter 141
Fang Jiayi''s performance not only shocked the people of Beimo but also had a profound impact on her fellow officials. They never knew that the top-ranked schr appointed by His Majesty possessed such incredible strength.
Now they understood why His Majesty made an exception to allow women to serve as officials. With Fang Jiayi''sbat prowess, several of thembined would not be able to match her. Didn''t they see how those arrogant Beimo representatives turned pale in the face of her might?
Fortunately, Fang Jiayi was on their side.
That was the first thought in everyone''s mind at the time.
After the negotiations concluded, Fang Jiayi noticed a change in attitude from her fellow officials when interacting with her. Upon reflection, she could probably guess the reason for their changed behavior.
They were undoubtedly startled by her performance today.
Fang Jiayi didn''t care about their opinions; she only needed to focus on doing her own job.
The group returned to Subei with the supplies and received a warm wee from the local people.
"This official is truly amazing! She retrieved the supplies without a single soldier involved. A few days ago, when Subei was under martialw, I even suspected if we were going to war again."
"Same here, but I''m not afraid of war. It was only in these past few years that His Majesty pushed back the Beimo people, allowing us to live in peace. If there''s another war, I''ll be the first to charge."
"At first, I was curious when that female official arrived. I wondered if Da Huan had run out of men, which is why they sent a woman. But now I understand. Even as a woman, she is no less capable than other officials."
"I heard a lot of news from the relief workers. It turns out that the court now allows women to serve as officials. At first, I couldn''t understand it, but now I see that His Majesty has foresight. So what if they''re women? They can still achieve great things."
Fang Jiayi''s actions changed many people''s perception of women.
In the Subei government office, Fang Jiayi, the person who contributed the most, reported on the operation. Both the process and the oue greatly exceeded their expectations.
Originally, the Subei military was ready at the border. If negotiations failed, they were prepared to take direct action. But who could have expected that throughout the negotiation process, Beimo was constantly on the defensive, or rather, they were all pressed by Fang Jiayi alone? Fang Jiayi not only retrieved the supplies but also obtainedpensation.
Before they left, they thought that sessfully recovering the supplies would be a great aplishment. They never expected that besides the original goods, they would also receive substantialpensation. Even now, these officials still felt a sense of disbelief.
"I never could have imagined this oue..." a younger official spoke as he looked at thepensation that had been brought back.
"Last time waspletely different. When I went with a few officials before, the other side was arrogant and domineering. But this time, they didn''t even dare to speak loudly."
The other officials who had participated in both negotiations nodded in agreement.
They were greatly shocked. She was clearly a woman, not as tall or muscr as the Beimo representatives, but her presence could easily suppress others. When she spoke, she even forced their heads down. They had initially thought about how to console her if she failed, but what happened?
They watched in astonishment as the other side''s confidence diminished with every word from Fang Jiayi, and in the end, they wore bewildered expressions and agreed to everything. It wasn''t just the Beimo representatives; even they themselves were dumbfounded at
the time.
"You did well," Fang Jun said, looking at the poised woman before him.
She was his daughter, an official of Da Huan, and most importantly, his pride.
He, Fang Jun, had only one daughter in his entire life, but his daughter was no less capable than anyone else!
"It''s just what I should do," said Fang Jiayi calmly.
"How did youe up with the idea of making the other partypensate?" Fang Jiayi never mentioned this matter to him from beginning to end.
"At first, I couldn''t guarantee that I could achieve it. Later, when I met with the people involved, I realized that it wasn''t as difficult as I had imagined. Since the other party admitted their mistake, they naturally needed to take responsibility for their wrongful actions."
"So you made thempensate a considerable sum as pensation''?"
Hearing their conversation, the officials were somewhat dazed.
"Well done!" Fang Jun patted Fang Jiayi''s shoulder. "That''s exactly how an official of Da Huan should act!"
Others snapped out of their daze and nodded in agreement. Yes, they were serving under Da Huan, and they must not tarnish Da Huan''s reputation at any time.
"Alright, you have all worked hard on this trip. I have already arranged a banquet at thergest restaurant in Subei to wee all of you and wash away the dust."
Fang Jun''s words received unanimous praise.
The group changed out of their official attire and headed to the restaurant. Fang Jiayi was surrounded in the center. Now, they no longer cared about gender differences; their admiration for Fang Jiayi temporarily set aside such concerns.
What if she was a woman? They only knew that Fang Jiayi had achieved great merits this time.
Fang Jiayi raised her wine cup, drank it all in one gulp, and put it down, and a few more people appeared around her.
"Your Lordship, we toast to you."
"Do you have something to say to me?" Fang Jiayi noticed their hesitant gazes and took the initiative to inquire.
"Yes," one of them gathered courage and looked straight into Fang Jiayi''s eyes. "We want to tell you, we all admire you greatly."
"Yes, yes," the others quickly nodded in agreement.
Fang Jiayi nodded in acknowledgment.
"And also, we didn''t get to witness the negotiation this time. Can you tell us what happened at that time?"
Now not only they but also others around perked up their ears, even those who hade along were curious and looked over.
Fang Jiayi looked at each of them and finally looked at her father, who nodded back at her.
Fang Jiayi stood up and said, "At that time, it was like this..."
The hall fell silent, only Fang Jiayi''s voice echoed, and with her description, they felt as if they were back at the negotiation scene once again.
They witnessed the initial aggressiveness of the Beimo people, the gradual weakening of their demeanor as they faced Fang Jiayi''s arguments, and the heated verbal battle between Fang Jiayi and the Beimo representatives...
Through this recounting, they realized that this negotiation was far from being as easy as they had imagined. The Beimo people came in strong, and every sentence carried numerous traps. One slight oversight could lead to irreparable consequences.
But Fang Jiayi remained calm throughout. She attacked and defended fearlessly, not afraid of any traps, forcing the Beimo representatives to retreat and defend, resulting in chaos on their side. Gradually, the initiative fell into Fang Jiayi''s hands.
They couldn''t help but ask themselves, if they were the ones present at that time, could they have done as well as Fang Jiayi?
No, they couldn''t.
This victory belonged to Fang Jiayi.
No one could rece her.
"Miss Fang has a natural talent in this aspect," Shen Yu sighed after hearing the entire process of the negotiation. "His Majesty must not let her talent go to waste."
"Ah Yu, what if we let her enter the Honglu Institution?" The Honglu Institution was a specialized diplomatic institution within Da Huan, where officials were rtively less involved with the court and mainly dealt with other countries.
"But then, should His Majesty still keep her in Subei?" Staying in Subei was for umting experience. If she went to the Honglu Temple, it wouldn''t matter much whether she stayed or left Subei.
"Let''s wait until the matter in Subei is over. If we really catch any hidden Beimo people in Subei, it would be the right time to establish contact with Beimo. Regardless, Beimo will need to give Da Huan an exnation. If Fang Jiayi stays there, based on the sess of this negotiation, she will definitely be assigned to handle that matter."
"Your Majesty is considerate as always. With such a premise, even if she enters the Honglu Institution, those ministers won''t have much to say against it," Ah Yu remarked.
Trying to stop her now would be futile. She has achieved significant aplishments, and even if they don''t want to admit it, they will have to ept it reluctantly.
As Shang Junlin reviewed the documents, Shen Yu idly flipped through an unreviewed one and made an interesting discovery.
"What''s wrong?" Shang Junlin looked up.
"Your Majesty, do you remember your earlier n to establish an exam different from the traditional imperial examination? It was meant to select people specifically for the Ministry of Works. How is that progressing?" Shen Yu asked.
"We had initially nned it, and it was supposed to take ce this autumn. However, due to the recent events this year, we scaled it down and will only hold it in the capital. We''ll select a few individuals to join the Ministry of Public Works and also use the opportunity to see if there are any areas of improvement," Shang Junlin exined, referring to the Ministry of Public Works'' proposal in the document.
Throughout history, no dynasty had ever done something like this. The imperial examination was meant to select talents for serving as officials in the court. However, this new examination focused on assessing specific skills and granting official recognition without much actual power. Candidates could enter the Ministry of Works or some other non-critical departments. It didn''t hold the same level of importance as the traditional imperial examination.
Due to the nature of this exam, it did not emphasize cultural knowledge but instead focused on a particr craft. As long as someone possessed a specific skill, they could participate in the exam. After passing, they could choose whether or not to enter the Ministry of Works.
"Then let''s hold it earlier. I think the Minister of Public Works has been subtly hinting to His Majesty to allocate more resources," Shen Yu suggested, noticing the numerous submissions from the Minister of Works regarding insufficient manpower.
"Now that the Ministry of Public Works has funds and technology, the Minister of Public Works has been eagerly waiting for an opportunity. He won''t stop until he achieves remarkable results," Shang Junlin said, taking note of the suggestion and writing it down on the document.
After a while, Shen Yu happened upon another topic while flipping through some books and lightly tapped Shang Junlin''s arm, capturing his attention.
"What''s on your mind?" Shang Junlin asked with a subtle expression.
"Do you remember the little books we saw during our first outing from the pce? Why haven''t we seen anything simrter on?" Shen Yu supported his chin with one hand, disying confusion in his eyes.
The books he mentioned were usually derived from the popr culture in the capital. There was no reason not to find one in cirction.
"You mean the ones written based on us?" Shang Junlin rified.
Shen Yu nodded.
"Do you want to read them?" Shang Junlin''s expression turned intriguing.
"Don''t you find them interesting? The writing style is also quite good. Who knows, maybe we can draw some useful insights from them..." Shen Yu''s voice grew softer as he noticed Shang Junlin taking several books out of a hiddenpartment and cing them one by one in front of him. "I didn''t know you would be interested in this," Shang Junlinmented with a subtle smile.
Chapter 142
Chapter 142
"So... it''s not that they don''t exist, but rather that Your Majesty has been hiding them?" Shen Yu opened one of the books, recognizing it as the one he had seen during their first outing outside the pce.
He had thought that these books had been discarded by Shang Junlin or left at their residence outside the pce. He never expected them to be so close to him all this time.
He fell silent for a moment.
"I thought you wouldn''t want to see them," Shang Junlin remarked, setting aside the paperwork and picking up one of the books.
"Why would you think that, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu shifted his gaze from the book to Shang Junlin, his eyes reflecting a hint of curiosity.
Instead of answering that question, Shang Junlin said, "If Ah Yu doesn''t mind, I won''t keep them hidden anymore."
Shen Yu stared at Shang Junlin without blinking, watching a flush of red creep up his neck to his cheeks. Shang Junlin''s eyes softened as he smiled and said, "Is it because you''re worried I won''t be able to ept them? After thest time, I thought you would forbid them from continuing to write."
Shang Junlin averted his gaze slightly under Shen Yu''s intense scrutiny. "Why would Ah Yu think that?"
"It''s just a gut feeling."
Shen Yu''s intuition was correct. Shang Junlin would never allow others to fabricate stories about him and Shen Yu, especially those with explicit and sensual content. After theirst encounter, he found the author through the Hidden Dragon Guards and had a "friendly conversation." He didn''t revoke the author''s right to write but restricted the content instead.
The books released to the public could no longer be as explicit as before, nor could they involve a third party in their stories. As for the original books with explicit descriptions, Shang Junlin bought them back at a high price.
The author, daring as they were, realized they had not angered a noble and continued writing another volume. However, this book was not intended for public distribution. Instead, it was personally delivered to Shang Junlin, who silently epted it. It was a form of tacit approval. The author continued to write the regr versions alongside the explicit ones, and without exception, Shang Junlin collected all of these books.
Shen Yu continued to peruse the books, finding the content as captivating as before. He couldn''t help but feel curious. ording to Shang Junlin''s character, he shouldn''t allow these books to circte so widely.
Shen Yu didn''t know that, in a sense, he was right. Shang Junlin would indeed never permit these works to spread.
"Ah Yu''s intuition is off," Shang Junlin calmly refuted. "How could I be so petty?"
Shen Yu nced at the book, then back at Shang Junlin, choosing not to argue with him over this matter.
With the new books in hand, Shen Yu no longer interrupted Shang Junlin''s paperwork. He found himself quite interested in the continuation of the stories in these books. Although they were based on him and Shang Junlin, the plot took a different direction. The author''s craftsmanship was impressive, and both protagonists were portrayed vividly.
No wonder these books were so popr.
Shen Yu half leaned on the soft couch, bowing his head slightly. A few strands of hair hung down from his cheek, disappearing into his light-colored clothes. His slender, pale fingers pressed on the pages of a book, more beautiful than any jade that Shang Junlin had ever seen.
Setting aside the documents in his hand, Shang Junlin walked over and held Shen Yu''s hand.
Interrupted, Shen Yu raised his head in confusion, "Your Majesty?"
Shang Junlin lifted Shen Yu''s chin and leaned down to kiss him, saying, "This situation, this scenery, is just perfect..."
Shen Yu hesitated for a moment but didn''t refuse the kiss.
The man''s kiss started gently, but as Shen Yu responded, it suddenly became more intense.
Shen Yu let out a muffled groan and his hand, which had been resting against the man''s chest, turned into a push.
His other hand remained beneath the man''s grasp, and the scorching heat began to spread where their bodies touched.
As the kiss ended, Shang Junlin sat on the soft couch and embraced Shen Yu.
Shen Yu''s breath was unsteady as he rested his head on the man''s shoulder, breathing lightly.
"Why did His Majesty suddenly kiss me?"
"Didn''t Ah Yu say that he wanted to learn from the content in the books?" Shang Junlin picked up the crumpled book that Shen Yu had put aside and ced it in front of him. "Well, we can give it a try..."
Shen Yu nced at it briefly but quickly averted his gaze. Reading it on his own and being held in someone''s arms while reading waspletely different in terms of stimtion.
"Does Ah Yu want to try?" Shang Junlin leaned close to Shen Yu''s ear, his tone coaxing. "Ah Yu can stop anytime."
Shen Yu was trapped in the man''s embrace, his delicate neck now in the man''s hand, and a tremor ran through his body as the man made a move. The familiar sensation aroused a heat within him.
"His Majesty must keep his word."
It turned out that there were times when a man''s words should never be trusted. Shen Yuy on the soft couch, his gaze somewhat dazed in the lingering aftermath.
Shang Junlin seemed like a hungry wolf, refusing to let go after biting into the meat and saying anything to keep Shen Yu close.
"Shall I carry you to wash up?" Shang Junlin stepped forward with satisfaction on his face.
Shen Yu struggled to turn his neck and didn''t want to speak.
He was covered in sweat, and his clothes clung to his body, which wasn''t a pleasant experience for someone who valued cleanliness.
Shang Junlin lifted him up, saying, "Didn''t Ah Yu say he wanted to try? Now you''re reluctant? This time, I''ll keep my word. You don''t have to clean up if you don''t want to."
Shang Junlin pretended to carry Shen Yu to the bed.
Shen Yu widened his eyes and angrily bumped into Shang Junlin. "I want to freshen up."
Shang Junlin had a strange persistence in certain matters. Shen Yu resisted a few times, but it onlynded him in a more disadvantageous position. Eventually, he couldn''t be bothered anymore.
Most of the time, Shen Yu was either in a state of drowsiness or semi-consciousness. It was rare for him to be so awake, like today.
It wasn''t until he was ced in the bathtub that Shen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Under the immersion of hot water, his fatigue was effectively alleviated. Shen Yu slowly exhaled, leaning against the edge of
the tub with his eyes half-closed.
Suddenly, Shen Yu opened his eyes wide. "What is His Majesty doing?"
Shang Junlin gripped Shen Yu''s shoulder with one hand, while his other hand dipped into the water. "If you don''t clean properly, you might get sick."
Shen Yu''s fingers, resting on the edge of the tub, tightened, and the flush on his skin became more pronounced.
This sensation was too strange.
Ripples spread across the water''s surface.
After finally finishing the bath, when Shen Yu was carried out, his entire body felt limp. His porcin-like skin had turned a light pink, whether due to the hot water or some other reason.
After a day of fooling around, naturally, Shang Junlin''s official duties were dyed. He didn''t want to be too far from Shen Yu, so instead of cing him on the bed, he carried him back to the soft couch.
In no time, the soiled things on the couch were taken away by pce servants and reced with clean ones. Shen Yu was held in the man''s arms, and they continued reading a document together.
During this time, a meal was delivered, consisting of carefully prepared delicacies. After finishing the meal, Shen Yu feltzy and didn''t want to move. Shang Junlin collected the books, which were no longer of interest to Shen Yu for the time being.
As the sky gradually darkened, Shen Yu yawned, and Shang Junlin put down the documents in his hand. "Are you tired?"
"A little."
At night, while some people were entering their dreams, others were beginning a lively affair.
Subei.
He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing dressed in luxurious attire and followed the guidance of their attendants into what seemed like an inconspicuous residence.
They had been using new identities to navigate through Subei for several days and finally found an opportunity to establish a rtionship with a local merchant.
He Chengyu came from a prestigious family and had always been groomed as the heir. The He family had various business ventures, so as the designated future head of the family, he was familiar with the world ofmerce.
Jiang Huaiqing had once asked him if his family was involved in business due to his ease and familiarity with it.
He Chengyu chuckled, "If my family were merchants, I wouldn''t be here today."
Jiang Huaiqing realized the truth in his words and quickly apologized.
Now, looking at He Chengyu exuding an aura of a wealthy businessman, Jiang Huaiqing couldn''t help but wonder if he truly was a businessman.
A businessman''s demeanor was far more refined than that of a top schr.
Lost in his thoughts, the two of them had already walked through a long corridor and arrived at a grand hall.
Jiang Huaiqing quicklyposed himself and discreetly observed his surroundings.
From the outside, the residence appeared unremarkable, but once inside, they discovered a hidden paradise with artificial mountains, flowing waters, and intricately designed corridors.
"Gu-XiongBrother Gu, you''ve finally arrived. Pleasee in," someone greeted them.
They were using aliases, with He Chengyu pretending to be an elder brother and holding all the authority in the conversation. Jiang Huaiqing was ying the role of a younger brother who apanied his elder brother to gain experience.
Entering the main hall, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments and the aroma of wine filled the air.
The ce was brightly lit, resembling a realm of earthly bliss.
Dancers d in thin garments gracefully danced to the melody of the music, the bells adorning their bodies jingling with each step.
He Chengyu led Jiang Huaiqing toward the people they had befriended during this period. "Gu-Xiong is a bitte, so let me apologize with a drink."
After saying that, he boldly picked up a full cup of wine nearby and drank it all in one go.
Seeing his bold attitude, the personughed heartily and patted He Chengyu on the shoulder. "Do you know what I value the most about you? It''s this spirit of yours. This is primarily a pleasure-focused gathering, so there''s no such thing as beingte or on time. Come, let me introduce you to my close friends. If you n to do business in Subei in the future, you''ll need to rely on them."
He Chengyu showed an excited expression. "Thank you, Boss Sun!"
Boss Sun led He Chengyu to meet the group of people, and He Chengyu memorized their appearances and basic information, engaging them in conversation with a few words that made them lower their guard.
Jiang Huaiqing pretended to be someone inexperienced and looked around curiously. Since He Chengyu had business matters to discuss, he was left to entertain himself.
The banquetsted until midnight. When it was over, Boss Sun approached two beautiful dancers and adopted a knowing expression. "When you''re away from home, it''s always good to have a couple of trustedpanions. If Gu-Xiong doesn''t mind, you can take these two back with you."
After squinting his eyes and observing the two for a while, Boss Sun lowered his voice, "These two are twin sisters, and the experience they provide is quite extraordinary. They will serve you well, Gu-Xiong."
He Chengyu didn''t refuse and took the two women with him.
Back at their residence, Jiang Huaiqing was about to say something when he saw He Chengyu rub his forehead and sway his body. Without thinking, Jiang Huaiqing supported him. "What''s wrong?"
"I might have had a bit too much to drink. Can you help me to my room and let me lie down for a while?" He Chengyu replied.
Jiang Huaiqing looked at He Chengyu, whose consciousness seemed somewhat clouded, and hesitantly nced at the two women. "What should we do with these two?"
"Let them stay in the southern room for the night. I have a terrible headache. We can discuss the rest tomorrow," He Chengyu instructed.
After hurriedly handing the two women over to a servant, Jiang Huaiqing helped He Chengyu to his room.
"Should I bring a bowl of hangover soup?" Jiang Huaiqing asked, preparing to leave.
He Chengyu grabbed his wrist. "No need."
There was no trace of drunkenness in He Chengyu''s voice.
Jiang Huaiqing turned around and saw He Chengyu smiling at him.
"I actually thought you were drunk," Jiang Huaiqing sighed in relief and took a seat on a nearby chair.
"Why would I pretend to be sober in front of those two dancers?" Jiang Huaiqing asked curiously.
"They were sent to keep an eye on us?" Jiang Huaiqing pondered.
"We''ve only just infiltrated this circle, so it''s normal for them to send someone to observe us. I''m not sure if those two are trustworthy yet, so it''s better to be cautious," He Chengyu exined.
"That makes sense, but if we keep them around without them doing anything, won''t people be suspicious? Do we have to pretend to be drunk every day?" Jiang Huaiqing furrowed his brows.
After mentioning the term "serve," the purpose of those two women was self-evident.
"No need," He Chengyu chuckled. "It''s just that for the foreseeable future, I''ll need Huaiqing to put on a little act for me."
"What kind of act?" Jiang Huaiqing asked curiously.
"Just asionally get angry with me, especially when those two are present," He Chengyu replied with a smile.
"That''s it? Don''t we need to do anything else?" Jiang Huaiqing had many questions in his mind.
"No need. Everything else should remain as it was before," He Chengyu assured him.
Chapter 143
Chapter 143
We caught up with the bonus chapters! Regr updates will be 2 chapters per week and one donation will have additional 5 chapters for a total of 7 chapters! If there are two donations, there will be additional 10 chapters and so on and so forth.
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Jiang Huaiqing, still confused, agreed nheless.
"Today, I noticed some strange things. Not all of those dancers are from Da Huan," Jiang Huaiqing began discussing business since He Chengyu wasn''t drunk.
While He Chengyu conversed with the businessmen, Jiang Huaiqing didn''t idle around. He appeared to wander out of curiosity but actually observed the entire banquet attentively.
"Additionally, some of the utensils used at the banquet weren''t typical of Da Huan but resembled those used by the people from Beimo. I didn''t notice anything suspicious about the attending merchants."
=
Two women have been added to the residence, seemingly not much different from before. Except when those two are present, Jiang Huaiqing needs to asionally get angry at He Chengyu over trivial matters.
Every time those two women attempt to approach He Chengyu, their interactions are interrupted. After a few times, they sense something and no longer approach the two of them frequently.
He Chengyu continues to attend banquets asionally, hosted by Boss Sun and others, while Jiang Huaiqing doesn''t need to deal with these people. Instead, he observes in secret. When they return, the two of them lock themselves in the room topare the clues they have obtained.
Time passes quickly.
After receiving an urate reply from Shang Junlin, the Ministry of Public Works begins preparing for the assessment. Since this assessment is only to select people for entry into the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Rites isn''t heavily involved.
"The specific procedures have been tentatively determined. I will personally report to the pce, and if there are no further changes, we can begin preparing for the assessment," the Chief Minister of Works gathers the ministry officials together to discuss the matter.
For the Ministry of Works, it''s a significant event.
For themon people, too, it''s a significant event.
"Have you heard about the recent events? This assessment is unheard of."
"You can enter the Ministry of Public Works without taking the imperial examination as long as you have a special skill. I''m kind of interested in giving it a try."
"Wasn''t this news circting for quite some time? Is it urate this time?"
"It''s been mentioned in the People''s Daily newspaper. It must be urate, but the exact dates haven''t been announced. They just said that those interested should start preparing."
"Are you nning to give it a try? The newspaper says that as long as you have a particr skill, you can go."
"I only know woodworking. I''m not sure if that will work."
For a while, there is a flurry of discussions among themon people regarding the assessment. People''s Daily newspaper provides clear information, and without any maniption, the people are responding positively to this assessment.
Many have already started considering which skill they can showcase.
During the morning court session, the Chief Minister of Works discusses the assessment. Since this matter won''t have much impact on the court''s power, there aren''t many opposing voices.
A date is set.
After the morning court session, several ministers catch up with the Chief Minister of Works.
"Minister, have you been busy with this matter recently?"
The Chief Minister of Works nods. "I''ve been busy with road repairs and construction. We''re short of manpower. If any of you have the personnel to spare, you can send them to the Ministry of Public Works."
The people catching up sound embarrassed. "Everyone''s been busytely."
"I see," the Chief Minister of Works loses his enthusiasm visibly. "Never mind, I''ll go talk to the Chief Minister of Rites about the assessment. They have more experience in this matter."
Ignoring the attempts to keep him there, the Chief Minister of Works strides away.
He didn''t lie. He had indeed nned to discuss the assessment with the Chief Minister of Rites. If not for those people intercepting him, he might have caught up with the Chief Minister of Rites by now.
Compared to the Ministry of Public Works, the Ministry of Rites has much more experience in this regard.
"If they knew that His Majesty intends to establish an independent force separate from the court, they wouldn''t be so easily swayed."
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin sat at the stone table under the big tree, where some pastries and tea areid out, all to Shen Yu''s taste.
"For now, let''s wait for the results of the assessment by the Ministry of Public Works," Shang Junlin takes a sip of tea slowly. Implementing it within the Ministry of Public Works and implementing it throughout Da Huan is not the same concept, and there are many moreplex issues to consider.
Shen Yu understands this, and he believes that Shang Junlin can handle these matters well. With so many officials in the court, they weren''t appointed without reason.
"Your Majesty, under my name, there is a publishing house that has developed a new printing method. If we can implement it throughout Da Huan, it will be more convenient than the previous method and won''t result in waste like before. This method is called ''movable type printing.''"
This is also the technology that Shen Qingran provided to the King of Yue in his previous life. When Shen Yu was running the people''s newspaper in the court, he remembered this matter but didn''t have direct knowledge of it in his previous life. He could only extract the main points from his memory, so he didn''t tell Shang Junlin directly but nned to show the results after achieving them.
He handed over thepiled method to the bookstore under his name. A few days ago, news came from outside the pce that they had achieved the desired effect, which prompted Shen Yu to mention it to Shang Junlin.
"Was it researched by the bookshop or based on Ah Yu''s ideas?" Shang Junlin''s question was straightforward.
"It''s whatever His Majesty thinks it is," Shen Yu neither confirmed nor denied, "I''m also curious about the results. Would His Majesty like to take a look?"
"Summon them into the pce," Shang Junlin paused for a moment, then continued, "or we can go out of the pce to see?"
"Do you have time to leave the pce?" Shen Yu calcted the dates and realized they hadn''t left the pce for quite a long time. Shang Junlin had been busy during this period, and Shen Yu didn''t want to go out alone, so he had been staying in the pce.
"I''ll see if I can spare an afternoon."
Shang Junlin was somewhat interested in what Shen Yu mentioned. The production of the People''s Daily newspaper relied entirely on the court''s funds and efforts, and because it was published every couple of days, it consumed a considerable amount of resources. The Minister of Revenue hadined about it many times.
"If this method can alleviate the Minister of Revenue''s constantints about the high cost of the people''s newspaper, that would be even better."
"Is the treasury running short on moneytely?" Shen Yu roughly estimated that the People''s Daily newspaper shouldn''t be spending so much money to the extent that the Minister of Revenueined every day.
"Not currently. With the method Ah Yu previously thought of, the majority of the disaster relief fundse from the people, so the treasury''s depletion is minimal. It''s just that the Minister of Revenue himself, whenever something doesn''t generate profits, willin about it." Speaking of the Minister of Revenue, Shang Junlin also felt somewhat helpless.
It was unclear if it was an issue with the position of Minister of Revenue or some other problem, but Shang Junlin had never seen him act so...
Stingy.
"The nature of the People''s Daily newspaper determines that it cannot be used for profit, but there are still ways. His Majesty can simultaneously publish a newspaper different from the people''s newspaper, just like how Yan Zheng sponsored the Ministry of Public Works. Interested merchants can provide sponsorship fees, and then a dedicated section can be opened in the newspaper to introduce the goods they sell." Shen Yu thought for a moment and made a suggestion.
"Ah Yu and the Minister of Revenue would probably have a lot to talk about, especially when ites to making money."
"I''m just trying to alleviate His Majesty''s worries. If it weren''t for His Majesty, I wouldn''t bother thinking about these things." Shen Yu tilted his head and his eyes sparkled with a glimmer of light.
Shang Junlin''s heart was filled with tenderness.
"I understand Ah Yu''s intentions. I will never let you down."
His tone was solemn, leaving Shen Yu bewildered. He didn''t quite understand why Shang Junlin suddenly changed the topic, but he continued along with Shang Junlin''s words, "His Majesty''s words are as good as gold. In the future, he must never go back on his words, or else, I''ll be angry."
"How could I bear to do that?" He cherished and loved him more than anything else.
"How are things going in Subei? When will Official Fang be able to return?" Shen Yu had been reading reports with Shang Junlin for the past few days and saw many discussions about the allocation of another position in the Cab.
Entering the Cab was almost every schr''s dream. It represented not only power but also recognition. Every schr had a deep-rooted desire because who wouldn''t want to aplish something great and leave their mark on history?
"I also hope he cane back soon. With the vacant position in the Cab, the courtiers are almost fighting over it."
Finding Beimo spies who had been lurking in Subei for many years was not that easy.
Based on the clues provided by Yao Ji, Fang Jun dispatched people to conduct a thorough search in the main city of Subei and the surrounding small cities. However, they couldn''t find the house that Yao Ji had mentioned. It seemed to have disappeared into thin air.
"Do you really think the woman''s words are trustworthy?" someone raised a doubt in the study.
It wasn''t that they wanted to doubt anything, but after searching for so many days and not finding any clues, they wondered if this whole thing was a lie from the beginning.
If that were the case, everything would make sense. Why couldn''t they find the house even after searching the entire main city? Because there was never such a house.
"Regardless of whether it''s trustworthy or not, this matter needs to be taken seriously. They have been able to infiltrate Subei for so many years without being discovered by anyone, which indicates that they can integrate well into Subei. It''s normal for us to have difficulty finding them." Fang Jun spoke calmly.
"You''re right, I was just overthinking."
"In the future, refrain from making such remarks."
"Yes."
Fang Jun has had his suspicions about what Yao Ji said, but based on the information brought back by the merchant from Beimo and delivered by the Hidden Dragon Guard, Yao Ji''s words have a high degree of credibility.
They haven''t found any useful clues on their end and are hoping that He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing can uncover some leads.
Jiang Huaiqing has been feeling uneasytely, especially when attending banquets with He Chengyu. The way those people look at him, although discreet, carries a hidden meaning that he can perceive.
Moreover, in the residence, those two women have stopped approaching them.
Feeling bored, he sits on one side while He Chengyu engages in a business discussion with Boss Sun. If this deal goes through, they will have sessfully infiltrated the inner circle of the Su Bei businessmunity.
"Previously, I didn''t know about your rtionship, and I apologize if the two individuals I sent caused you any trouble," Boss Sun brings up the matter of the two dancers after concluding their business talk.
"It caused a bit of a fuss, but it''s been handled," He Chengyu lifts his wine cup, concealing a smile at the corner of his mouth.
"I should have consulted with you first. How about this? I will voluntarily reduce my share in this coboration by ten percent, considering it aspensation for the earlier incident," Boss Sun expresses his remorse.
"It''s also my fault for not speaking up. Don''t me yourself, Boss Sun."
The movements of He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing have also been promptly reported to the pce through the Hidden Dragon Guard.
"Their n is progressing smoothly, and they are likely to find clues about the people from Beimo earlier than Fang Jun," Shang Junlin sets aside the confidential letter and says.
Shen Yu''s attention shifts to another matter involuntarily. "Is Zhaoyuan intentionally manipting Huaiqing?"
Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Thank you so much for the kofi! Here''s 5 chapters for you1 <3
"What made you think that?" Shang Junlin''s focus was clearly not on this matter.
"With so many avable options, why did He Chengyu choose the one that would make outsiders misunderstand his rtionship with Jiang Huaiqing?" Shen Yu pointed to a certain passage in the confidential letter.
Shang Junlin couldn''t deny it, "But we cannot ignore that the subsequent impact of doing so is minimal."
Shen Yu nodded, "Indeed, after such a misunderstanding, it can reduce a lot of unnecessary trouble."
Especially when the other party wants to insert spies around them, at least as long as the surface rtionship is not torn apart, the other side''s behavior will be somewhat restrained.
As expected, since that banquet, Boss Sun found an excuse to take the twins away. At other times, he would not deliberately mention having someone attend to them.
It''s not umon for men to be together with men. Boss Sun has been in the business for many years and has seen all sorts of things. He wouldn''t be surprised by this incident, except for not suddenly sending them dancing girls. Otherwise, he behaves normally at other times.
The twins were taken back to Boss Sun''s residence, and Boss Sun met with them alone.
"Did you discover anything at the Gu''s residence?"
A previously unheard-of merchant suddenly emerged in Subei, and it happened to be at a time of turmoil in the Subei officialdom. Their protective umbre was too busy to take care of themselves, and many businesses were hindered. At this time, they urgently needed new blood with clean backgrounds and sufficient wealth to join in.
He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing appeared at this time, so even if there may be issues with their arrival, Boss Sun still found a way to establish a connection with them. After a few tests, confirming that they were not problematic, he decided to bring them in.
The first banquet was a test. Everyone present at the banquet was a local merchant from Subei, so even if those two were truly problematic, it wouldn''t affect them. Sending the twins was to further investigate the background of those two.
They appeared to be dancers on the surface, but in reality, those two were specifically trained to gather intelligence.
"In response to your question, everything at the Gu residence remains the same, and the rtionship between those two is true as previously mentioned. They are constantly together, and whenever we try to get close to Boss GuHe Chengyu to do something, Young Master GuJiang Huaiqing would get angry with Boss Gu," one of the twins replied.
"And at night, do they stay together?"
"Yes, although Young Master Gu has his own room, many times they would stay in Boss Gu''s room, and the next day, they would often appear tired."
The twins were unaware that they appeared tired because they spent most of the night gathering clues.
"I knew it. Those two don''t even resemble each other. It''s clear they''re not real brothers. The term ''brothers'' has a different meaning here," Boss Sun suddenly realized.
"My sister and I have pretended to identally witness their interactions many times, but we haven''t noticed anything suspicious."
"I understand. You may leave now."
After the twins left, a well-built man, noticeably different in appearance from the people of Subei, appeared in the study.
"You need to act faster. The deadline given over there is approaching."
Boss Sun smiled bitterly, "Do you think I don''t want to? You''ve seen the situation in Subei now. That new official, Fang, isn''t as easy to deceive as the others."
"I know, that female official among them is also formidable. Doesn''t Da Huan usually look down on women? How can he allow women to hold official positions?" The man of another ethnicity furrowed his brow.
Boss Sun had heard about the negotiations. It was precisely because of the failure of those negotiations that the other side became so desperate. They had already conducted a transaction, butter, a batch of goods was snatched away. Even with the incident in Subei, those officials should not be so anxious. They could have temporarily gone into hiding.
But those officials who came from the capital were not easy to dismiss. They insisted on giving a statement from Beimo. After the first failed negotiation, they came for a second time, and it was their underestimation that led to the massacre by a woman during the second negotiation.
"Now we have this emperor who acts in ways that defymon sense. Who knows what he''s thinking? It is said that the court has now allowed women to hold official positions." Boss Sun felt troubled when he thought about all these matters.
Theirwork of rtionships with Beimo had actually been established during the previous emperor''s reign. After more than ten years of development, it had be very solid. But it was precisely at this time that a drought urred, followed by events that spiraled out of control,pletely beyond their control.
"I''ve been saying it all along, don''t underestimate women. Those people didn''t listen, and now look at the big mess they''ve made," the man of another ethnicity scoffed. "They''ve messed up on such a grand scale, and now I have to clean up after them."
"No one could have predicted such a situation," Boss Sun gave perfunctory advice.
"Forget about those fools. In any case, we can''t drag this on any longer. Since you have selected your people, get the job done quickly. It seems those officials who came from the capital are searching for our traces."
Boss Sun was startled. "Have they discovered something?"
"Who knows if one of those fools has slipped up. This Fang person is not easy to deal with. Be careful."
The night is long, and there are many dreams. Boss Sun also felt that this matter couldn''t be dyed any longer.
Without the twins in the residence, Jiang Huaiqing let out a sigh of relief. He no longer had to argue with Chengyu over trivial matters.
"They must be getting impatient." He Chengyu sat across from Jiang Huaiqing in the courtyard. A small table between them was brewing tea, and steam rose gently.
"They seem quite anxious. Although we don''t know the reason, it''s undoubtedly extremely advantageous for us."
When people are in a hurry, they are prone to making mistakes or overlooking things. They had gradually released their bait, waiting for the fish to bite the hook.
"What Huaiqing said is correct. Based on their behavior in recent days, it''s clear that their suspicion of us has been minimized. If they weren''t in such a rush, they could have used a more gentle approach to probe, rather than sending spies directly to the mansion. If my guess is correct, they shoulde knocking on our door in the next couple of days."
He Chengyu''s prediction was urate. Within two days, Boss Sun visited again, this time apanied by a friend. He asked if He Chengyu was interested in a lucrative business deal that was guaranteed not to incur any losses.
Instead of immediately epting, He Chengyu deliberately hesitated for a while, effectively dispelling thest of Boss Sun''s concerns.
"We have worked together before, and you know my character. Rest assured, if it wasn''t a good opportunity, I wouldn''t have specifically called you."
"Boss Sun, you''re worrying too much. It''s just that this business deal is quite significant, and I don''t have that much cash on hand. It will take some time to prepare. Will it inconvenience you?"
"Hahaha, you can rest assured about that. I don''t have that much cash on hand either. They don''t require all of it at once; the transactions can be done in batches. We''ll trade as much as we have avable."
After some discussion, He Chengyu agreed to the deal.
"It seems they are even more impatient than we imagined." He Chengyu looked at the list of goods left by Boss Sun, his gaze flickering with uncertainty.
Jiang Huaiqing said, "They still don''t fully trust us. The goods listed on the paper don''t pose significant problems, but having this transaction demonstrates that our efforts have not been in vain. We are heading in the right direction."
He Chengyu added, "Initially, I thought it would take some effort to establish this connection, but it turns out Boss Sun happened to be the right person in thework. We can''t afford any mishaps in this transaction. Boss Sun is cautious, and we need to gradually earn their trust, making them see us as genuine allies. Only then can we ess the core information."
What they needed was precisely that core information.
"With such arge quantity of goods, can you prepare in time, Chengyu-Xiong? This time it''s not like the minor confrontations we''ve had before. What they want to trade is equivalent to the entire foundation of a small influential family."
"Don''t worry. Since I''ve chosen this identity, I can naturally aplish everything thates with it."
To prevent leaks, only Fang Jun knew the progress of He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing''s n in Subei. Only Fang Jun knew their n. As soon as they established a connection here, Fang Jun received the news.
He Chengyu''s n was to remain still, for now, waiting for the other side to reveal more of their cards before taking action. Fang Jun didn''t oppose it and secretly arranged arge-scale trap based on the information passed on by He Chengyu.
This time, they intended topletely uproot the tumor that had been growing in Subei for many years.
After instructing He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing to be cautious, Fang Jun asked if He Chengyu needed any assistance. He shared the same concern as Jiang Huaiqing, worried that He Chengyu wouldn''t be able to produce such arge quantity of goods.
He Chengyu declined the offer. As he had said, if he didn''t have full confidence, he wouldn''t have chosen this identity. He had indeed lived up to his words, not allowing the other side to find any discrepancies.
"I didn''t expect He Chengyu to have such a substantial background," Shen Yu sighed as he looked at the information provided by Fang Jun.
"He Chengyu''s family has a long-standing heritage. It''s not surprising to have such wealth. In the capital, many influential families can easily produce these goods. The majority of the resources transported to Subei were provided by these families," Fang Jun exined.
Even though Shang Junlin wasn''t pleased with the actions of the influential families, he couldn''t recklessly go after them. His previous actions were carefully nned, striking with precision, leaving the families with no time to react and no chance to unite.
"Didn''t Ah Yu mention taking me to see the new printing technique?" Shang Junlin said.
He ordered someone to bring a carriage and took Shen Yu out of the pce. They headed to the same ce they had visited before.
This time, they didn''t go to the shop. Instead, they went directly to the backyard. Boss Ye had already prepared everything, knowing that they wereing.
Shang Junlin casually nced at Boss Ye. Seeing the tension in his body, he furrowed his brow slightly. His memory was never wrong. After he felt that Mr. Ye looked familiarst time, he had the Hidden Dragon Guard investigate the person, and the result showed no issues.
Shen Yu scratched Shang Junlin''s palm. "Your Majesty, what''s wrong?"
Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand firmly. "Nothing."
Passing through a long corridor, the three of them arrived at a more secluded backyard. This was the ce for printing books. Shang Junlin witnessed the "movable type printing" technique that Shen Yu had mentioned for the first time.
Feeling the sudden increase in the grip on his hand, Shen Yu turned his head to look at Shang Junlin. "Your Majesty?"
"Ah Yu always brings me great surprises," Shang Junlin''s voice was hoarse.
Author''s Note: Wishing you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! (*^^*)
There will be two updates. Please give me some nourishing feedback!
Chapter 145
Chapter 145
Shen Yu had previously exined to Shang Junlin the differences between movable type printing and the current printing technique used in Da Huan. Comparatively, the former was far more practical.
One of the reasons why influential families could stand tall for years was their extensive knowledge, umted over generations, and their rich collection of books.
Although Da Huan had implemented the imperial examination system, thepetitive strength of schrs from humble backgrounds was far inferior to those from influential families. Part of the reasony in the fact that schrs from humble backgrounds had ess to less knowledge from the beginning.
It was not easy for an ordinary family to cultivate a schr.
The impact brought about by the new printing technique would be tremendous. Unlike before, where all content was carved onto a single block, resulting in the entire block bing useless if one word was incorrect, the new printing technique carved each character separately. When printing different content, one only needed to rearrange these characters instead of having to re-carve an entire block.
Shang Junlin could anticipate the enormous impact that this printing technique would have. With this method, books could be printed on arge scale. In the short term, there might not be any noticeable changes, but over time, the gap between influential families and schrs from humble backgrounds would gradually narrow.
Knowledge would no longer be monopolized by influential families, which was extremely advantageous for the true rulers of Da Huan.
For a moment, Shang Junlin forgot about his uneasiness regarding Mr. Ye. His full attention was now focused on the things before his eyes.
If this printing technique could be widely poprized, the influence of influential families would diminish.
Mr. Ye knew that the two hade to see the printing technique. He led them inside and had an experienced worker demonstrate it.
"This method is much more convenient than before," Mr. Ye eximed. "The cost required to print a book in the past simply can''tpare to now."
"Yes, with this method, the required time, manpower, and resources are greatly reduced. Using this method, one can print more books in the same amount of time," Shang Junlin agreed.
Curiously, Shen Yu looked around. His understanding of this technique was limited to what he had heard from others. In his previous life, he had never seen firsthand how it worked. This was his first time witnessing it.
"What do you think, Your Majesty?" After walking around, the two returned to the front yard.
Mr. Ye tactfully didn''t disturb them and went to the bookstore to attend to his tasks. With the new printing technique, the variety of books avable in the bookstore had increased. Previously, due to the unique stationery, the bookstore had already gained a good reputation among schrs. Now, with a greater variety of new books, more customers visited.
There were some pastries on the table that Shen Yu liked to eat. He picked one up and tasted it, squinting his eyes slightly.
"Truly... surprising," Shang Junlin sipped his tea to relieve his mood. "But we can''t let influential families know about it for now."
Influential families might not be unified, but when their interests were threatened, they could unite at the fastest speed and present a united front. Influential families had upied thisnd for a long time. If they were truly angered, it would lead to unnecessary trouble.
Moreover, if they knew that Shen Yu was behind all of this, they would likely direct all their hostility towards him. Perhaps they would be wary of him and refrain from taking severe action, but they wouldn''t hesitate to target Shen Yu.
Regardless, Shang Junlin would never let Shen Yu be exposed to danger.
"Your Majesty, are you worried about a counterattack from influential families? Indeed, we can''t rush this matter. After all, we have the trump card in our hands. We can take it slowly," Shen Yu understood Shang Junlin''s concerns.
"I''m afraid I''ll have to inconvenience you for now, Yu. I can''t reward you with the credit for the new printing technique," Shang Junlin paused for a moment, and when he looked at Shen Yu, his expression was somewhatplicated. "In the capital, influential families currently hold too much power. I can''t risk exposing you to their scrutiny."
He was displeased. If he had resolved the hidden dangers posed by influential families earlier, there would be no need to inconvenience Shen Yu. Even though Shen Yu had made such significant contributions, he had to remain in the background because of these people.
"Even if Your Majesty doesn''t say it, I would request to be removed from the equation. This method was originally obtained from elsewhere, and it wasn''t me who achieved the actual results. If Your Majesty wants to give rewards, give them to these people," Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand on the table. "I will never let you be treated unfairly."
After returning to the pce, Shang Junlin immediately summoned the Prime Minister for a discussion on how to poprize movable type printing.
In the study room.
Shang Junlin said, "Under your leadership, someone has recently developed a new printing technique. Meng Chang, give the materials to the Prime Minister."
Meng Gonggong handed over the neatly organized files about movable type printing to the Prime Minister.
As someone who had reached the position of Prime Minister and bes Shang Junlin''s trusted minister, the Prime Minister possessed top-notch knowledge and political acumen.
After finishing reading, he didn''t speak immediately but took some time to digest the contents of the file. Then he said, "This method is truly beneficial for Da Huan."
"I understand. What I''m currently considering is how to make the noble families less resistant to it. Also, we cannot reveal the connection between this matter and Ah Yu."
The Prime Minister immediately understood that His Majesty was doing this to prevent the noble families from targeting the Noble Monarch.
The Prime Minister could see how sincere Shang Junlin was towards Shen Yu, and therefore, he couldn''t help but feel even more emotional. With Shen Yu''s abilities, if he were in the court, he would undoubtedly be an influential figure. It''s a pity he has an unreliable father.
Shang Junlin sought the Prime Minister''s advice on the matter of printing. Finally, they tentatively made a n to promote it directly among the people. Once the noble families discovered it, the court would intervene, but with enough buffer time in between, there would be greater room for maneuvering.
Subei is calm.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of Fang Jun and his team, they finally discovered some clues. The "rtionship" between He Chengyu and Boss Sun was bing deeper.
After the sessfulpletion of their first transaction, Boss Sun mostly dispelled his suspicions of He Chengyu and gradually began sharing some insider information with him. He also started introducing himself to some "foreign" merchants.
He Chengyu observed these people and found that some of them were from Beimo, while others came from other countries.
"So, it''s not just people from Beimo." At night, He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing gathered as usual to discuss their findings.
"The transactions between these people mostly involve regr goods. This Boss Sun seems to have quite a few secrets hidden within."
They initially thought he was just an ordinary merchant, but the more they got to know him, the more they realized theplexity of the forces behind him.
"The influence of Boss Sun has reached its current scale not without connections to the forces behind him. It''s like awork that links various forces together."
After discovering the connection between Boss Sun and the people from Beimo, Fang Jun ordered a careful investigation into his identity. He was originally an ordinary merchant from Subei, and the Sun family wasn''t as influential as it is now before falling into his hands. There was no useful information regarding his rise to power overnight.
Having found a breakthrough, Fang Jun instructed his men to continue the investigation along the line of Boss Sun, hoping to uncover more useful information.
Fang Jun called Yao Ji and asked, "Have you heard of this person, Boss Sun?"
During this period, Yao Ji had been assisting the officials in their investigations, and her temperament had undergone a significant change. She appeared more resolute, and her gaze was notably different from before.
Especially after Fang Jiayi''s arrival, Fang Jiayi''s confidence andposure greatly impressed her, indirectly influencing her own character transformation.
"Boss Sun?" Yao Ji carefully recollected, and she managed to recall this person from her memory. "I have seen him before, at a banquet. That Boss Sun seemed to have a rtively high status. Even Lord Hou at the time showed him some respect."
At that time, MInister Hou was an influential figure in Subei, and even he had to show some courtesy to those people. It was evident that they were not simply individuals.
"Think carefully. Do you have any more detailed information about this person?"
"Boss Sun doesn''t appear at every banquet. Whenever he does, it''s rtively mysterious. Minister Hou showed greater interest in those banquets than others. As amon dancer, I could only asionally receive orders to stay a bit longer in the hall, but most of the time, I couldn''t interact with those people."
Considering her position, the amount of information Yao Ji provided was already a pleasant surprise.
"Who else have you seen? Can you describe them well enough for someone to sketch their portraits?" Fang Jiayi suddenly spoke up.
"I can."
Fang Jun called in someone skilled in this art, and they coborated to draw about ten portraits.
Fang Jun immediately ordered his men to investigate the backgrounds of these people.
It was much easier to investigate these individuals, and before long, information about them was delivered to Fang Jun''s desk. Based on the investigation results, Fang Jun listed a series ofmonalities, gradually uncovering the hidden truth. The only thing missing was the final piece that would connect everything together.
Following Shen Yu''s instructions, Boss Ye took the opportunity to coborate to reveal the movable type printing technique.
It was Boss Ye who proposed the coboration in the first ce. He contacted bookstores that were not associated with noble families, knowing that Shen Yu had instructed him to keep this matter from the noble families for the time being.
Boss Ye was a rational person who understood his position very well. He knew that without Shen Yu, he wouldn''t be where he was now. Therefore, even if it seemed imprudent to unconditionally share the new printing technique, he did not voice any objections to Shen Yu''s request.
"Today, I invited all of you here to discuss a business opportunity. I want to work with you to create a basic literacy book and sell it at the lowest price."
As Boss Ye''s words fell, someone raised an objection, "Boss Ye, are you trying to involve us in charity? It''s not that we refuse, but as bookstore owners, we know that our industry is not as profitable as it seems. The high price of books is mainly due to the costs involved."
"I understand that it may be difficult, but as a gesture of good faith, I''m willing to share the new printing method that the bookstore has recently acquired."
After listening to Boss Ye''s introduction, everyone present was dumbfounded.
"This method is truly marvelous."
After a while, someone spoke up. They had been running bookstores for many years and were well aware of the shorings of the current printing technique. Many books were sold at high prices, and a significant part of it was due to the high production costs.
Whether it was printing or copying by hand, it was not an easy task.
But with the new printing technique that Boss Ye described, many problems could be solved.
"Why would Boss Ye be willing to tell us about this?" After the initial shock, someone couldn''t understand. They werepetitors in the same industry. If Boss Ye kept this technology to himself, his bookstore would dominate them in a few years.
"Cooperation requires some sincerity, doesn''t it?" Boss Ye smiled faintly. "I believe the sincerity I''ve shown is sufficient. I admit that the cooperation I propose may seem overly idealistic, but with the new printing technique, this matter is not as far-fetched as it may seem. What do you all think?"
"Boss Ye truly..." One person stood up, cupping their hands. "In that case, I''m willing to cooperate with Boss Ye."
The others exchanged nces and no longer objected.
It didn''t matter about anything else; Boss Ye''s description of the new printing method was enticing enough.
Once the matter was settled, Boss Ye passed on the news to the pce.
"Your Majesty, since you wanted to implement it among the people first, I had Boss Ye invite the owners of major bookstores in the capital under the pretense of coboration. He will teach them the movable type printing technique. In order to maximize their benefits in the initial stage, they certainly won''t willingly reveal this method to others."
On the contrary, they would keep the secret as long as possible.
"You''ve helped us once again, Ah Yu!" Shang Junlin suddenly embraced Shen Yu. "The Prime Minister told me a few days ago that if you were in the court, your achievements would surpass his. I also believe it."
"Oh?" Shen Yu''s eyes narrowed slightly. "Your Majesty, do you also think I should enter the court?"
"Whether you enter the court or not, Ah Yu will always be mine."
Author''s Note:
Prime Minister once again regrets: Why can''t I just have Shen Yu as a happy coworker? [Regretful working cat sigh.jpg]
Changed the cover of the pre-release of "Regent Prince Just Wants to Be a Salted Fish [Transmigration]". Interested readers can take a look. By the way, please pre-order it hhh.
Finally paid off the debt of the longmentary update. _(:3)_
Requesting some nourishment for the double update (3)?
Chapter 146
Chapter 146
"Why would the Prime Minister say such things?" Shen Yu couldn''t recall any interaction between himself and the Prime Minister.
"I didn''t hide the methods you provided from the Prime Minister," Shang Junlin said, setting Shen Yu down. "The Prime Minister must have seen talent and taken a liking to it."
Shen Yu remained nomittal about this oue and instead asked about another matter. "Has there been any progress regarding the interrogation of Minister Feng and the mysterious force that was captured?"
Shang Junlin replied, "Feng Pingqi has yielded results. This time, he was only following orders from that force and didn''t have much knowledge about the situation in the North."
Shen Yu asked, "He didn''t know about the people from Beimo?"
"That''s correct. After several interrogations, that was the result. He only provided information about the court''s disaster relief efforts and, ''incidentally,'' obstructed the reportsing from Subei," Shang Junlin exined.
Shen Yu inquired, "What benefits were promised to him?"
"Hmph," Shang Junlin scoffed. "Just the usual: wealth, power, or something else. There''s always something that can entice him."
Once greed takes hold, it doesn''t easily disappear.
"Back when Feng Pingqi entered the Cab, people were helping him. In return, he had to do tasks for them, such as spreading rumors unfavorable to me. The matter in Subei was one of those tasks," Shang Junlin said, stroking Shen Yu''s long hair, adding further.
Hearing this result, Shen Yu wasn''t particrly surprised. The rumors that were detrimental to Shang Junlin had been circting from the beginning. The other side had lurked for many years, and Feng Pingqi was still an influential minister. Even though Shang Junlin didn''t have a habit of exining things to others, Minister Feng shouldn''t have been unaware of the situation.
The more one knows, the easier it is to find maniptive points from within. Half-truths and half-lies are the most difficult to debunk because, with inside knowledge, the "truth" fabricated for the people can appear highly credible.
"What about the King of Yue? What connection do they have with him?" Shen Yu hadn''t forgotten about the relentless attempts to tarnish Shang Junlin, as well as the King of Yue.
"There is currently no evidence to prove any connection between them. Feng Pingqi also refuses to admit anymunication between him and the King of Yue. Without sufficient evidence, the Ministry of Justice can''t force him to confess. He readily admits to other charges with concrete evidence," Shang Junlin replied.
"What about the other captured force? Have they revealed anything?" Shen Yu inquired.
Shang Junlin shook his head. "That person is extremely stubborn. Despite being interrogated by the Ministry of Justice for many days, we couldn''t extract any information other than their attempts to tarnish me and the situation in Subei."
"Was Minister Feng also acting under their orders when he drugged me? Was it their doing when I fell ill outside the pce?" Shen Yu had the same suspicions as Shang Junlin. Once they captured the person, Shang Junlin had them immediately interrogated about this matter. The results were as they had expected.
"They admitted to that, but when asked why they did it, these people shifted the topic. I''m very interested in the real reasons behind it. When they initially chose you to enter the pce, Feng Pingqi yed a part in it. If they truly didn''t want you in the pce, they should have excluded you from the beginning."
When selecting candidates to enter the pce, Shen Yu, as the only legitimate son of the Marquis of Zhenbei, shouldn''t have been on the consideration list. However, his name ended up on the list and eventually made it into the pce.
"What exactly happened back then? Your Majesty had always been reluctant to select candidates for the harem. Why did you agree that time?" Shen Yu was quite curious. Throughout their two lifetimes, Shang Junlin had only agreed to it once.
"I can''t exin it clearly either. The court was in a great uproar at the time, and it was getting on my nerves. I let slip a few words, and now, looking back, it''s a good thing I did. Otherwise, you wouldn''t have entered the pce." Shang Junlin expressed a hint of relief at this point.
"If someone else had entered the pce instead of me, Your Majesty, what would you have done? Would you have treated them the same way you treat us now?"
"How could that be?" Shang Junlinughed. "Originally, I nned to find a random pce for them to live in. Since they wanted to send someone in, I could have gone along with their wishes. However, I wouldn''t have had any control over their lives in the pce, and I certainly wouldn''t have treated them like I treat you."
In this world, only Shen Yu was special.
Shang Junlin thought to himself that those people probably hadn''t expected that the person they went to great lengths to send into the pce not only didn''t fulfill their wishes but also caused them quite a bit of trouble.
The Minister of Public Works borrowed a few people from the Ministry of Rites to help with the assessment. This was the first time the Ministry of Works had undertaken such a task, and the Minister of Works was meticulous by nature. To ensure that every step was wless, he had been closely monitoring the process.
Those who intended to participate in the assessment were eagerly awaiting the final day.
Several friends gathered together and discussed the assessment.
"If we pass the assessment, we will be people of the Ministry of Public Works. It will give us a lot of face when we tell others."
"Have you seen the assessment procedures? I initially thought it would be simr to the imperial examinations, but it turns out to bepletely different. I remember one item requires us to demonstrate our expertise during the assessment. Do you have any ideas about that?"
"Expertise? I''m quite skilled at cksmithing. Do you think they''ll ask us to forge something during the assessment?"
Everyone was filled with anticipation for the assessment.
The court was still busy with the affairs of Beimo and Minister Feng.
Upon learning that Minister Feng wasn''t colluding with the people from Beimo, the people in the court breathed a sigh of relief. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shang Junlin vigorously purged the influential forces within the court. His actions were so significant that the ministers'' attention was focused on this matter, and they didn''t pay much attention to the changes urring among themon people.
For example, several major bookstores in the public jointly published a basic literacy book mainly sold to ordinary people. In addition to the popr "People''s Daily," another type of newspaper quietly emerged in the capital.
Unlike People''s Daily, this new newspaper covered various folk stories and also included some serialized stories, clearly leaning more towards entertainment. The price of a newspaper wasn''t expensive, and many literatemoners bought it out of curiosity. Storytellers in taverns and teahouses even developed a new side professionnewspaper readers.
These changes hadn''t yet attracted the attention of the noble families. Their focus was on the court. Minister Feng was a towering tree, and when the tree fell, the monkeys scattered. The downfall of Minister Feng caused significant changes in the court''s power dynamics.
In such a situation, everyone hoped to gain greater benefits for themselves.
Shang Junlin coldly observed their open and hidden struggles. This wasn''t the first time such a situation had unfolded before him.
The conflicts in the capital didn''t affect Subei.
Based on the clues provided by Yao Ji, Fang Jun carefully investigated those several merchants and discovered that they all had onemon pointthey had suddenly risen to prominence during a specific time period and quickly gained control over Subei''s business sector.
Subei was located in a remote area, and itsmercial development was far behind that of the south. This resulted in other than these several major businessmen who had intricate connections with Boss Sun, the rest were rtively insignificant small merchants.
Fang Jun shared the information he found with He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing.
He Chengyu had already gained Boss Sun''s trust and had recently met several merchants, all of whom were introduced by Boss Sun.
Afterparing the information received secretly from Fang Jun with the information they had obtained, the two realized that the ovep between the two was very high.
"It seems that these people are also insiders," Jiang Huaiqingmented, tapping the table lightly.
"The third transaction went smoothly. Boss Sun''s guard against us has also reached a minimum level. It''s almost time to close the."
Before the fourth transaction, Boss Sun paid a visit.
"This time, they need some different goods," Boss Sun said.
He Chengyu poured tea for the two and pushed one cup toward Boss Sun. "What is it?"
Boss Sun lowered his voice and uttered a few words. Seeing He Chengyu''s slight change in expression, he patted his hand. "I know you have connections, and the price they offer is high. If this works out, we can earn enough for three years'' worth."
"It''s not that I''m not willing, but these things are not easy to obtain," He Chengyu showed a troubled expression. "Moreover, the risks are significant. I do have some connections, but they are asking for too much, and the risks are too high..."
Boss Sun continued to observe He Chengyu''s facial expression. Seeing this, he lowered his voice once again, "That''s why they''re offering such a high price. If you cooperate with someone else, not only will you have to bear the same risks, but what you''ll receive in return will also be far less than the quantity this time. You have done business with them a few times before, and you can feel their generosity. If it weren''t for truly considering you as a friend, I wouldn''t have specifically invited you."
He Chengyu seemed swayed by his words and hesitated, his face showing a contemtive expression. "I need to think about it."
"Sure," Boss Sun didn''t press too hard, "Let me know when you''ve made up your mind. They are still waiting for a response."
After seeing Boss Sun off, Jiang Huaiqing sat in the seat where Boss Sun had just been. "It''s a pity to waste such good tea on him."
"If Huaiqing likes it, I''ll have someone send more over."
"No need to go to the trouble. I was just saying it casually. It''s finally alling to an end."
After they arrived in Beimo, they changed their identities and approached Boss Sun directly. To avoid unnecessaryplications, all official documents and notifications were temporarily entrusted to Fang Jun. If this went on any longer, Jiang Huaiqing would almost feel like a wealthy young man traveling with his older brother to broaden his horizons.
Everything in Beimo was proceeding methodically. The turmoil caused by Minister Feng''s downfall in the capital was gradually settling down.
As the weather turned cooler, the annual autumn hunt drew near.
The autumn hunt was a tradition in Dahuan and a rare event that continued after Shang Junlin ascended the throne. The court began preparations for the hunt.
Before the autumn hunt, it was Shen Yu''s birthday.
The Marquis of Zhenbei hadn''t given up on using this opportunity to repair his rtionship with Shen Yu. He had written several letters to the pce, but Shen Yu had piled them all aside without opening them.
"The Marquis of Zhenbei hasn''t given up yet?" Shang Junlin asked, ncing at the letters casually tossed by Shen Yu in a corner.
Shen Yu curled his lips mockingly. "As long as I''m still favored, he won''t give up. The one he valued, Shen Qingran, was abandoned by him. The only one who can bring benefits to the Marquis of Zhenbei''s residence now is me."
"You can ignore him if you want. He''s just the Marquis of Zhenbei. How can hepare to your happiness?" Shang Junlin sat next to Shen Yu and handed him a small booklet.
"What''s this?"
"It''s from the fief of the King of Yue. Take a look and see if there''s anything else you want."
Shen Yu opened the booklet, revealing a well-organized roster inside. It was a list of birthday gifts sent by various regional princes.
To cater to his preferences, the list mainly consisted of various precious treasures. Just as Shen Yu was about to say something, an unexpected visitor entered the room.
The leader of the Hidden Dragon Guards half-knelt on the ground, his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuations. "I failed in my duties. After bringing that person to the capital, they managed to escape. I willingly ept punishment."
Author''s Note: There will be an extra chapter. Please provide me with some nutrition (3)?
Chapter 147
Chapter 147
Shen Yu was taken aback. "How could someone escape from the Hidden Dragon Guards?"
"Tell me, what happened exactly?" Shang Junlin''s voice turned cold.
"After my men brought the person back to the capital, I personally went to pick him up. At first, he was very cooperative. But when we were getting close to the pce, he suddenly disappeared."
"He disappeared suddenly?"
"Yes, I locked him in a room with tightly closed windows and arranged Hidden Dragon Guards to guard the surroundings. Initially, he kept talking and trying tomunicate with people outside. When he realized no one was responding, he gradually grew quiet. About fifteen minutester, when I went back in, there was no one inside."
The leader of the Hidden Dragon Guards couldn''t lie, and besides, there were other witnesses present besides just him. It was unlikely that everyone would conspire to tell the same lie.
"He managed to escape so easily. How was he captured in the first ce?" Shen Yu asked.
"Our men found him in the King of Yue''s fief. At the time, it seemed like he was hiding from someone, and he didn''t put up much resistance when our men took him away. He didn''t make any suspicious moves along the way," the leader of the Hidden Dragon Guards furrowed his brow. "He seemed toopliant."
The Hidden Dragon Guards had captured the person on Shang Junlin''s orders. Initially, Shang Junlin had given themand to dispose of the person directly. Whether the words he spoke were true or false, they provoked the King of Yue to take action against Shen Yu. Based on this alone, Shang Junlin didn''t want to keep the person alive.
Later, it was Shen Yu who suggested meeting the person, and that was when Shang Junlin changed his mind.
"So, you managed to lose the person once you reached the capital. Well done," Shang Junlin''s temperature dropped abruptly, and he harbored a great deal of hostility towards the person who had caused the King of Yue to deliberately befriend Shen Yu.
"I won''t punish you for now. The person is missing in the capital. No matter what means you use, within three days, I want to see this person. If you seed, your merits will bnce out your faults. If you can''t achieve this, you needn''t continue in your position."
"Yes."
Silently, the leader of the Hidden Dragon Guards disappeared from the room, like a BuddhaI don''t know why but I find this exceptionally funny XD.
"Has that person been captured in the capital?" Shen Yu poured two cups of tea, cing one by Shang Junlin''s side.
"Yes," Shang Junlin frowned, clearly in a bad mood. "I had nned to inform you when the person arrived, but it seems they managed to lose sight of him."
"If he could escape under the noses of the Hidden Dragon Guards, it means either there''s an insider in the capital, or there''s something wrong with the person himself. I''m quite curious, with so many opportunities along the way, why did he choose to escape only after entering the capital?" Shen Yu took a sip of tea.
"I''ll have the Hidden Dragon Guards and the Forbidden Army pay close attention to the situation in the capital." Whether it was the former or thetter, the fact remained that the person had gone missing in the capital, and Shang Junlin had to take it seriously.
What Shang Junlin didn''t say was that he was genuinely worried about what kind of extraordinary ability the person possessed. Based on the words he had spoken to the King of Yue, whether they were true or not, piqued the King of Yue''s interest in Shen Yu. For this reason alone, Shang Junlin didn''t want to leave the person unchecked.
"How about paying a visit to the King of Yue? Maybe he knows something," Shen Yu suggested.
Since the person had a connection with the King of Yue, it was unlikely that they had only exchanged a few words. Besides the incident, had they spoken about anything else?
In his past life, Shen Yu had never seen such a figure by the side of the King of Yue, nor had he ever heard the King of Yue mention this person. Was it because this person didn''t exist in his past life, or was there something that had happened in between that caused the King of Yue topletely forget about him?
The events of the past life couldn''t be retraced, but in this life, the King of Yue was still imprisoned in the dungeon. Perhaps some useful information could be obtained from his mouth.
After several days, Shen Yu once again saw the King of Yue.
The current King of Yue looked even more different from the image Shen Yu had of him in his previous life. He seemed like a stone that had lost its radiance, with only a dull interior left, as if he had borrowed external forces to make himself shine.
Shen Yu couldn''t help but doubt if he had truly loved this man in his past life.
Feeling the approaching footsteps, the King of Yue raised his head in a daze. But when he saw who it was, his eyes no longer held a murky look but were reced with shades of shock and hatred.
"It seems you haven''t lost your wits," Shang Junlin''s tone was indifferent as if he were stating something insignificant.
"Why isn''t the Emperor staying in the pce? Whye to me? Have you finally realized that the person you ced in your beloved''s heart isn''t right for you?" The King of Yue didn''t bother to hide his malice.
"Aren''t you pretending as well, Your Highness? You can''t evenpare to His Majesty in the first ce, and now..." Shen Yu looked the King of Yue up and down with a clear disdain on his face.
The King of Yue''s eyes burned with even greater resentment. He was like this because of them! If it weren''t for the deceitfulness of these two individuals, he wouldn''t have fallen into such a state! He should have been enjoying the love and admiration of his subjects in his fief, indulging in fine wine and delicious food, rather than being trapped in a damp, dark dungeon, deprived of daylight.
Taking a step forward, Shen Yu was surprised to find that the King of Yue involuntarily stepped back. A strange look appeared on his face. What kind of person did he be in his past life that he would be attracted to someone like this? Why had he willingly done so much for him?
The mystery of his past life seemed to be growingrger andrger.
Shang Junlin walked over and embraced Shen Yu''s waist, interrupting his thoughts.
"Do you know someone named Zhu Wang?" Shang Junlin hadn''t forgotten the purpose of this visit.
The expression on the King of Yue''s face suddenly changed. He burst intoughter. "So, it turns out he didn''t just tell me, but he also told you. No wonder you, who have never shown any affection for anyone, dote on Shen Yu so much. Hahaha! Now you''re asking me this question in front of him. Aren''t you afraid that I''ll reveal your secret to him?"
"What secret? Are you referring to the phrase ''He who obtains Shen''s descendant will obtain the world''?" Shen Yu''s eyes half-lowered, and his gaze fixed on the King of Yue.
"You know?!" The King of Yue''sughter abruptly stopped, and his expression twisted with a mix of amusement and malice. "Since you already know, are you still willing to stay by his side willingly?"
He couldn''t see the expression on Shen Yu''s face, but if he could make these two people unhappy, then he would be content. Malice almost overflowed from his heart.
"Shen Yu, don''t forget, the Marquis of Zhenbei has more than just one child. Whether you believe it or not, today, my good brother, who treats you so fondly because of that phrase, can also easily hand everything over to Shen Qingran. He has always been like this, not caring at all about other people''s feelings."
Feeling the arm around his waist suddenly tighten, Shen Yu patted it soothingly. He himself could see and feel what kind of person Shang Junlin was, but as for the King of Yue...
"So, do you admit that you have been colluding with Shen Qingran while getting close to me? From the very beginning, you had ulterior motives. What you want is neither me nor Shen Qingran, but what we represent behind us. You are just like that, so how dare you confidently speak about others?"
The King of Yue''s words were once again blocked in his mouth. He opened his mouth but found himself unable to retort.
Ignoring the look of disarray on the King of Yue''s face, Shen Yu continued to question, "I''m curious, no matter what, you''re still a prince. Can''t you handle it when someone says something about you? Oh, right, not only did you believe it, you even took action based on it, and in the end, you ended up imprisoned. Do you really think that person''s words are true and trustworthy?"
The King of Yue paused, realizing he had never considered the possibility that the phrase could be false. When he heard the proverb, he summoned his confidants to discuss countermeasures. What was he thinking at that time? Regardless of whether the phrase was true or false, he had to give it a try. But afterward, why had he convinced himself that the phrase was correct?
After thinking for a moment, the King of Yue suddenly calmed down and said, "Since you believe that the phrase is false, why did youe to ask me?"
"King of Yue, I have never believed in such things. I just want to know your motives for getting close to Ah Yu. Ah, Yu grew up in the capital without any connection to you, so why did you choose him?" Shang Junlin''s tone remained calm, except for a slight fluctuation when he mentioned Shen Yu.
"Isn''t that something you already know?" The King of Yue looked at Shen Yu. "I admit that my intentions for getting close to you were impure, but apart from that, everything else came from my sincere..."
"Including your sincere connection with Shen Qingran?" Shen Yu interrupted his self-proimed passionate words.
The King of Yue fell silent.
"Stop with these talks of sincerity or insincerity. Even you don''t believe them when you say them out loud. I just want to know what Zhu Wang did to make you so firmly believe in that phrase."
"I encountered him identally when I first arrived at my fief. The locals called him ''Mr. Zhu.'' He saved me once, and before leaving, he gave me a sachet, saying that the contents inside could help me ovee three difficulties. I epted the sachet with skepticism, and not long after, I encountered the first adversity."
Even if the King of Yue didn''t say the rest, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin could guess what happened. The sachet indeed helped the King of Yue ovee three difficulties. With that premise, it wasn''t surprising that he would form connections with Shen Yu and Shen Qingran because of that phrase.
"He disappeared, and I couldn''t keep him. Later, something happened, and he briefly stayed at the pce before disappearing again."
This aligned with the information obtained by the Hidden Dragon Guard.
As Shen Yu and Shang Junlin left the dungeon, instead of alleviating their doubts, they became even more curious about Zhu Wang''s existence.
"Your Majesty, how credible do you think the King of Yue''s words are?" Shen Yu asked on their way back to the pce.
Shang Junlin replied, "I remember those three incidents. At that time, not long after the King of Yue arrived at his fief, there was a rebellion. Before the court could take action, the rebellion was already suppressed. I always thought it was the force left behind by thete emperor that intervened."
"Why would a rebellion ur in the prosperous fief of the King of Yue, where the people lived in peace and contentment?"
Thete emperor favored the King of Yue and granted him the fief, which was a great ce. When Shang Junlin ascended the throne, he was too upied with other matters and just wanted to send the King of Yue away as soon as possible, so he didn''t pay much attention to the state of that fief and simply sent him there.
Shang Junlin frowned. "Because there were too many matters to attend to at that time, and the King of Yue handled the rebellion in his fief on his own. I didn''t ask much about it. Ah Yu, do you suspect that there was something wrong with that rebellion?"
"The King of Yue made it sound like it was orchestrated by someone else, but I don''t quite think so. What if it was nned from the beginning?" Shen Yu rested his chin on his hand. "If the sachet came before the rebellion, it shows that Zhu Wang indeed has some ability. However, who can be certain that the sachet came first?"
Now there were even more questions. Why did that person do all this? Was it solely to make the King of Yue firmly believe in his words? More specifically, was it to make the King of Yue believe in the phrase "He who obtains Shen''s descendant will obtain the world"?
"We''ll find out what they''re nning once the Hidden Dragon Guard captures that person."
Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and a guard reported from outside, "Your Majesty, there''s someone iming to be ''Mr. Zhu'' who wishes to see you."
Author''s Note: Two updates. I request some literary nutrition (-w-)
Chapter 148
Chapter 148
We''re in thest bonus for this day! Again, thank you so much, Chelchel for the donation <3
And a big shoutout to ParanoidKitten and Nura-o st for thements. Yourments literally helped me in making this novel more readable and give quality /serafintrantions
The person whom the Hidden Dragon Guard had been searching for all over the capital suddenly appeared before them, which seemed quite unbelievable.
Shen Yu looked at Shang Junlin, and he could see the same confusion in the man''s eyes.
Of course, since the person hade on his own ord, they had no reason to turn him away.
The carriage door opened, and Shang Junlin was the first to step out, followed by Shen Yu.
The self-proimed "Mr. Zhu" stood not far from them, and the guards stared at this unexpected person as if facing a formidable enemy. Shen Yu and Shang Junlin walked a few steps closer.
It was the first time Shen Yu had seen "Mr. Zhu." The man was dressed in a ck robe, with long hair neatly tied up behind his head. He appeared younger than Shen Yu had imagined, and his unremarkable facial features seemed to create a strange impression. However, what stood out the most were his eyes, deep and bottomless, as if they held everything and nothing at the same time.
Mr. Zhu also observed Shang Junlin and Shen Yu, and the moment he saw their appearances, a flicker of astonishment crossed his face. Although he quickly regained hisposure, Shen Yu, who had been observing him closely, caught that momentarypse.
Shen Yu was certain that he had never seen this person before, and it seemed that the feeling was mutual. He lowered his gaze, concealing the thoughts swirling in his eyes.
"Your Majesty and Your Excellency are truly enviable," Mr. Zhu said, observing them for a moment before speaking.
Shang Junlin''s expression softened slightly. "What business do you have with me?"
He stood slightly in front of Shen Yu, his body tense, clearly on guard against the enigmatic Mr. Zhu.
"I came to see Your Majesty, just to confirm one thing. And now that it has been confirmed, the celestial patterns have shifted, and the course of destiny has changed. Indeed, I shouldn''t have interfered too much," Mr. Zhu replied.
"What exactly do you want to do?"
"Your Majesty had someone bring me to the capital. Isn''t it for the purpose of meeting me? It would be impolite toe in chains, so I came alone."
Mr. Zhu''s words and actions were calm, perhaps too calm. He seemed oblivious to the numerous armed guards surrounding him as if he couldn''t sense their presence.
Shen Yu had been closely observing this person. Besides his air of mystery, there was an inexplicable feeling of dissonance. Based on what the King of Yue had said, this person should be aligned with the King of Yue and have hostility towards them. However, Mr. Zhu appeared too calm, and Shen Yu couldn''t determine if he was truly mysterious or just putting on a show.
"Mr. Zhu hase from afar. Perhaps it would be better for him to have an audience in the pce. The previous invitation was not appropriate, and Mr. Zhu should give us a chance to make amends," Shen Yu suggested while looking at Mr. Zhu.
Mr. Zhu''s gaze once again fell upon Shen Yu. "I do not enjoy being bound. I will not go to the pce."
Shen Yu tugged at Shang Junlin''s sleeve. He felt a hint of resentment emanating from this person, even though it disappeared in an instant. But he was sure he hadn''t misinterpreted it. There was no hostility towards Shang Junlin, only towards him. So it wasn''t directed at Shang Junlin but at him...
Shang Junlin reached out and held Shen Yu''s hand. When he looked at Mr. Zhu, there was a trace of displeasure in his eyes. "Your Excellency extended an invitation, yet Mr. Zhu refuses to show any courtesy?"
Mr. Zhu paused for a moment, seemingly surprised at how things had developed. He sighed, "That was not my intention."
"Why are you refusing then? Keep in mind that many people would desire my invitation but fail to receive it. If you don''t show me respect, it means you are disrespecting His Majesty, which is a serious crime." Shen Yu assumed an arrogant posture, relying on his favoritism.
"You are right, Your Excellency." Shang Junlin nodded in agreement, and his gaze toward Mr. Zhu became even more unkind, resembling a powerful monarch being challenged. It seemed as if he were saying, "Whether you want to go or not, you will go."
In the end, Mr. Zhu apanied them to the pce.
"Why did Ah Yu insist on inviting Mr. Zhu to the pce?" After returning to the Yu Zhang Pce, Shang Junlin sat on the bed, embracing Shen Yu.
Mr. Zhu was arranged to stay in a separate pce, and the Hidden Dragon Guard closely monitored his every move.
"This person gives me an uneasy feeling. I sensed his hatred toward me, even though I have had no interaction with him," Shen Yu said, while paying close attention to the person.
Hatred doesn''t arise without a reason. There must be a trigger, but Shen Yu hadn''t even met this Mr. Zhu before. So where could the trigger be?
"If he had harbored resentment toward me from the beginning, it wouldn''t be surprising for him to speak those words. To raise me up to the heavens with one sentence, and to cast me down into hell at my proudest moment with another."
"I don''t believe his words," Shang Junlin said, holding Shen Yu tightly. "I have never believed in the existence of gods and spirits. If they truly exist, why don''t they appear when people are suffering and in distress? And that proverb isughable. Since when has this world be one where obtaining someone will change a ruler''s existence?"
With the Hidden Dragon Guard keeping a close watch, Mr. Zhu couldn''t easily escape from the pce.
Since they had discovered something was amiss with him, Shang Junlin certainly wouldn''t let him go easily.
Mr. Zhu paced anxiously in the room. He had expected that Shang Junlin, at the very least, would be wary of mysterious powers. After revealing his own mystique, even if he didn''t elevate him to the level of the King of Yue, he should have shown him great respect. But what was the result?
He had acted hastily and underestimated this monarch who had risen from the battlefield. He should have realized it earlier. How could Shang Junlin and Shang Junyue be the same?
Unfortunately, he had realized it toote.
Mr. Zhu came to this realization on the second day. Shen Yu had promised to make amends, but since Mr. Zhu entered the pce, neither Shen Yu nor Shang Junlin had appeared. On the first day, they said he should rest, and on the second day, he noticed many hidden auras around him. Even the pce attendants gave him a strange feeling.
He had no evidence to support this feeling, but he trusted his instincts. This feeling peaked when he tried to leave the pce but was intercepted.
In hindsight, he seemed to have willingly walked into a trap.
"Your Majesty said that Mr. Zhu has realized something is amiss?" Shen Yu sat under the shade of a tree. Although it was a question, his tone held little doubt.
"He realized it toote. With the Hidden Dragon Guard stationed there, I don''t believe he can escape," Shang Junlin replied.
"How is everything in Subei? Will Official Fang be able to return in time for the autumn hunt?"
The position in the Cab had remained vacant. After several unsessful attempts to test the waters, the courtiers began to suspect that the Emperor had already chosen someone. However, the person was currently not in the capital, so the position couldn''t be filled.
"It should be soon. He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing have gained their trust over there. We''re just waiting for the right moment."
Whether it was He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing or Official Fang, they were all waiting.
After considering it, He Chengyu agreed to do business with Boss Sun.
"I know you have concerns, which is normal. After all, some goods are not allowed for trade. But rest assured, I have been doing business with them for many years and have invited others to join as well, and we have never encountered any problems." Upon hearing the reply, Boss Sun''s smile deepened.
Having concerns was normal. If He Chengyu had agreed without any reservations, Boss Sun would have been worried. Everyone who coborated with him initially had simr concerns, but in the end, the temptation of whaty behind the trade was too strong to resist.
Boss Sun was confident that no one could resist such temptation. Once the trade was sessful, both parties would be bound together on the same ship, and there would be fewer concerns as they became true "partners."
Both sides had their own thoughts, but on the surface, everything seemed harmonious. Since He Chengyu had agreed, they began discussing the details of the location.
Sitting beside He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing seemed uninterested but was actually quickly analyzing Boss Sun''s words. To make a precise strike, they needed to be better prepared.
In the end, they reached a satisfactory agreement, at least on the surface. Boss Sun smiled and drank his tea. "Before we set off this time, I will introduce you to some other business partners. We have worked together for many years, so there will be many opportunities for interaction in the future."
"Thank you for the introduction, Boss Sun. I am grateful to have met you in Subei."
"I dare not ept such praise. It is my great fortune to have met Boss Gu," Boss Sun replied with a smile.
A pleasant conversation ensued, with both the host and the guests enjoying themselves.
He Chengyu ryed the information to Fang Daren.
Coincidentally, on Official Fang''s side, they had also found quite a few clues through their investigation of other people. ording to their findings, these individuals would be involved in a transaction during this period. However, they had yet to determine the exact time and location. He Chengyu''s timely information filled in the missing part that they hadn''t been able to find.
"Chengyu-xiong, what expression do you think Boss Sun will have on that day?" Jiang Huaiqing poured a cup of tea for He Chengyu and carried his own teacup to sit on the other side.
Thinking that everything was under control, little did they know that they had fallen into a carefully woven trap from the beginning.
"We''ll find out when the timees. I imagine his expression will be quite interesting. Unfortunately, we still haven''t found any clues about those women''s whereabouts."
"If we capture the person, do you think we''ll have trouble getting the truth out of them? Under Official Fang''smand, there''s nothing we can''t uncover."
"You''re right."
Time flew by.
Early in the morning, Boss Sun sent a carriage to pick them up and take them to the location of the transaction.
The sound of horse hooves resonated neither lightly nor heavily. Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu sat inside the carriage, driven by someone sent by Boss Sun. This time, they would first discuss business, and the actual transaction would take ce after the negotiations.
The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, and Jiang Huaiqing took a nce outside, realizing that they were on apletely unfamiliar road.
Putting down the curtain, the two of them remained silent.
The carriage came to a stop.
They alighted from the carriage, and a maid came forward to escort them to the main hall.
The carriage was parked directly in the courtyard. Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu had no idea what the exterior of this courtyard looked like, but the interior decor was enough to astonish them.
It was hard to imagine finding such a picturesque garden in Subei. Every corner was exquisitely designed, giving off an air of prosperity reminiscent of the capital. Without much time to observe, arge door appeared before them.
Pushing open the door, Boss Sun warmly weed them, "Finally, you''re here. The people sitting here are the partners you will frequently cooperate with in the future. Allow me to introduce you."
Jiang Huaiqing stood by He Chengyu''s side, calmly assessing the people sitting together. These individuals happened to match the description given by Official Fang.
Chapter 149
Chapter 149
Another bonus chapters for the coffee <3
I may have to separate the updates today and tomorrow. So for now, it will be 4 chapters and 3 the next day for the regr and bonus chaps <3
Toast cups intertwined, music and dance flourishing.
Official Fang had told them about the banquet described by Yao Ji, and Jiang Huaiqing looked around. The scene before his eyes matched what Official Fang had revealed to them.
Was this the ce where Yao Ji performed her dance?
Jiang Huaiqing lowered his gaze, concealing his pensive thoughts.
He had always portrayed himself as someone unfamiliar with business in the presence of He Chengyu. He genuinelycked knowledge in that area. During the banquet, He Chengyu primarily took charge of interacting with Boss Sun and others while Jiang Huaiqing listened and asionally made puzzled expressions. He would stop and exin when He Chengyu noticed.
His main role was to take note of every urrence at the banquet and observe the people present. Later, he would exchange information with He Chengyu and piece together the clues they obtained.
Generally, not many people actively sought to converse with him. asionally, there were some who wanted to find an alternative way to approach He Chengyu through him.
Regarding these individuals, Jiang Huaiqing seemedpletely oblivious to their true intentions. After conversing with them, he wouldn''t make any promises or leave any leverage for them.
This was the final test for both sides. He Chengyu remainedposed, and since Boss Sun introduced them, the others didn''t harbor much hostility towards him.
After the banquet concluded, He Chengyu nned to leave with Jiang Huaiqing but was stopped by Boss Sun.
"It''ste, why don''t the two of you stay overnight? It saves you the trouble ofing back tomorrow."
"Will we also be here tomorrow?" He Chengyu raised an eyebrow.
"Hahaha, yes," Boss Sun chuckled. "It was ast-minute decision to change the venue. People wille from the other side tomorrow, and Boss Gu''s merchandise is ready. It''ll be directly delivered."
He Chengyu looked at him with a half-smile. "Boss Sun must have had this n for a while. I won''t me you for speaking the truth."
"Well, it really was ast-minute decision. They urgently needed it on the other side, and the original date we set was a bitte for them." Boss Sun exined with a smile.
He Chengyu possessed what they urgently needed, so he couldn''t afford to offend him. He wouldn''t be surprised if He Chengyu became angry since trustworthiness is highly valued in business, and this time, he had been the one to break his word.
"Alright, then I''ll stay for an extra day. Send someone with my letter to inform the person inspecting the goods, and have them deliver it tomorrow."
The two of them were arranged to stay in the same room. This time, nobody was forcefully assigned to attend to them. After Boss Sun repeatedly apologized, he finally left with his people.
Once they were sure nobody was around, Jiang Huaiqing rxed and sat on the bed. "It''s a good thing we didn''t choose today as the day to make our move."
Originally, they had nned to capture the person today after discussing it with Official Fang. However, they changed their minds and decided to strike on the day of the official transaction.
He Chengyu walked over and sat next to him. "During times like these, we must remain vignt and not let our guard down. If we had chosen today, we would have only startled the snake in the grass."
After all, their true target was not these businessmen but the hidden Beimo people behind them.
Jiang Huaiqing lowered his voice and spoke in a tone audible only to the two of them, "Perhaps Boss Sun did it intentionally. The original date they chose was tomorrow. The date they told us was just to divert attention. If we really had any issues, they wouldn''t suffer much loss."
"I think so too. Keeping us here is a form of covert surveince. We only brought a few servants with us, and I assume they are being closely watched as well. They won''t have the opportunity tomunicate with the outside."
"Their n is well calcted. However, Chengyu, aren''t you worried that they are only conducting a single business transaction?"
He Chengyu understood the implication in Jiang Huaiqing''s words and shook his head. "No, they are doing this to ensure that we have no problems. Even if there are issues, they can still escape unharmed. If they wanted to get rid of us after obtaining the goods, there would be no need for repeated tests."
It wasn''t appropriate to discuss too much on someone else''s territory, so He Chengyu stopped Jiang Huaiqing from continuing the topic and asked one of the servants stationed outside for hot water.
A dreamless night passed.
The next day, they could clearly feel that the security in the courtyard had intensified. He Chengyu apanied Jiang Huaiqing to the main hall, where Boss Sun was already present, engaged in a conversation with a burly man.
"Boss Gu has arrived," He Chengyu glimpsed the two of them and Boss Sun halted his conversation with the man, approaching them and making introductions, "This is Master Tu, the person conducting the transaction with us this time."
"Master Tu doesn''t look like someone from Subei," He Chengyu casually remarked after a brief exchange of pleasantries.
"That''s true. However, we have a good rtionship," Boss Sun didn''t hide it, "But in my opinion, it doesn''t matter where hees from. As long as we can cooperate amicably. What do you think, Boss Gu?"
"Boss Sun''s words make sense."
After a while, the other business owners also arrived.
After finishing the tea in his cup, He Chengyu spoke, "Because the goods involved in this transaction are quite special, I need to have a face-to-face conversation with someone from your side who can make decisions. Is this request unreasonable?"
"Not unreasonable, not at all," Boss Sun quickly defused the tension, "Boss Gu, rest assured, Master Tu is the person in charge on their side."
After spending some time together, Boss Sun gained some understanding of He Chengyu. He knew that He Chengyu appeared easygoing but had a strong character. It was normal for someone his age, who had achieved such sess in business, to have a strong personality, and Boss Sun didn''t mind this slight w.
To Boss Sun, He Chengyu''s statement was meant to ascertain whether the person he would be talking to had the qualifications.
Sure enough, as soon as the words were spoken, Boss Sun saw Boss Gu''s attitude soften.
"Meeting you is a stroke of fate. Let me raise a toast to everyone." Master Tu stood up and downed the drink in his cup.
Both sides didn''t waste much time on meaningless conversations. Soon, they steered the discussion in the right direction.
"Master Tu, the goods you requested have already arrived in a batch. If you''re in a hurry, you can inspect them right away." He Chengyu got straight to the point.
Master Tu couldn''t be happier and immediately agreed.
The delivered goods were neatly arranged in the courtyard. Master Tu opened the boxes with his people, and the sight of pristine white salt greeted their eyes.
He grabbed a handful, and fine white grains slipped through his fingers.
He Chengyu strolled over, fanning himself. "How is it? I dare say, no one else can obtain goods of this quality."
Boss Sun also saw such white salt for the first time, unable to conceal his astonishment in his eyes.
Master Tu looked at the other boxes, and without exception, the quality of the goods exceeded his expectations.
He signaled to Boss Sun, and Boss Sun understood that this meant he was very satisfied. The smile on his face grew wider. "Boss Gu, you have truly given us a big surprise."
"No rush," He Chengyu closed his fan with a snap, "With this quality, let''s meet the real decision-maker. Shouldn''t I be qualified enough?"
"Of course." A slightly rugged voice came from behind.
He Chengyu turned around and saw a man dressed in Subei attire walking towards them from the corridor, apanied by several guards. Upon seeing him, Master Tu respectfully greeted him.
This man exuded a strong aura of violence. Rather than calling him a businessman, it would be more appropriate to say that he was a military man. Judging from the respectful attitude of Boss Sun and others towards him, it was evident that he held a high position.
Various thoughts shed through He Chengyu''s mind, but he didn''t show any expression on his face.
On the other side, Subei Army and Hidden Dragon Guards, following the clues provided by Fang Jun, were gradually closing in on the estate.
The people inside the estate were oblivious to the approaching danger, immersed in the joy of the transaction. Only He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing remained vignt.
Not to mention the others, even Jiang Huaiqing was surprised when he saw box after box of goods being opened. He realized that He Chengyu had spared no expense in order to lure out the mastermind behind the scenes.
After presenting those items, the gazes of everyone present towards He Chengyu changed. Jiang Huaiqing felt the constant piercing stares and found it somewhat amusing. Yesterday, they were all reserved, but today, they couldn''t wait to get close.
Themunication between the two parties went smoothly, and before finalizing the deal, He Chengyu put down his cup and asked, "May I be so bold as to ask where these items will eventually be used?"
"Boss Gu has such excellent goods in his hands. There will definitely be future coborations, so there''s no harm in revealing a bit of information. The goods will be transported to Beimo."
"Isn''t this the first time you''ve done business with Beimo?" He Chengyu asked curiously.
"We started a few years ago. The people in Beimo are generous. As long as they are satisfied with what you give them, the prices are negotiable." A businessman sitting next to He Chengyu shook his wine ss.
After the deal was settled, He Chengyu expressed his intention to bid farewell, and this time, there was no obstruction.
The carriage was still waiting in the courtyard, not far from the main gate, which was tightly closed. No one knew what was happening outside.
Instead of boarding the carriage, He Chengyu grabbed Jiang Huaiqing''s hand and headed towards the main gate.
Boss Sun, perplexed, followed behind. "Boss Gu, what is this?"
He Chengyu stopped in front of the gate, turning his head and curling his lips. "Before we leave, I have one more big surprise for you all."
For some reason, Boss Sun had a bad feeling in his heart.
Just as he was about to say something, the main gate was suddenly rammed open from the outside, and soldiers d in armor poured in.
"Do you have connections with the authorities?!" Boss Sun''s eyes widened in fury.
He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing found themselves surrounded by the soldiers. Jiang Huaiqing turned to look at Boss Sun and spoke clearly, "We are originally affiliated with the authorities. Why speak of connections?"
At that moment, Jiang Huaiqing showed no sign of being clueless about the situation.
Subei Army stormed into the estate, swiftly subduing everyone. Since they had acted during the most rxed moment, no one anticipated it. Some people were still bewildered even as they were pushed toward the main gate.
"Was it all nned from the beginning?" Boss Sun, forced to kneel on the ground, looked up at He Chengyu, who was protected by the crowd. His gaze was filled with malice.
"If you dare to trade with Beimo and permit the trade of these goods, you should have anticipated this day." He Chengyu''s voice was calm. At this moment, his expression and tone werepletely different from the familiar "Boss Gu" that Boss Sun knew.
"Who are you exactly?"
It wasn''t until he was locked up in a cell that Boss Sun learned that the extravagant "Boss Gu" was the top-ranked schr in the imperial examinations.
After capturing the individuals, Fang Jun''s men immediately began the interrogation. A series of clues were unearthed, and based on the information provided by these individuals, the well-hidden forces werepletely wiped out.
As for the captured Beimopeople, their fate had to be determined after consulting with the court.
Fang Jun was wrapping up the final details in Beimo, and the relevant reports were promptly delivered to Shang Junlin''s desk.
"With the credit for Beimo matter in hand, Official Fang''s entry into the cab this time is justified." Shen Yu sighed after reading the report, then asked, "How does Your Majesty n to deal with those from Beimo?"
Shang Junlin chuckled, "The leader came to the capital willingly. Whether they live or die depends on the sincerity Beimo shows."
Shen Yu understood. This was a grand scheme.
Chapter 150
Chapter 150
Shen Yu didn''t believe that such arge-scale transaction could be the personal actions of certain individuals in Beimo. Even if individuals were involved, there must be someone above them instructing them.
"I wonder if they have learned anything they shouldn''t have while lurking in Subei for so long."
"The Subei Army is independent of any power in Subei. It is unrealistic for them to try to gather information about the internal affairs of the Subei Army."
Shen Yu agreed, "Otherwise, they wouldn''t have gone to such lengths to infiltrate."
It was fortunate that Shang Junlin''s decision to separate the Subei Army from Subei''s internal affairs had initially faced significant opposition from the court. However, Shang Junlin was determined, and regardless of the ministers'' objections, he divided the Subei Army and the Subei administrative matters. The oue proved that it was the right decision.
Otherwise, resolving the Subei incident wouldn''t be as easy.
"Except for the few leaders from Beimo, the others will be directly interrogated in Subei and dealt with ordingly. I have instructed Fang Jun not to have any reservations. After they have sucked the blood of Subei for so long, it''s time for them to repay." Shang Junlin''s tone was cold.
"Beimo should have received the news. If we transport the captives back to the capital, the journey won''t be peaceful. Since they dared to target the disaster relief supplies, it shows that they have their own power near Subei. Let Official Fang keep an eye on them and try to extract the hiding ces of these people from those they captured, so we can deal with them first."
This matter involves a wide range of people, and capturing them doesn''t mean everything is over. The subsequent handling is crucial, especially considering that Beimo is in close proximity to Subei. If Beimo really intends to do something, although they are not afraid, it will still be troublesome.
Subei has just experienced a natural disaster and it would be best if they could have a period of rest and recuperation.
"I will arrange for an escort. Fang Jun and the Hidden Dragon Guard have been investigating the hiding ces of those people. Someone will be sent to negotiate with Beimo."
The heavy burden of negotiations with Beimo fell on Fang Jiayi.
Based on seniority, this matter should not have fallen on her, but the Subei officialdom had just undergone a major purge. The officials responsible for dealing with Beimo were currently imprisoned, and the officials sent from the capital were mostly responsible for the construction and management of Subei. Given their previous experience, the officials unanimously believed that Fang Jiayi was the most suitable.
After suffering a lossst time, the people from Beimo no longer dared to underestimate this Lady of Da Huan. Their understanding of her was limited to her role as a wife and mother, and they were caught off guard.
After the personnel was finalized, Fang Jun kept Fang Jiayi behind. "For now, you can temporarily put aside your tasks and use this time to learn more about Beimo. They made a misjudgmentst time, so they will be more prepared this time. You must understand your opponent well."
"I understand."
Fang Jiayi handed over her tasks to her colleagues and focused on preparing for the uing negotiations with Beimo.
In order to gain a better understanding of Beimo, she not only consulted books but also sought information from the locals. To familiarize herself with the case, she specifically sought out He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing to learn more details from them.
After capturing the individuals, the government officials only then realized what He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing had been doing during their disappearance. To prevent leaks, only a few people, including Fang Jun, were aware of this n from the beginning.
Their concerns proved to be valid. After the capture of Boss Sun and others, several other hidden individuals working for the government were apprehended through interrogation.
The people of Subei had not yet recovered from the aftermath of the collision between high officials and Beimo, and now they were informed that Beimo people had been hiding among them all along, causing a huge uproar.
"I thought those damned officials colluding with the enemy was the limit, but I didn''t expect the enemy to be right beside us."
"I knew Boss Sun, his shop was quite famous, selling good products. Many people liked to buy things there. I never expected that he was working for Beimo behind the scenes."
"Now I''m starting to suspect if there are still Beimo people or theirckeys around us. What are these people thinking? When Beimo attacked Subei, theymitted all sorts of atrocities, killing countless innocent people. Why would they work for Beimo?"
"They''ve forsaken their conscience for wealth, what else can they do? Don''t try to understand these people, it''s beyondprehension."
"Official Fang is truly perceptive. If it were me, I would have concluded the case after dealing with those corrupt officials. If it weren''t for Official Fang''s keen observation, this matter wouldn''t have been exposed for a while."
"He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing were also crucial. Without their involvement and risking their lives, it wouldn''t have been possible to apprehend all those people in such a short time."
After their return, He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing received many curious looks, and some couldn''t help but ask them questions.
Their performance this time wasmendable, and after Fang Jun submitted a report, he secured higher official positions for both of them.
"Your performance deservesmendation. With you around, I feel more at ease leaving Subei. When I depart, I will leave the matters of Subei to you."
Fang Jun had stayed in Subei longer than expected, and now that the matter was resolved, he needed to prepare for his departure.
The transfer of power, the aftermath of the Beimo case... Although he nned to leave, he wouldn''t do so until these matters were properly handled.
"Official He Chengyu and Official Jiang Huaiqing have firmly established themselves in Subei," Shen Yu said after reviewing the documents from Subei that had been submitted to him. He raised an eyebrow and continued, "Did the ministers in the court have anything to say about Official Fang''s request for official positions for these two?"
Promotions from the third rank to the fourth rank and vice versa were like reaching the heavens in a single step for neers in the officialdom.
"Naturally, some people are dissatisfied. He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing, and Fang Jiayi have overshadowed many others in Subei, disrupting their ns. Even if they are displeased, they can''t deny the achievements these three have made. Subei is in need of capable officials to lead, and these three appeared at the right time. Would they give official positions to those who haven''t done anything?" Shang Junlin sneered.
When the officials were initially sent, the court had tentatively assigned official positions to some individuals. However, this didn''t mean that these individuals were necessarilypetent. Once they arrived in Subei, their performance would determine their actual appointments. Subei was in need of officials who could achieve tangible results, not those who sought only fame and benefits.
Soon, it was Shen Yu''s birthday. Shang Junlin initially wanted to hold a grand banquet but was persuaded by Shen Yu to save it for next year''sing-of-age celebration. Instead, they held a small banquet at the Yu Zhang Pce.
There weren''t many attendees, and the Empress Dowager came with Shen Yue. After not seeing her for a while, Shen Yue had undergone even greater changes.
There were no other hostesses in the pce, and since Shen Yu had a poor rtionship with the Marquis of Zhenbei''s residence, after inquiring about Shen Yu, Shang Junlin didn''t invite anyone from the Marquis of Zhenbei''s residence to the pce.
The number of guests was notrge, but it didn''t feel deserted. There was no need for insincere people, and Shen Yu liked this kind of atmosphere.
"This was made by Shen Yue for Your Majesty. She said they would eat this on their birthdays over there. It''s called a cake," the Empress Dowager said, presenting a covered box.
"A cake?" Shang Junlin heard this term for the first time and couldn''t help but feel curious.
"Yes," the Empress Dowager smiled. "That little girl put a lot of effort into making it, and it looks very pleasing."
Under the Empress Dowager''s signal, the pce servant opened the box.
A sweet aroma instantly filled the air.
Shen Yu had always had a sweet tooth, and as soon as he caught a whiff of the fragrance, he sat up straight, unable to help but nce at the box.
Shang Junlin couldn''t discern Shen Yu''s thoughts, so he beckoned for the pce servant to bring the cake over.
Following the instructions, the pce servant brought the cake out of the box and ced it on the table in front of Shen Yu.
The cake was round and not toorge, adorned with various fruits as decorations, making it visually appealing.
As they got closer, the aroma of the cake became even more enticing.
The pce servant cut a small slice and ced it on a te. Shen Yu took a bite and instinctively narrowed his eyes.
"It''s delicious. Your Majesty, it would be best if you try it too," Shen Yu picked up a piece and held it to Shang Junlin''s lips.
Shang Junlin took a bite and said, "Mmm, it''s sweet."
Shen Yu knew that Shang Junlin didn''t have a sweet tooth like himself, so he asionally fed him a bite.
In addition to the cake, Shen Yue also brought out a few small transparent bottles. "These are perfumes that I made. For now, there are only a few scents avable."
"Perfume? Simr to incense?" Shen Yu picked up one of the bottles, which contained a blue transparent liquid in a ss bottle, exuding a captivating allure.
"Yes, but it''s more convenient than incense. You just need to apply it to your body. The downside is that the fragrance doesn''tst too long. I''ve written down the recipe." Shen Yue presented a thin booklet.
"I made these while making medicinal alcohol. One of the ingredients is alcohol, and the fragrance is extracted from different types of flowers. They are harmless to the human body," Shen Yue added.
She knew that the perfumes she made were quite rudimentary and wouldn''t be considered much in modern times. However, in the perfume-less ancient times, they were unique and convenient.
Dahuan people loved fragrances, and Shen Yu was quite different in that regard, possibly due to his body''s condition. He had always had trouble epting incense and simr scents.
Since he couldn''t try it on himself, Shen Yu turned to Shang Junlin and said, "Your Majesty, would you like to try it?"
Seeing the excitement in Shen Yu''s eyes, Shang Junlin reluctantlypromised. "Only you would dare to make me try this and that."
Under Shen Yue''s guidance, Shen Yu applied some of the perfume to Shang Junlin''s wrist. A faint scent diffused,pletely different from the sensation brought by incense.
Shen Yu leaned closer to smell it. It was a very light fragrance, not overpowering, and quite pleasant.
"If this perfume were sold in shops, it would definitely be popr." It would be weed not only by women but also by men.
Shen Yu let go of Shang Junlin''s hand and said to Shen Yue, "I will have someone try to make it ording to the recipe you provided. If they seed, I''ll give you a share based on the previous agreement."
Shen Yu didn''t have the habit of taking things for free from others. Whenever Shen Yue presented something, he would reward her.
After the small banquet, Shang Junlin took Shen Yu out of the pce.
This time, they went to a different ce than before, an open grasnd.
Shen Yu looked around. "Your Majesty, why did you bring me here?"
"The autumn hunt ising soon. Can Ah Yu ride a horse?" Shang Junlin pped his hands, and someone brought two horses.
One ck and one white. The ck one was clearly familiar with Shang Junlin and affectionately approached him.
Since his rebirth, Shen Yu hadn''t ridden a horse yet. He approached the other horse and gently patted it. "Your Majesty, do you want me to know how to ride, or do you prefer that I don''t?"
Author''s note: Irresponsible mini scene:
In the open air, on horseback, the two embraced tightly.
As the horse began to run, Ah Yu could only hold on tightly to his Majesty...
There will be two more updates. Please give me some nutrients (3)
Chapter 151
Chapter 151
"I originally nned to teach you, but it seems Ah Yu doesn''t need it," Shang Junlin said with a hint of regret.
"It''s been a long time since Ist rode a horse. If Your Majesty doesn''t mind the trouble, you can teach me again," Shen Yu replied. The white horse was gentle, and Shen Yu''s presence didn''t bother it as a stranger.
"Ah Yu, try it first. I''ll be watching by your side."
Hearing that, Shen Yu mounted the horse. His movements indicated that he wasn''t a novice; his mounting was graceful.
Seated on the horse, a gentle breeze blew, and Shen Yu blissfully narrowed his eyes.
Shang Junlin also mounted his horse and guided the ck horse to walk alongside the white horse.
The ck horse didn''t enjoy the leisurely pace, and it let out a few snorts.
Shen Yu pressed his legs against the horse''s sides and allowed the white horse to take a few slow steps. Once he regained his sense of familiarity, he gradually increased the speed.
Shang Junlin kept pace with him the whole time.
As they galloped around, Shen Yu felt increasingly exhrated. In his previous life, he had only ridden horses for practical purposes, rarely purely for the joy of riding like now.
"Why did His Majesty think of bringing me to ride horses?" Shen Yu pulled the reins and gradually slowed down the horse''s speed.
The ck horse also slowed down, approaching the white horse on its own.
"I thought that spending the whole day in the pce would be boring. Riding a horse can uplift the spirits," Shang Junlin held the reins and looked at Shen Yu. "Before you entered the pce, you rarely rode horses, didn''t you?"
Based on the initial information obtained by the Hidden Dragon Guards, Shen Yu shouldn''t have been familiar with horse riding, or at least not proficient. Shang Junlin silently suppressed another doubt in his heart.
"The Marquis of Zhenbei used to have someone teach me how to ride, but that person took advantage of the situation and treated me poorly. For a long time, I didn''t enjoy riding horses," Shen Yu shared, reminiscing about distant memories that had long faded and settled in some unknown corner of his mind. It no longer stirred any emotional fluctuations when mentioned.
After learning how to ride, Shen Yu had no desire to ride again for a long time. Whenever he mounted a horse, the harsh and belittling words from that person would resurface, reminding him of the undeserved scars.
It wasn''t untilter, for the sake of survival, that he had to ride on his own. Faced with life and death, the shadows left by his childhood were dispelled, and the influence that person had on him disappearedpletely.
Shang Junlin tightened his grip on the reins, sensing from Shen Yu''s casual tone that he didn''t care much about this matter. But Shang Junlin couldn''t help but care, couldn''t help but feel heartache.
At what age do most people learn to ride? Little Shen Yu faced a teacher who harbored ill intentions. Learning to ride must have been a frightening experience for the young Shen Yu.
The disdain from his father and the malice from his father''s concubineshow much suffering did the young Ah Yu endure before he became strong enough to face everything calmly?
Feeling Shang Junlin''s gaze, Shen Yu smiled and said, "Your Majesty knows me well. If I hold a grudge against someone, I''ll settle it on the spot. That person who taught me how to ride didn''t end up well."
"In truth, he didn''t dare to do anything to me. After all, if something happened to me, the Marquis of Zhenbei wouldn''t spare him. It was just a matter of enduring some hardships," Shen Yu exined. Theforting words he spoke unintentionally escted Shang Junlin''s anger and fear.
Shang Junlin rode his horse closer to Shen Yu, stretched out his long arm, and lifted Shen Yu in his embrace, eliciting a soft gasp from Shen Yu, who grabbed onto Shang Junlin''s drooping sleeve.
"Your Majesty?" Shen Yu''s body slightly quivered as he held onto the sleeve that fell in front of him.
"It''s all in the past now. From now on, I won''t let anyone have the chance to harm you," Shang Junlin said, his voice firm. He held the reins in one hand and tightly embraced Shen Yu with the other.
"It was already in the past," Shen Yu chuckled softly. "If I had known Your Majesty cared so much, I wouldn''t have mentioned it."
To him, these events were akin to something that happened in a previous life. Separated by such a long time, and considering he had already taken his revenge, reminiscing about it now didn''t evoke any pain or difort.
"There''s nothing I can''t talk about with you. Those things happened to Ah Yu, and I feel distressed," Shang Junlin said. He didn''t feel anything regarding his own experiences, but he couldn''t tolerate even the slightest injustice suffered by Shen Yu.
Leaning against Shang Junlin''s chest, Shen Yu felt the steady and powerful heartbeat within the man''s chest. An indescribable emotion gradually filled his chest.
So, this is what it feels like to be cherished.
So, this is what it feels like to be genuinely loved.
And what about him?
Does he also love Shang Junlin?
The ck horse leisurely continued walking on the grasnd. Shang Junlin didn''t utter a word to release Shen Yu from his embrace, and Shen Yu didn''t mention it either.
Nestled in the man''s arms, Shen Yu seemed to be lost in thought, pondering many things and yet, perhaps, nothing at all.
The white horse followed beside the ck horse, asionally lowering its head to chew on the grass.
Shang Junlin lowered his head and rubbed his cheek against Shen Yu''s. "What are you thinking?"
"Your Majesty, tell me about your past as well." At this moment, Shen Yu wanted to understand Shang Junlin more.
"My past? There''s nothing much to say. I couldn''t bear staying in the pce, so I voluntarily went to the border. Although life on the border was tough, it was better than the pce. Later, I achieved military merits and returned to the capital. No one dared to disrespect me anymore. Those imperial princes instigated by others toe looking for trouble with me only ended up causing trouble for themselves. Afterward, they didn''t dare to provoke me again."
Shang Junlin thought he wouldn''t like mentioning these past events. However, now that he spoke of them, he realized that the things he once believed he could never let go of had be insignificant in the endless passage of time.
"Is this grasnd Yours, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu had never heard of such a ce in the capital.
"After I ascended the throne, I had someone prepare it," Shang Junlin nodded. "Having spent a long time at the border, I never felt quite ustomed to life in the capital. Whenever I had free time, I woulde here."
"Very few people know about this ce, right?" From the time they arrived until now, they hadn''t seen anyone else.
"Other than the servants who remained here from the beginning, not many people havee here. Well, there was a little boy who identally stumbled upon this ce once. He was covered in dirt. I had someone send him away. At the time, I had just returned from the battlefield, and my aura of killing intent frightened him. He didn''t respond when I asked him questions."
"Didn''t Your Majesty punish him for disturbing your royal presence?" Shen Yu turned his head to look at him.
"Am I someone who kills indiscriminately in Ah Yu''s eyes?" Shang Junlin smiled, as if he could still remember the young boy''s bright eyes.
Seeing those small beast-like eyes, Shang Junlin suddenly lost interest in pursuing the matter further. He didn''t punish the guard for negligence either. Instead, he only had the child sent away and repaired the damaged area. Since then, no one had identally stumbled upon this ce again.
"It was just a child. He didn''t even know how he got in there," Shang Junlin pointed in the left direction. "I saw him there myself."
Shen Yu followed Shang Junlin''s gaze and looked in the direction he indicated.
"There were several fences there at the time, but they wereter dismantled."
Based on Shang Junlin''s words, a scene formed in Shen Yu''s mind. Those fences weren''t very old, just worn and dpidated from exposure to sun and wind, leaning haphazardly against each other...
Shen Yu blinked and spoke softly, "Your Majesty, didn''t you investigate the origin of that child?"
"I only stayed in the capital for a few days at the time. The border was in crisis, so I left it unresolved. If it weren''t for mentioning it today, I wouldn''t necessarily have remembered it," Shang Junlin realized something was amiss. "Why does Ah Yu care so much about this matter?"
"Your Majesty, do you know? When I was young, a group of unknown individuals chased and tried to kill me. I managed to escape and found myself in an uninhabited grasnd. To avoid being recognized, I made myself dirty, covered in dirt and mud. Later, it started to rain heavily, and I took shelter under a broken fence, praying for the rain to stop. Then, a cloak fell from the sky and covered me."
This was an experience that Shen Yu firmly remembered across two lifetimes. On that day, he was soaked in the rain andter developed a high fever. His memories of the pursuit became blurry, but the only thing he remembered clearly was the cloak that descended from the sky.
Now, it was Shang Junlin who became astonished. His arm, encircling Shen Yu''s waist, unconsciously tightened its grip, and his voice was filled with uncertainty. "The child I encountered back then was Ah Yu?"
"That''s what I''m saying. That day, I discovered a suspicious group of people near the horse ranch. I thought they were after me, but it turns out they were after Ah Yu," Shang Junlin said.
At that time, the rtionship between Da Huan and other countries was tense, and Da Huan had various internal problems. Shang Junlin encountered groups of people attempting to assassinate him every few days. He had be ustomed to it and didn''t bother to inquire further. He simply dealt with them one by one.
"I didn''t know that Your Majesty had saved me so early on. After that, those people never appeared again. I think they were also wary of Your Majesty''s presence," Shen Yu''s voice tightened. He now realized that Shang Junlin had been protecting him for so long, even before he knew it.
Shang Junlin sighed and rested his head on Shen Yu''s shoulder. "If only I had brought you back directly, even if I had asked a few more questions."
Unfortunately, he didn''t ask anything. He simply handed the unconscious child over to someone else and subsequently neglected the matter due to various circumstances.
Shen Yu raised his hand and gently touched Shang Junlin''s face, whispering, "This is already enough. We didn''t miss each other."
Shang Junlin turned his head and kissed Shen Yu, a surge of relief washing over him. If there had been even the slightest deviation at that time, would he havepletely missed out on Ah Yu?
Shen Yu embraced Shang Junlin''s neck and took the initiative to kiss him. This kiss was initiated by Shen Yu, and Shang Junlin sensed Shen Yu''s possessiveness towards him. It ignited a desire within him.
As the kiss deepened, Shang Junlin''s grip on Shen Yu''s waist tightened.
The two of them clung tightly to each other, able to sense any changes in each other''s bodies.
"Ah Yu..." After the kiss ended, Shang Junlin nuzzled against Shen Yu''s cheek, his voice husky.
Shen Yu leaned against Shang Junlin''s shoulder, his body moving slightly, causing Shang Junlin to instinctively tighten his grip on the reins.
"Ah Yu?"
His voice grew even huskier.
"I want you to take me back," Shen Yu whispered, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I don''t want to go back."
In Shang Junlin''s eyes, a storm brewed. He struggled to control his urge to devour Shen Yu whole.
Little did he know that the chosen prey not only didn''t resist but even provoked him, moving closer and whispering, "I want to stay here, on horseback, under the open sky, just you, Your Majesty, and me..."
"Is that what Your Majesty desires?"
Author''s Note:
The previous chapter''s lighthearted interlude unexpectedly turned into a preview for the next chapter. Haha.
I apologize for the slow update of the new chapters. There is now a solution on the Huanyuan App, where you can both download the app and read thetest chapters from multiple sites.
Please offer more nourishment for a double update! (^o^)/~
Trantor''s note:
UwU they are truly meant for each other ToT Shang x Shen 4evah
Chapter 152
Chapter 152
The visibly throbbing Adam''s apple indicated Shang Junlin''s thoughts, and without a word, he kissed Shen Yu passionately.
The intermingling of the blue and ck robes was tumultuous and eyecatching.
In the end, Shen Yu paid a heavy price for his provocative initiative.
Shang Junliny back on the grass, and Shen Yuy on top of him. Two horses, one ck and one white, leisurely grazed not far away, asionally rubbing against each other affectionately.
Shang Junlin''s arm wrapped around Shen Yu''s waist, while his other hand gently stroked his soft, flowing hair. Shen Yu bit his lower lip, his eyes reddened, and his body trembled slightly.
"Are you alright?" Shang Junlin asked in a hoarse voice.
Shen Yu shook his head, overwhelmed by the lingering sensations, unable to handle the stimtion.
Sensing something, Shen Yu widened his eyes. "Your Majesty, you..."
"Didn''t Ah Yu say that today we would be at my mercy?" Shang Junlin exerted a slight force, restraining Shen Yu''s attempt to pull away.
"But we just..." Shen Yu suddenly stopped and slowed his breathing, speaking in a steady voice, "The ground is dirty."
The man chuckled and leaned closer, biting Shen Yu''s flushed earlobe. "Rest assured, Ah Yu. Like this, we won''t get dirty."
"Couldn''t we wait until we go back?" Shen Yu breathed heavily.
"Ah Yu himself said, on horseback, under the open sky. I must fulfill Ah Yu''s desires," Shang Junlin replied.
Keeping his word, when they returned, Shang Junlin had grass clippings tangled in his hair and stuck to his clothes. Only a few grass fragments clung to the ends of Shen Yu''s fallen hair.
After changing clothes, Shen Yuy half-propped on the bed, looking at the slightly disheveled Shang Junlin, andughed, "I did say it would be dirty."
Shang Junlin took his time washing up, sat by the bed with damp hair, and said, "Cleaning up will make everything clean, won''t it?"
Shen Yu lifted Shang Junlin''s hair and inspected it before nodding. "Indeed, it''s clean."
"Your Majesty, do you believe that it was destined, even then, that you would spare me? If it had been someone else who appeared back then, would you have let them go as well?" Shen Yu withdrew his hand and rested his chin on it.
Shang Junlin fixed his gaze on him. "Perhaps. I''m d I didn''t do anything back then."
Based on his personality at the time, once he discovered a suspicious person, regardless of their gender or age, he wouldn''t let them go.
During that period, he was surrounded by danger. If he had left Shen Yu, a semi-grown child, by his side, it would have undoubtedly exposed his weakness to the world. While Shen Yu had escaped from the Zhenbei Marquis Manor, he would have fallen into an even more dangerous situation.
Now, things were different. Shang Junlin had grown up, and he had the ability to protect Shen Yu from harm in the face of multiple dangers. They had met each other at just the right time, neither too early nor toote.
"I find it incredible to think that between you and me, there was hidden fate for so long."
"Isn''t that a good thing? At one point, I even thought that if I had met Ah Yu earlier, but I never imagined that we had already met," Shang Junlin stroked Shen Yu''s hair. "Ah, Yu grew up in the Zhenbei Marquis'' estate, which was much safer than being by my side. Those people who chased you, did they never appear again?"
"No, in my memory, they only appeared that one time." Shen Yu even suspected at one point that the experience was just a dream, with no pursuit or the warmth that descended from the sky.
"Do you have any leads on the origin of those people?" The people had long been dealt with, and it was a matter from many years ago. Even if there had been clues left behind, it would be difficult to investigate now.
"At first, I suspected it was someone rted to my aunt, but after probing, I found out it wasn''t. I was too young at the time and didn''t have anyone I could use. I couldn''t find any information and had no choice but to let it go." This was also one of the reasons Shen Yu suspected it was just a dream.
At that time, Shen Yu had no knowledge that the person had already been dealt with by Shang Junlin. He only felt that these individuals appeared out of thin air and then suddenly disappeared, leaving no trace.
"I remember that those people, like the others who tried to assassinate me, were trained assassins. It couldn''t have been because they held a grudge against the Zhenbei Marquis that they targeted you."
"It''s unlikely. Everyone knows that the Zhenbei Marquis has no affection for me as his son. I only have the status of the eldest son in my name. If they wanted to retaliate against the Zhenbei Marquis, it would be better to target my mother and her son directly."
Before Shen Yu entered the pce, the management of the Zhenbei Marquis Manor''s internal affairs had always been under the control of his mother, the concubine. With the Zhenbei Marquis''s favoritism towards her, her position in the manor wasparable to that of the legal wife. It was well known to the public that the Zhenbei Marquis doted on this concubine. If it weren''t for the constraints of thew, she would have long been elevated to the status of a legal wife.
Shang Junlin was quite knowledgeable about the situation in the Zhenbei Marquis Manor and knew that what Shen Yu said was true. Several of the Zhenbei Marquis''s concubines, including Shen Yu''s mother, had been in the manor for a long time. Even some of the older servants who had served for a long time were evasive when it came to discussing Shen Yu''s mother.
"I initially thought that it was because my mother hadmitted some taboo, which is why they dare not mention her. But now, it seems that it''s not the case."
"If those people are indeed connected to your mother, then her identity must not be simple."
"Your Majesty, I want to visit the Zhenbei Marquis estate." Shen Yu sat up, supporting himself with his body. He had to find out what had happened during that assassination attempt.
Because of this matter, the two of them appeared unexpectedly at the Zhenbei Marquis Manor the next day.
"Master, the eldest young master hase to the manor."
The Zhenbei Marquis was in the middle of discussing matters with his trusted aides. He had sent messages to the Yu Zhang Pce several times but received no reply, which made him worry. The Zhenbei Marquis Manor had encountered some problems recently, and if Shen Yu was willing to stand on their side, many issues could be easily resolved.
"Are you sure it''s the eldest young master?" The Zhenbei Marquis stood up abruptly.
The servant didn''t understand why the Zhenbei Marquis reacted so strongly but nodded. "It''s the eldest young master."
The eldest young master had spent more than ten years in the manor. Even though he had been away for a few months, he wouldn''t mistake someone.
"Besides the eldest young master, is there anyone else?" The Zhenbei Marquis paused suddenly, cing a hand over his chest and taking a deep breath. Once his emotions calmed down, he continued walking forward.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." The Zhenbei Marquis dismissed all the servants and respectfully saluted.
Seeing the person, the Zhenbei Marquis felt a great weight lifted from his heart. During the time when he didn''t receive any reply, he had been feeling quite restless. Shen Yu had left the manor after a disagreement, and he realized that he had neglected his eldest son. He had intended to mend their rtionship on Shen Yu''s birthday, but as time passed and there was still no definite response from the Jade Court Pce, the Zhenbei Marquis began to doubt whether Shen Yu truly had no interest in the affairs of the Zhenbei Marquis Manor. Shen Yu arrived at the manor with Shang Junlin.
"Master, there''s no need for formalities." Shang Junlin spoke in a calm voice.
This time, they didn''te with the grandeur of royalty, as they had donest time. The Zhenbei Marquis understood their intentions with just a nce at their attire. They didn''t want to expose their identities in front of the servants.
"I have neglected you in the past and had intended to do something for you on your birthday..." The Zhenbei Marquis wanted to mend his rtionship with Shen Yu but was interrupted.
"I didn''t see you caring much about it in the past at the manor, so from now on, you don''t have to worry about these small matters. I came here this time because I have some questions for you regarding my mother." Shen Yu noticed the momentary change in expression on the Zhenbei Marquis''s face as he uttered thest sentence.
"Your mother passed away many years ago, and there''s nothing much to say. Let the departed rest in peace," the Zhenbei Marquis said with aplex expression in his eyes.
"I want to know my mother''s identity. As her only child, I believe I have the right to know her true identity, don''t I?" Shen Yu deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word "true."
"It''s not that I don''t want to tell you, but I also don''t know," the Zhenbei Marquis sighed. "Your mother never told me herself."
Shen Yu was skeptical. "How could a prominent figure like the Zhenbei Marquis marry a woman with an unknown background?"
"I''m not lying to you. I only know that her identity was extraordinary, but I don''t know the specifics," the Zhenbei Marquis said, wiping his face.
"Then, is it true that she died? How did she die?"
"She fell ill. After you were born, she suddenly fell seriously ill. I sought renowned doctors throughout the capital, even the imperial physicians, but we couldn''t save her."
This information aligned with what Shen Yu knew, but he couldn''t be certain if the Zhenbei Marquis was lying or not.
"Then why has no one in the manor ever mentioned anything about my mother? After all, she was the mistress of the manor."
"That was your mother''s request. I know there are people around you who were left by your mother. Think about it, did they also rarely speak of your mother?"
Shen Yu thought for a moment and realized that it was indeed the case. It seemed that with her passing, all traces left by her had vanished as well.
Shen Yu asked a few more elderly servants who had served in the manor for a long time, as well as the maids who had been there for an extended period. However, the information he obtained was scant.
This visit to the Zhenbei Marquis Manor not only failed to dispel Shen Yu''s doubts but also caused the various suspicions to snowball.
On the way back to the pce, Shen Yu attempted to recall the details of the assassination attempt. But no matter how hard he tried, his memories of that day remained blurry. He didn''t know when the assassination started, how long he had escaped, or how he had returned to the Zhenbei Marquis Manor.
And there was Zhu Wang''s inexplicable remark.
"Your Majesty, why do you think Zhu Wang orchestrated such a grand scheme and made the King of Yue believe in that particr statement? What was the purpose behind it?"
Author''s Note:
There will be a second update. Please provide some nourishment!
Trantor''s note:
wait a damn minute. Shen Yu is not the Marquis'' son? or am I missing something here?
just gonna left you a cliffhanger hehe :P
Chapter 153
Chapter 153
thest 3 chapters for this week <3
But buying me kofi might just give another 5 chapters /serafintrantions
"It''s natural that I would want to know better about such matters."
After returning to the pce, Shang Junlin took Shen Yu to the pce where Zhu Wang was temporarily staying.
"I wonder how Mr. Zhu has been these past few days? The pce attendants must have been very attentive, right?" Shen Yu approached Mr. Zhu, who was sitting in front of a stone table in the courtyard, and sat down directly.
Shang Junlin sat next to him.
Mr. Zhu nced at the two individuals who had just sat down and mockingly said, "I suppose both of you should know better than anyone else how I''ve been, right?"
Shen Yu seemed oblivious to the resentful undertone in Mr. Zhu''s words and casually replied, "The pce attendants who serve here are carefully selected. I hope we haven''t disappointed Mr. Zhu."
"You''ve confined me here. What exactly do you want?" Mr. Zhu put down the teacup he had been holding in his hand and looked straight at the two individuals.
"We simply wanted to invite Mr. Zhu as a guest to the pce. How can you call it confinement? Is Mr. Zhu implying that I and His Majesty have been inhospitable?" Shen Yu''s face carried a smile, but the smile didn''t reach his eyes.
"If there''s anything unsatisfactory, feel free to voice it." Shang Junlin chimed in.
"Do you really think you''re treating me as a guest?" Mr. Zhu''s eyes twitched. "Which host would restrict the freedom of their guest?"
"Since Mr. Zhu managed to escape from the Hidden Dragon Guard, the imperial pce shouldn''t pose a problem, right?" Shen Yu feigned ignorance. "The ce where Mr. Zhu escaped from initially was much more heavily guarded than here, wasn''t it?"
"What exactly do you want?" Mr. Zhu realized that the two individuals were acting intentionally.
"We''re not doing anything. We just want to see if Mr. Zhu, who is hailed as an extraordinary figure, truly possesses divine knowledge, transcending mortal boundaries. And now..." Shen Yu clicked his tongue, leaving the implications unspoken.
"Are you just going to let him continue?" Mr. Zhu turned to Shang Junlin, filled with disbelief.
"I''m also curious to know what else Mr. Zhu, who managed to escape from the Hidden Dragon Guard, is capable of." Shang Junlin''s words undoubtedly dealt another blow to Mr. Zhu.
Relying on his identity as an exceptional person, Mr. Zhu was revered wherever he went. When had he ever been treated like this? In an instant, his anger grew so intense that he couldn''t even maintain his facade.
He sneered, no longer bothering to pretend, "His Majesty brought me to the capital city for that saying, didn''t he?"
When Shang Junlin sent someone to the King of Yue''s territory, Mr. Zhu deliberately leaked that saying. He knew that given Shang Junlin and Shen Yu''s current rtionship, once that sentence was uttered, it would surely attract their attention. That was his intention all along.
Indeed, not long after, he felt someone secretly searching for him. He deliberately exposed himself, was brought to the capital city, and then escaped in front of everyone''s eyes. All of this had been meticulously nned.
Up until the moment just before the main event unfolded in front of Shang Junlin, everything had been unfolding ording to n. He couldn''t understand what went wrong, causing such a significant deviation from the intended oue.
After being in this line of work for many years, he knew that the higher someone''s position, the more they cherished these matters. No one was exempt, not even the King of Yue, who was merely a prince, let alone Emperor Shang Junlin.
If they truly held these matters in contempt, why bother bringing him all the way to the capital city?
"I did bring you to the capital city because of that saying," Shang Junlin didn''t deny it, "because that saying involves Your Excellency. I want to understand if the appearance of that saying was idental or intentional and if there''s a hidden motive behind it."
"Your Majesty doubts the authenticity of that saying?"
Shang Junlin didn''t answer but instead asked, "Why did you say that to the King of Yue?"
"Why? If a saying is divined by me, I can tell anyone I want. Do I need a reason?" Mr. Zhu was so infuriated that he no longer maintained his high and mighty demeanor.
"Is it truly divination?" Shen Yu''s voice carried heavy skepticism.
Mr. Zhu couldn''t stand it when others didn''t believe him. "What benefit would I gain by deceiving people in this matter? If we''re talking about benefits, didn''t the two children of the Zhenbei Marquis gain from it? They obtained the favor of the future ruler of the world without having to do anything."
Superficially, there didn''t seem to be any problem with Mr. Zhu''s statement, but upon closer examination, things were not that simple.
"Do you really think that saying is a good thing for us? If that''s the case, why don''t you proim to the world that you are the one destined by fate?" Shen Yu mockingly curled his lips.
"How can it be the same?"
"What''s the difference?"
Mr. Zhu was rendered speechless.
"You know very well in your heart that while that saying might seem advantageous to me, it actually imprisons my entire life. Those who approach me have impure motives, and those I care for might fear getting close to me because of the meaning behind that saying. Rather than enjoying prosperity and wealth, it''s more likely that I will be a target for ambitious individuals, never finding peace."
Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand by his side.
Shen Yu paused for a moment, then held Shang Junlin''s hand back and continued, "Regardless of whether that saying was divined by you or not, when you spread that saying, you should have known what consequences I and Shen Qingran would face because of it. I''m not curious about the truth of that saying; I just want to know where your hostility towards mees from."
Mr. Zhu''s gaze evaded for a moment, and he said, "I don''t know what you''re talking about."
"From the very beginning when you had contact with the King of Yue, you were nning this, weren''t you? Now that you see the King of Yue can''t fulfill your objectives, you''ve shifted your focus to His Majesty. Let me guess, just like you did with the King of Yue, you''ll find a way to make His Majesty unquestionably believe you and suggest getting Shen Qingran close to the pce, right?"
Mr. Zhu''s gaze evaded even more intensely.
"Why do you know all of this?" He had never revealed his ns to anyone. Those people revered him as a divine seer, obeying hismands without needing to know what he was really nning.
How did they know? Shen Yu lowered his eyes, recalling many suspicious aspects from his previous life, such as the King of Yue''s changing attitudes, sometimes favoring him and sometimes favoring Shen Qingran. If the King of Yue had approached him from the beginning with the goal of obtaining the world, and Mr. Zhu had been manipting everything behind the scenes, it would exin all the oddities.
"Now that I suspect you, I won''t let you go until I have my doubts resolved. If you want to speak up, it might make your suffering a little less severe."
"That saying is true," Mr. Zhu struggled for a moment, as if he had realized something, "but in the divination result, it only referred to you. I personally added your half-brother to it out of personal interest. You''re right; I indeed didn''t want to make things easy for you. After all, you are that person''s child."
At the end, Mr. Zhu chuckled strangely.
"Do you know my mother?" Shen Yu tightly grasped Shang Junlin''s hand.
Unfortunately, no matter how Shen Yu questioned afterward, Mr. Zhu refused to speak about his mother.
"Don''t worry, I''ll send people to investigate," Shang Junlin held Shen Yu tightly and walked back to Yuzhang Pce. "I won''t take what Zhu Wang said seriously."
"I''m curious about what my mother did back then that made everyone keep silent about her existence. Whether they loved or hated her, no one was willing to speak about her." Shen Yu couldn''t understand.
"Perhaps it''s not that they didn''t want to speak but that they couldn''t speak. So much happened that year, with the former emperor''s deposition, shifts in power within the court, and everything intertwined." Shang Junlin looked at the clouds in the sky. It was also the year when his own life underwent earth-shattering changes.
The death of the Zhenbei Marquis'' wife was just a tiny ripple in the rolling waves. Her presence among the aristocrats in the capital city wasn''t particrly noteworthy, and after her passing, the Zhenbei Marquis''s residence remained unremarkable. But once the second wife appeared, within the shortest time, she covered up all traces of the first wife of Zhenbei Marquis'' existence.
"Zhenbei Marquis said he didn''t know about my mother''s background, but I don''t believe it," Shen Yu blinked, his tone light. "Your Majesty, I want to know what really happened back then."
"You will know," Shang Junlin held Shen Yu tightly in his embrace. "I promise."
Shen Yu''s curiosity about his mother wasn''t driven by a desire to uncover the truth but rather an intuition that this matter hid a crucial secret rted to him.
In his previous life, those people never surfaced until he died. But what would happen after his death? Shen Yu had no way of knowing.
Shen Yu gave the fragrance recipe he obtained from Shen Yue to Xu shopkeeper. Under Xu shopkeeper''s management, the shop expanded in size, and they opened a branch in Jiangnan.
Jiangnan''s prosperity was no less than that of the capital city. Even before the branch opened, there were already noble families from Jiangnan specifically sending people to the capital city for purchases.
Fang Jun returned to the capital city just before the autumn hunt began.
Among those brought back by him was a Beimo person captured in Subei.
Fang Jun had made significant contributions this time, and the courtiers knew it. The position in the Grand Cab was reserved for him, so when Shang Junlin decreed it, no one was surprised.
Thus, the Grand Cab now had two ministers who shared the same stance as Shang Junlin.
The day of the autumn hunt quietly arrived.
The Ministry of Appointments sent over the newly made clothes. Shang Junlin still wore ck embroidered with dragon patterns, while Shen Yu had a red and ck outfit.
Shen Yu requested the ck one, while the red color was designated by Shang Junlin.
The group set off grandly for the location of the autumn hunt.
The vicinity of Mount Qiyue had already been cleared, awaiting the arrival of the emperor and the courtiers.
The founding emperor of the Da Huan Dynasty attached great importance to martial pursuits. The annual autumn hunt had been passed down since that time without interruption.
"I heard that His Majesty greatly favors His Excellency. Why don''t I see the ceremonial escort for His Excellency?" A courtier looked ahead with curiosity. The higher one''s status, the more concerned they were about these formalities.
In the pce, the empress, noble consort, and concubines each had different levels of ceremonial escorts, but at the forefront of the procession were only the emperor''s entourage.
There was no sign of an entourage for the Noble Monarch.
More than one courtier noticed this issue. Recently, as the power within the court was being reorganized, the courtiers'' attention was not focused on Shang Junlin''s personal matters, and they didn''t pay much attention to the affairs of the pce.
The courtiers privately discussed the matter. Inside the carriage at the forefront, Shen Yu let down the curtain and said, "When they see me stepping out of Your Majesty''s carriage, they might have something to say again."
"Why should we care about their opinions regarding our affairs?"
The carriage came to a slow stop, and Shang Junlin stepped out of the carriage.
The courtiers were about to pay their respects when they saw Shang Junlin turn around to face the carriage and extend his hand.
Slender and fair fingers emerged, resting on the hand extended by the emperor. The emperor exerted strength, lifting the person inside the carriage into his arms.
The courtiers widened their eyes as they watched Shen Yu being embraced and carried out of the carriage belonging to the emperor.
Author''s Note:
The truth about Shen Yu''s background will be revealedter on. Dear readers, please be patient.
Chapter 154
Chapter 154
The surprise on the ministers'' faces was evident and undisguised.
Even if there''s only one favored person in the harem, that person is still just thatjust a favored person. At most, they can be a deputy to the empress. Throughout history, the only ones qualified to ride together with the emperor are the empresses of the main pce.
What does His Majesty mean by this?
The ministers nced at each other in secret. Could it be that His Majesty intends to bestow the title of empress upon Shen Yu?
Shang Junlin paid no attention to what these people thought. After carrying Shen Yu away, he exchanged a few words with the ministers and took her to his tent.
The remaining ministers looked at each other in confusion.
After a long silence, someone couldn''t help but speak up, "His Majesty... no matter how much He favors the chosen one, it shouldn''t go against ancestral traditions."
"Don''t you understand His Majesty''s attitude? Didn''t His Majesty promise that there would only be one favored person in the harem, regardless of whether they are the chosen one or the empress? Is there a difference?" Another minister sneered.
"Are we just going to let His Majesty act recklessly?"
"We can''t control what His Majesty wants to do. In my opinion, the Autumn Hunt is supposed to be a joyful asion. Don''t ruin your own happiness over trivial matters. Even if we offer advice, His Majesty will still do as he pleases."
These words received considerable support, but some conservative ministers still frowned. They truly couldn''t tolerate such breaches of etiquette.
"Even if we understand the weight His Majesty ces on the chosen one, as long as the chosen one isn''t the empress, they should abide by the rules of the chosen one. Etiquette should not be disregarded."
"Are you suggesting that His Majesty should bestow the title of empress sooner?" The Minister of Rites furrowed his brow. "Perhaps you are unaware that His Majesty mentioned the idea of bestowing the title of empress once, but for some reason, it was put on hold. If you want His Majesty to bestow the title of empress upon the chosen one sooner, feel free to bring it up."
Now, several eager individuals showed hesitation on their faces.
Their goal was to suppress the chosen one''s arrogance, not to push someone into the position of empress.
"Did His Majesty really discuss the matter of bestowing the title of empress?" After the ministers dispersed, the Prime Minister walked up to the Minister of Revenue and asked in a low voice.
"Could I lie about such a thing?" The Minister of Revenue shook his head. "It happened several days ago. I thought preparations for the coronation would begin soon, but for some reason, His Majesty only mentioned it that one time and hasn''t spoken of it since."
The Prime Minister pondered, "We both know His Majesty well. Since he brought up the matter, he must have had such intentions. The subsequent change of heart is likely rted to the chosen one."
"I, for one, don''t oppose His Majesty bestowing the title of empress upon the chosen one. The things he has done would have been highly praised during previous dynasties. Others cannotpare his achievements. Besides, His Majesty has no intention of taking new consorts."
"Is His Majesty postponing the Great Selection for next year again?"
"His Majesty disliked the Great Selection even before the chosen one entered the pce, citing it as a waste of resources and people''s efforts. Now that His Majesty has someone by His side, it''s only natural to postpone it."
"The court will be lively when the timees."
The Great Selection was an event that took ce every three years, selecting women from themon people to enter the harem. During the reign of thete emperor, the Great Selection was always a highly anticipated event each year. However, after the new emperor ascended the throne, the fervor gradually subsided.
Shang Junlin declined the invitation for the first Great Selection, citing the need to go to war. The second time, he refused, stating that "the people need rest and there''s no need to waste resources." The third time will take ce next spring, and it remains unknown what excuse the Emperor will use this time.
"It''s better if those women don''t enter the harem. Otherwise, the power struggles from previous dynasties will be even moreplicated."
Although that''s what they said, the Prime Minister also knew that it was difficult to avoid such circumstances. Individuals like Shang Junlin were few and far between, a rarity. Throughout history, there was not a single emperor without a woman sent to the pce by the ministers.
The ministers needed to consolidate their own positions, and the emperors needed to seize the opportunity to win over the ministers.
But Shang Junlin was different. His methods of ascension were different from other emperors. He ruthlessly cut down those who tried to control him using ancestral traditions or simr reasons. Under his fierce methods, no one dared to overstep their boundaries again.
After years of adjustment, the court ministers also knew that causing displeasure to the emperor in certain matters would only bring displeasure upon themselves. Unless it involved their own interests, they generally wouldn''t willingly seek trouble.
Shen Yu''s etiquette was taken care of by the pce maids who swiftly tidied everything up.
"Your Majesty, where will I be staying?" After waiting for a while and not seeing anyone leading him to his own residence, Shen Yu became puzzled.
"Where else does Ah Yu want to go besides by my side?" Shang Junlin lifted a strand of hair that had fallen across Shen Yu''s face.
"Riding in the same carriage with Your Majesty when I arrived was already attention-grabbing enough. Now Your Majesty wants me to stay here. Is it to test the ministers'' tolerance?" Shen Yu''s fingertip trailed across the man''s chest.
Even though there were clothes between them, Shang Junlin felt as if the touched area was engulfed in raging mes.
Shang Junlin grabbed Shen Yu''s hand and his other hand wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer. "That''s their problem. What does it have to do with Us? Ah Yu and I are husbands, and we should live together. Or perhaps, is Ah Yu willing to leave his husband alone in an empty room?"
"I never said that," Shen Yu''s eyes darted around. "I''m just afraid that they will gossip about me."
"Is Ah Yu worried about that?" Shang Junlin''s eyes held a smile as he slowly leaned in, his low voice resonating near Shen Yu''s ear. "Then, take good care of your husband, and I won''t let them say a word. How about that?"
"Shouldn''t Your Majesty solve the troubles you caused yourself?" Shen Yu spoke, and his earlobe was bitten lightly.
Not hard.
But a tingling sensation spread from his earlobe.
His teeth grazed against his earlobe, causing it to turn bright red.
Shen Yu''s body trembled.
After enduring such teasing on his sensitive earlobe, it was finally released. However, instead of immediately retreating, the man''s lips tenderly kissed the now glistening spot.
A shiver ran through him.
Shen Yu tightened his grip on the man''s clothes, his body growing weak. If it weren''t for Shang Junlin''s arm supporting him, he might have slipped down already.
The kisses continued their descent, covering the fading marks one by one. Shen Yu''s hand pulling on the man''spel also exerted more force.
Before the situation escted beyond control, Meng Gonggong''s voice came from outside the tent.
"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister, and several gentlemen request an audience."
The romantic atmosphere was abruptly interrupted, and Shang Junlin frowned unhappily. Storm clouds brewed in his eyes.
Shen Yu nced at the displeased man above him and couldn''t help but smile. "Your Majesty, you should go quickly and not keep the Prime Minister and the others waiting for long."
Shang Junlin looked deeply at the person beneath him, unwillingly retracting his hand from under her skirt.
"No mentioning of other men, no schadenfreude," Shang Junlin warned in a fierce tone, biting Shen Yu''s lips lightly. "Wait for me."
After tidying his clothes, Shang Junlin walked out.
Meng Gonggong followed behind him, wondering in his heart: Didn''t he just arrive? Why does His Majesty seem to be in a bad mood?
Shen Yuy on the bed for a while before slowly getting up and straightening his clothes.
Mu Xi, following Shang Junlin''s instructions, came in to serve. When she saw Shen Yu, she paused for a moment.
"What''s wrong?" Shen Yu spoke, only to realize that his lips were slightly sore. Subconsciously, he touched them.
"Young Master''s lips are bleeding. I''ll bring the ointment." Mu Xi spoke and left.
Their belongings were not yetpletely organized; some of them were still outside.
Shen Yu put down his hand and indeed saw bloodstains on it.
He stuck out his tongue and licked it, tasting a faintly metallic and bloody vor in his mouth. His lips also felt a stinging sensation.
Mu Xi quickly returned with the ointment. This ointment was different from the one used in another ce. It was specially prepared by the imperial physician at Shang Junlin''s request.
Applying it to his lips, it felt refreshing.
Shen Yu had intended to go out for a walk but reconsidered his current appearance and decided against it.
Instead, he picked up a book and sat down to read, nning to go out once the difort subsided.
Mu Xi was visiting this ce for the first time and found everything quite fresh. Shen Yu had no intention of restricting her and waved his hand, allowing her to go out and enjoy herself.
Most of the people they brought with them this time were pce maids who served at the Yu Zhang Pce. Since Shen Yu''s entry into the pce, Shang Junlin had not stayed anywhere else, and the people from Yuzhang Pce were more familiar and efficient.
Shang Junlin was quite busy.
The Autumn Hunt was both a rxation event for the emperor and the ministers and also a unique assessment. Especially for young officials and military officers, capturing enough games was an excellent opportunity to showcase themselves in front of the Emperor.
They were eagerly looking forward to the uing hunt.
Before the hunt begins, as the emperor, Shang Junlin would deliver an encouraging speech, announcing rewards and shooting the first arrow to symbolize good luck for the year.
Among the participants are also the younger generation of ministers'' families. If they can excel during the hunt and leave a good impression on the Emperor, it would be highly beneficial for them.
The youth always take the lead inpetitions.
Shang Junlin is always generous, and the winners receive generous rewards.
Not only can they leave a favorable impression in the Emperor''s eyes, but they can also receive substantial rewards. For the participants, it is a profitable opportunity.
As the legitimate heir of the Zhenbei Marquis, Shen Yu should have been eligible to participate. However, he has never attended before. Every time, he would be left at home by the Zhenbei Marquis, citing his "poor health" as the reason.
Well, Shen Yu self-mockingly smiled. How would his aunt give him any chance to rise? She wished for him to be ignorant and suppressed by her precious son at every turn.
Shen Yu stood not far away, watching as the man was surrounded by the ministers, his voice resonating powerfully and calmly through the breeze. A warm feeling ignited in Shen Yu''s heart.
This man belongs to him.
Lost in thought, a shadow fell ahead of him.
Shen Yu looked up.
Shang Junlin had unknowingly ridden his horse in front of him, looking down at him.
"Would you like to join me, Ah Yu?" The man extended his hand, extending an invitation.
Images of the two of them fooling around on horseback shed through Shen Yu''s mind as he shook his head and declined, "Has Your Majesty brought my white horse?"
Shang Junlin studied him for a moment with a furrowed brow. "You won''t apany Us?"
"Riding on horseback with Your Majesty is the same as riding separately. Otherwise, ck Stallion will get temperamental," Shen Yu smiled.
Shang Junlin made a gesture, and soon, the familiar white horse appeared within Shen Yu''s sight. Shen Yu took the reins and mounted the horse.
"I still prefer the feeling of riding side by side with Your Majesty."
Shang Junlin neither confirmed nor denied it, avoiding the topic of their previous encounter out of shyness.
"Has Your Majesty seen Shen Qingran during previous Autumn Hunts?" Shen Yu nced at the man riding alongside him.
"That troublesome half-brother of yours?" Shang Junlin pondered. "Did the Zhenbei Marquis bring him before? We don''t have much of an impression. But since We know now, let''s deduct a few years'' sry for each time he brought people."
Author''s Note:
Thank you to the angels who voted for me or watered me with nutrient solutions
Thanks to the angel who threw a hand grenade: Mian Bao Tuan Zi, Wawa 1 each.
Thanks to the angels who threw andmine: W Chang Gong Meitian Bu Shuijiao, Mian Bao Tuan Zi, San Zhi Xia Mi 1 each.
Chapter 155
Chapter 155
Last chapter for this week /serafintrantions
Shen Yu couldn''t help butugh.
"What''s so funny?" Shang Junlin''s fingers twitched, tempted to pinch Shen Yu''s face.
"Why did Your Majesty suddenly think of punishing the Zhenbei Marquis?" Theughter in Shen Yu''s voice had yet to fade. "It''s all in the past. The Zhenbei Marquis probably never expected that Your Majesty would bring up old grudges."
"When it concerns Ah Yu, there is no such thing as the past. The pain they inflicted on you in the past, I will make them repay it bit by bit." Suppressing his anger, Shang Junlin knew it wasn''t the optimal time.
"The Zhenbei Marquis cares the most about his reputation. After this incident, he will only hate Shen Qingran even more." Shen Yu could imagine what the Zhenbei Marquis was thinking.
The Marquis would surely believe that if it weren''t for Shen Qingran and his mother, he wouldn''t have lost his affection for his legitimate heir. Regardless of the legitimate son''s development in the court or entry into the harem, it would have brought immense benefits to the Marquis''s household. Instead, they were in the current situation where they had to worry about retaliation from the legitimate son every day.
Someone who should have been the closest person became almost an enemy due to the instigation of others.
Didn''t the Zhenbei Marquis want to gain benefits from Shen Yu? Of course, he did. However, Shen Yu''s behavior made him uncertain, and he dared not go too far. After all, the neglect he experienced before entering the pce was real, the mistreatment by concubines and illegitimate children was real, and the indifference was also a fact. If these resentments were not resolved, how could the Zhenbei Marquis dare to seek benefits from Shen Yu?
On the surface, Shen Yu didn''t tear his face from others. asionally, he would drop hints, and Shang Junlin would asionally bestow rewards. But those rewards were far from what truly indulging someone should offer. The Zhenbei Marquis knew that it was because the major benefits had gone directly to the Yu Zhang Pce, and the Marquis''s household only received superficial benefits.
The more favored Shen Yu became the moreplex the Zhenbei Marquis''s mood. Facing ttery from outsiders, on the one hand, he felt a sense of glory on his face, but on the other hand, it was like being stabbed in the heart by a knife.
Shen Yu knew the torment the Zhenbei Marquis was going through. He wanted to achieve this effect. It was the taste he had experienced since childhood, and the Marquis should also taste it.
"Why did Ah Yu suddenly ask if I had seen your half-brother before?"
The participants had already entered the mountains for the hunt, and Shen Yu and Shang Junlin strolled leisurely along a forest path, with the guards trailing behind, not disturbing their interaction.
"I just suddenly thought of it. He mentioned hunting to me before and how brave Your Majesty is. I thought Your Majesty had met him," Shen Yu replied casually, with a hint of indifference in his tone.
"Is Ah Yu jealous?" Shang Junlin chuckled.
"Knowing that Your Majesty is coveted by others, it does make me unhappy," Shen Yu admitted candidly. He didn''t think there was anything to hide about his feelings.
"I''m d, Ah Yu."
The light in Shang Junlin''s eyes suddenly brightened. His deep, starry eyes stared unwaveringly at Shen Yu as if trying to pull him in.
"This time, did the Zhenbei Marquis bring anyone?" Shen Yu felt ufortable under the intense gaze and turned his head to the side.
Shang Junlin nodded. "Only the Zhenbei Marquis himself came this time."
"Forget about him. Let''s go hunting," Shen Yu said, feeling somewhat intrigued as he watched small animals darting past from time to time.
"Ah Yu, tell me what you want, and I will hunt it for you."
Just then, a gray rabbit appeared in the grass ahead.
"Whoosh"
Two arrows flew through the air.
The rabbit was pinned to the ground.
The attendants quickly dismounted and picked up the rabbit.
"How was it?" Shang Junlin asked calmly.
"Your Majesty, the rabbit was hit by two arrows."
Without needing the person to say it, they could see for themselvestwo arrows, one through the eye, instantly killing it, and the other through the hind leg, anchoring the rabbit firmly to the ground.
The arrow that struck the hind leg was shot by Shen Yu.
Shen Yu put down his bow and rubbed his wrist. This delicate body had been pampered for too long and was even more unable to handle fatigue than in his previous life.
Shang Junlin looked at the rabbit. "This one belongs to Ah Yu."
"Are all the ones hunted by Your Majesty considered mine?" Shen Yu gestured to the rabbit.
The bodyguard who apanied them was unclear about how they interacted privately and wore a look of astonishment. He thought to himself, His Highness''s audacity in front of the Emperor is quite remarkable.
"Everything I hunt is Ah Yu''s."
They didn''t need to participate in thepetition. Riding their horses leisurely through the mountains, hunting became an incidental activity.
At first, Shen Yu was a bit unfamiliar, but as time passed, his movements became more fluid, and his uracy improved.
They walked, paused, and had a bountiful harvest.
"That deer is mine," Shen Yu''s excitement was evident in his words.
Naturally, Shang Junlin wouldn''tpete with him.
He took a step back and watched as Shen Yu pulled the bowstring, aimed, and released
Along with the sound of arrows cutting through the air, came the sound of the deer falling to the ground.
But Shang Junlin wasn''t interested in the deer. His entire attention was captured by the scene just now.
The figure of a handsome man in a red dress was resplendent. Under the riding attire, his body curves were perfectly outlined. The raised arm and the curve between his shoulder and neck formed a perfect arc as he drew the bow. At this moment, Shen Yu appeared entirely different from the youth Shang Junlin was familiar with.
He radiated all his brilliance, dazzling to the point where one couldn''t look away.
"Your Majesty, did you see..." Shen Yu turned around, only to collide with the deep gaze of the man.
"Ah Yu, you''re amazing," Shang Junlin''s voice became hoarse.
Shen Yu was about to say something when the sound of approaching hoofbeats came from nearby. Soon after, a domineering female voice rang out.
"This clearly was the prey I spotted first. How dare you take it away before me?"
Shen Yu arched an eyebrow. They had chosen a path that didn''t ovep with the mainpetition, so why were there still peopleing?
Before long, a group of riders appeared where the deer had fallen. At the head was a woman dressed in red riding attire, just like Shen Yu.
When the woman saw Shen Yu, a trace of amazement shed in her eyes. But after the amazement, it turned into intense jealousy.
She had worn the red attire to stand out from the crowd, but unexpectedly, she encountered a young man in red who was even more outstanding in this remote ce.
Both were dressed in red, and at a nce, she knew she had lostpletely.
Jealousy gnawed at her heart like a venomous snake. The woman''s expression turned cold. "You stole my prey. How will youpensate?"
She was determined to ruin the person before her and paid no attention to the oddity of her surroundings.
Shang Junlin''s clothes were embroidered with dark dragon patterns. If the woman had spared a moment to observe her surroundings, she would have noticed something was amiss. Unfortunately, she didn''t. Her gaze remained fixed on Shen Yu''s face as if she wanted to peel it off.
Shen Yu frowned slightly. The woman''s ill intent was too obvious to ignore.
He turned his head and confirmed his suspicion. Shang Junlin''s lips were tightly pressed, suppressing his anger.
"Do you know who that person is?" Shen Yu lowered his voice and asked.
Among the group of riders, the woman in red was clearly the leader. Apart from the guards, there were no other men present who could make decisions. Shen Yu was certain that he had never seen this person before.
Her malice seemed to stem purely from jealousy, judging by the tant envy in her eyes upon their first encounter, most likely because of his face.
Shen Yu touched his face. He had never imagined that one day he would be hated by a stranger solely because of his appearance.
"She should be a member of some minister''s household."
Influenced by his master''s mood, U Biu, the horse, became restless and paced in ce.
"Sister, this deer was shot by that gentleman. It should rightfully belong to him. Ah..." The maid beside the woman stepped forward to advise, only to be pushed off her horse with a casual hand.
"Do you think it''s your ce to meddle in my affairs as a lowly concubine''s daughter?"
The people around the woman turned a blind eye to the situation, clearly ustomed to her domineering behavior.
Shen Yu tugged at Shang Junlin''s sleeve, interrupting his words, and deliberately taunted, "Clearly, I shot the prey. How can you im it as yours with just a word?"
"If we hadn''t exhausted it in the chase, how could you have hit it?" The woman sneered, unimpressed.
The woman no longer just wanted the prey; she now wanted to destroy Shen Yu.
"Well, if you are willing to apologize proactively, I won''t hold you ountable for your mistakes," she proposed.
Shen Yu smiled. "Hunting is all about being first. Whether the deer was driven here by you or was already here, it belongs to me because my arrow struck it."
When Shen Yu smiled, it became even more breathtakingly beautiful. If someone familiar with him were present, they would know that beneath his stunning smile, anger was surging.
"Are you really going to oppose me?" The woman found Shen Yu''s smile increasingly irritating. "How about this: let''s have a contest. If I lose, the deer will be yours. If you lose, you apologize and withdraw from this huntingpetition. How about that?"
"Of course, there can be no outside assistance. I will personallypete against you. A man of seven feet tall wouldn''t be afraid topete against a weak woman, right?"
"You have no right to ask him to leave," Shang Junlin spoke up, suppressing his anger. If it weren''t for Shen Yu holding him back, he would have already had the woman dragged away.
"Are you two a couple? Why are you protecting him like this?" The woman shifted her attention to the ck-d man beside the red-d youth.
The woman hade to the capital with her father, who had been transferred due to the changing power dynamics at the court. In her hometown, her father was the highest-ranking official, and her mother came from a prominent local family. She, being the only legitimate daughter, had been spoiled and had developed an arrogant and domineering personality. No one dared to defy her.
The maid in the blue dress sat on the ground, silently sweating for the two people on the other side. She was well aware of the vicious methods of her "eldest sister." Even before she came to the capital, many maids who were slightly more beautiful had fallen victim to her.
Not only maids but if there were any women from other families who were more beautiful than her, disfigurement would be considered a rtively good oue. In more severe cases, their reputation would be ruined, and in the worst cases, they would suffer humiliation and eventually die.
She opened her mouth, wanting to warn the two people on the other side not to provoke her "eldest sister." However, she was in no position to protect herself, let alone help others.
How ridiculous it was for them to say she, a concubine''s daughter, had no right to meddle in her affairs when she should have been the legitimate daughter, the elder sister, the one who had everything stolen by her and her mother!
This was something they all knew deep down.
The maid in the blue dress lowered her head, and the fleeting hatred in her eyes was captured by Shen Yu.
Shen Yu had no interest in understanding the grievances between the two sisters.
"The rtionship between him and me is none of your concern. As for the contest, I don''t think I need toply with your unreasonable request for something that already belongs to me, do I?"
The woman''s n to sabotage the contest and preferably harm Shen Yu''s face had failed. She rode her horse towards the fallen deer. "If that''s the case, I''ll take the prey without hesitation. Here''s your arrow back."
As she spoke, the woman bent down, intending to remove the arrow.
"If you dare touch my belongings even for a moment, do you believe I won''t release the bowstring?" Shen Yu drew the bowstring taut, aiming at the woman, his eyes slightly narrowed. "My arrow won''t discriminate whether the target is prey or a person."
Trantor''s note:
The hell is with this cliff? I really want to read the rest now! This is kinda my choice of tea: some face pping UwU
Chapter 156
Chapter 156
The woman''s movement slowly came to a halt. Through those eyes that had a hint of coldness, she realized clearly that the young man had not lied.
The sharp arrow pointed at herself as if as long as she made another move, the other party would loosen their grip. The arrow, glimmering with a cold light, would swiftly shoot through the air and aim at her.
Her facial expression froze, and a chill crawled up her spine. Every hair stood on end. A tremendous crisis loomed over her, and although she wanted to utter some harsh words, not a single word could escape her lips.
Having ruled with dominance for so many years, she experienced the sensation of being threatened by someone for the first time. At that moment, she was both shocked and enraged, and her hatred towards the young man reached its peak.
Never before had she been treated like this, never before had she suffered such humiliation!
In her state of terror, the woman dared not even attempt to remove the arrow. It wasn''t that she didn''t cherish her own life, but if she were to suffer any harm for a momentary pleasure, it would be a loss that couldn''t bepensated for.
However, she couldn''t possibly let it go either. She would keep this grudge in mind and settle the score in the future!
"You''re pointing the arrow at me, huh? When it falls into my hands, I want to see if you can still maintain that expression when the sharp arrow cuts across your cheek!" The woman abandoned her previous action, slowly straightened her body, took a few steps back, and moved out of the shooting range. She said, "This is under the Emperor''s territory. Do you dare to shoot me with an arrow?"
Shen Yu leisurely turned in a different direction and again aimed the arrow at her. "Feel free to try it. Let''s see if I dare or not."
Confident and fearless.
The woman discerned those words from his actions and tone of voice.
She didn''t dare to do anything further, but she was unwilling to forgive either. "Within the Emperor''s territory, how can you easily harm someone? If you truly injure me today, can you guarantee your own safety?"
"Aren''t you doing the same thing?" Shen Yu nced at the young woman in a green robe still sitting on the ground. "Howe when you harm others, it''s without consequences, but when I harm someone, I must face punishment?"
"For amoner girl, if she causes harm, so be it. Is there anyone who will rise up for her?" The woman raised her head, full of disdain in her tone. "If you injure me, my father won''t let you off!"
"That also depends on whether you''ll have the opportunity toin. Isn''t that right?"
As if to confirm Shen Yu''s words, the guards behind them red at the woman with an intimidating aura.
"What are you nning to do?" The woman trembled in fear. "We have so many people here, can you really kill all of us?"
"This ce is far from the main road," Shen Yu surveyed the surroundings with his gaze. "Even if something happens, it won''t be discovered immediately. There shouldn''t be many people who know about your arrival here, right?"
The woman bit her lip. The young man was right. She had indeede chasing after her prey, aiming to achieve good results and make an appearance in front of the Emperor. She had heard that the Emperor favored red attire, so she specially dressed in this outfit today. Never did she expect to encounter someone who constantly suppressed her.
She looked at the young man once again, realizing that he hadn''t lied. He truly wanted to kill her.
At that moment, the sounds of other horses and voices could be hearding from the mountains.
"Are you certain that Miss Xiao went in this direction?" a stern male voice came through.
Just then, sounds of other horse hooves could be heard from the mountain forest, along with voices growing louder and closer.
"Are you sure Miss Xu came this way?" A stern male voice echoed.
"The servant is sure, Miss Xu was chasing a fox this way. Master, over there, Miss Xu is over there!"
As they approached, the conversation became faintly audible.
Upon hearing the familiar voice, the woman''s face brightened, and her suppressed arrogance red up once again.
"A fox?" Shen Yu said with a half-smile, "I shot a deer. Where would there be any foxes nearby?"
The woman pursed her lips. Of course, she knew the fox had long gone. Her earlier statement was merely an excuse to im the deer.
As the people from the other side came closer, the middle-aged man looked at the scene of tension and hesitated, "What''s going on?"
"It''s just that someone mistook a deer for a fox and wants to im the deer I shot," Shen Yu replied as he put down his bow and arrow. He had never intended to do anything to that woman.
"Father, they stole my prey and even wanted to harm me. You must seek justice for your daughter. What does it mean for two grown men to bully a weak woman?" The woman, knowing her support had arrived, trembled with a touch of malevolence in her eyes.
She wanted to reim the pride she had just lost and make them pay a hundredfold!
The middle-aged man furrowed his brows, then looked towards the other side. He had wanted to say something, but upon seeing who was there, he abruptly closed his mouth.
!!!
Why provoke anyone, let alone the two people that General Huo should never provoke.
The man didn''t dare to waste any time. He dismounted, walked a few steps forward, and knelt down respectfully, "I, your servant, pay my respects to Your Majesty."
"Dad, what are you..." The woman covered her mouth in astonishment, unable to believe what she was hearing.
What was her father saying? The person on the other side is the Emperor?!
"Excellently taught daughter," Shang Junlin''s voice remained calm.
Sweat beads formed on Official Xu''s forehead, and his whole body tensed up. The Emperor didn''t give him the order to rise, so he didn''t dare to stand up on his own, maintaining his kneeling posture without moving.
Having been transferred to the capital with great difficulty, he might be ruined because of today''s incident.
Other people didn''t dare to stay on their horses any longer. Whether they were sitting or standing, they all knelt down, their foreheads touching the ground, not daring to breathe.
They never imagined that their first encounter with the Emperor would be under such circumstances.
The woman''s face turnedpletely pale. No matter how unwilling she was to believe it, she couldn''t deny that the person opposite them was the Supreme Ruler, the Emperor of Da Huan. And what had she done?
Kneeling on the ground, her body trembled uncontrobly. Having done such a thing in front of the Emperor, she didn''t dare to imagine the consequences she might face.
"Official Xu''s daughtercks manners and propriety. There''s no need to rush into an official position. As for your good daughter," Shang Junlin looked at Official Xu''s daughter with disdain, "whoever dared to speak disrespectfully to Us and the Noble Monarch shall be punished ording to thew."
ording to thew... that meant her life was at stake.
Thinking of his wife at home, Official Xu couldn''t help but plead, "I implore Your Majesty to show mercy. My daughter is young and ignorant, unaware of Your Majesty''s and the Noble Monarch''s identities. She''s the only daughter in our family and has been somewhat spoiled. I beg Your Majesty to be lenient in your judgment."
"I really didn''t know," Official Xu''s daughter also kowtowed, "If I had known it was Your Majesty and Noble Monarch, even if I had ten thousand times more courage, I wouldn''t dare show any disrespect!"
"So, are you saying that if it wasn''t for our current identities, you could bully other people?" Shen Yu coldly sneered, "In that case, can I specte that Miss Xu has done such things before?"
After saying this, Shen Yu turned to Shang Junlin, "Your Majesty, how about we investigate this together to avoid any rumors iming I can''t tolerate others getting close to you, and I resort to violence when someone approaches?"
"Your Excellency speaks reasonably. Let''s do as you suggested. Meng Chang, issue the decree."
Meng Chang, who had been standing among the crowd, stepped forward, "I shallply with the decree."
Official Xu suddenly felt a darkness before his eyes. He never expected his daughter to cause such a great disaster. If he had known, back in Hanzhou, he should have strictly disciplined his daughter and prevented her from developing such a spoiled character. But now, it was toote for anything.
Little did Official Xu know that what he thought was just a bit of indulgence from his daughter would bring him such a "surprise."
No one dared to ck off in carrying out Shang Junlin''s order to investigate.
Hanzhou was not too far from the capital city. After the imperial edict was issued, officials immediately set off from the capital to Hanzhou to uncover the truth.
Official Xu''s daughter was detained.
After Official Xu returned home, Madam Xu greeted him. She noticed the young woman in a green garment following Official Xu but couldn''t see her own daughter, and a sense of unease crept into her heart.
"Why are only you back? Where is Junjun?" Madam Xu suppressed her anxiousness and asked in the most steady voice possible.
Official Xu''s face showed difficulty. He knew how much his wife doted on their daughter and had no idea how to tell her what had happened.
Seeing Official Xu''s unfavorable expression, Madam Xu''s feeling of panic grew even stronger. She turned to the young woman in green, who kept her head down and remained silent, and delivered a p, saying, "Why have you returned? Where is your sister? Didn''t I tell you that wherever she goes, you must be there too?"
Official Xu frowned, "Why did you hit her? What more could she have done in this matter?"
The young woman in green covered her pped face and turned it to the side. After a while, she started tough softly. Slowly, herughter grew louder and louder.
"What are youughing at?"
"I''mughing because karma isn''t satisfying enough, Madam Xu. Don''t you know your own daughter''s character? How many noble and wealthy people attend the autumn hunt? Countless children from those prestigious families, with outstanding appearances, and considering Xu Wanjun''s character, what do you think she would do if she encountered them?"
Madam Xu''s gaze flickered, "Did she have a conflict with some other noble girl?"
The young woman in green ignored her question and continued, "This is not Hanzhou, not a ce where you can cover up everything. If she continues to act as she did before, do you think there won''t be any consequences?"
The young woman in green put her hand down, revealing a clear p mark on her face.
"Think about what your good daughter has done. His Majesty ordered a thorough investigation. It won''t just be her; soon, the disgusting things you did in the past will be revealed to the world. My poor mother can finally rest in peace."
"Why are you dragging others into Junjun''s matter?" Official Xu''s expression turned cold. "Nonsense! Take the Second Miss away. Nobody is allowed to release her without my orders."
After the young woman in green was taken away, under Madam Xu''s persistent questioning, Official Xu recounted what had happened that day.
After hearing the whole story, Madam Xu felt her vision darken.
The incident didn''t affect the normal course of the hunt. In the evening, the participants returned with their prey. Shen Yu and Shang Junlin returned to the camp earlier and, after being disturbed, Shen Yu lost interest in continuing.
Shang Junlin was there to apany him, so when he saw Shen Yu''sck of enthusiasm, he decided to return.
"Next time, we''ll have someone guarding the surroundings to prevent any unwee guests." Shang Junlin massaged Shen Yu''s wrist as he spoke.
It was rare for Shen Yu to exert so much physical activity, and although he hadn''t noticed before, he now felt his wrist throbbing with pain. Shang Junlin applied some ointment, bringing relief.
Feeling the cooling sensation prate his skin and relieve the ache, Shen Yu moved his fingers, "Why is Your Majesty so overbearing?"
"It''s better than having someone impertinent bothering you. Next time, I''ll have people keep watch so that no one with bad intentions can intrude." Shang Junlin put the ointment away and pulled Shen Yu up, saying, "Let''s go, they should be back by now."
As the sky gradually darkened, fires were lit in the open space. Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand as they walked out.
"Does Your Majesty know how to grill meat? Later, Your Majesty, please grill the venison I hunted today for me, okay?"
As Official Xu and Madam Xu approached, they heard this statement, understanding that their daughter''s suffering was rted to venison. Madam Xu''s expression instantly turned unpleasant.
Trantor''s note:
This Xu family is so disgusting. Her only daughter? So the daughters he had from the concubines are not his daughters? And that Madam Xu pping that girl should suffer hell too.
And I am still not sure if its Official Xu or Official Xu here. I will temporarily put Official Xu until I check theter chapters.
Chapter 157
Chapter 157
Official Xu''s emotions were also quiteplicated. It was never easy for anyone to see their daughter suffer and hear someone casually discussing the cause of it.
However, he couldn''t say anything. His daughter was the one who made the mistake first, and he couldn''t me the Emperor for it. He didn''t dare to.
Shang Junlin''s reputation was formidable, and the high-ranking officials were afraid of him, especially people like Official Xu, who had been serving outside the capital and had only heard about the Emperor''s actions from others.
The cruel means Shang Junlin used to force the former Emperor to abdicate were no secret among the veteran officials. Official Xu had served outside the capital for many years, but that didn''t mean he had no connections in the city. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been transferred back to the capital this time.
As an official, who wouldn''t want to stay at the center of power?
Compared to Official Xu, Madam Xu didn''t fear Shang Junlin as much. She was a woman, and her family had doted on her since childhood. After getting married, her husband obeyed her every word. It could be said that she had a smooth and untroubled life and had never encountered setbacks until today.
He knew her wife''s temperament well. Official Xu tugged on her sleeve and whispered, "It''s the Emperor and Shang Junlin."
As they spoke, the two parties drew closer.
"Your Majesty, Your Excellency, this servant pays his respects." Official Xu knelt down to show respect, and Madam Xu followed suit.
Shang Junlin looked down at them for a while, and just as Official Xu felt beads of cold sweat forming on his back, Shang Junlin spoke.
"You may rise."
Official Xu quickly helped his wife to her feet, watching as Shang Junlin and Shen Yu left.
"Is that Shen Yu walking with His Majesty? Does His Majesty dote on him?" As she gazed at the two figures walking away, Madam Xu wondered about something.
"Yes, even before Shen Yu entered the pce, His Majesty bestowed him with the title ''Noble Monarch.'' After entering the pce, he received immense favor and attention from His Majesty. His Majesty even publicly dered that he would have only Shen Yu in this lifetime." Official Xu sighed.
"Shen Yu is a man. Won''t the other officials oppose His Majesty''s decision?"
"How could they not oppose it? Who wouldn''t want to marry their daughter to the pce and gain favor? But what''s the use of opposing? His Majesty is determined to have only Shen Yuand several high-ranking officials were even punished for opposing his decision." To divert Madam Xu''s attention and dismiss any wrong ideas in her mind, Official Xu deliberately said a few more things.
"Is that so?" Madam Xu shifted her gaze and asked about something else, "Do you have a way to quickly contact Hanzhou?"
"Why do you want to contact them? Don''t worry, even if His Majesty sends people to investigate, they won''t find anything." After the initial panic, Official Xu was no longer as flustered. After all, he had deep roots in Hanzhou after serving there for so long. Everyone there was under his influence. Even if the Emperor sent officials to investigate, so what? If they really discovered something, he still wouldn''t be transferred back to the capital.
"What should we do about Junjun''s matter?" Thinking of her daughter, Madam Xu felt a pang of pain in her heart.
"I will find a way to handle Junjun''s matter," Official Xu reassured her, patting her hand.
Before the imperial edict was officially issued, some officials greeted Official Xu enthusiastically. He couldn''t afford to reveal anything at this moment, so he pretended to be cheerful and engaged in conversation with them.
Meanwhile, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin went to the ce where the hunt''s prey was piled up. They had quite a harvest, including rabbits, hares, and deer.
"Besides venison, is there anything else you would like to eat, Ah Yu? Roast rabbit, perhaps?"
Shen Yu pointed out a few items, and the pce servants quickly took them away for processing. Once everything was prepared, all they needed to do was grill the meat.
The outside was bustling, with people continuously returning from the hunt, bringing the prey they caught. They chatted andplimented each other in small groups.
Walking hand in hand on the grass, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin didn''t go to crowded ces, and others wouldn''te to disturb them either.
Late autumn brought cooler weather, especially at night, and even with a cloak, Shen Yu still felt a chill seeping in.
Shang Junlin touched his increasingly cold hand and gave up on going any further.
As they approached the bonfire, the warm air rushed towards them. Shen Yu couldn''t help but want to get closer.
The fire crackled, and the man''s serious expression while roasting meat gave off a unique charm. It was hard to imagine that the same hands that held a pen and a sword could be used for something so down-to-earth.
Shang Junlin skillfully grilled the meat, and in no time, the slices sizzled and emitted a rich aroma.
Shen Yu moved his nose and looked at Shang Junlin''s hands.
"It smells so good."
"Are you hungry? It won''t be long before we can eat."
The aroma grew stronger, and Shang Junlin put the roasted meat onto a te and handed it to Shen Yu. "Try it."
After letting it cool a bit, Shen Yu picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.
He quickly finished the meat with a few bites and swallowed. Surprised, he said, "Your Majesty''s cooking skills are beyond my expectations. It''s so delicious."
When Shen Yu asked Shang Junlin to help him roast the meat, he just wanted to eat something Shang Junlin grilled. As long as it was edible, he could praise it with his eyes closed. However, he didn''t expect the meat to be so delicious, leaving him unsure of how toplement it.
Seeing Shen Yu''s enjoyment, Shang Junlin grilled a few more pieces. Each type of meat had a different taste, but the one thing they had inmon was how delicious they were.
Shen Yu had a penchant for rich vors, and before he knew it, he had eaten quite a lot, making him feel a bit ufortable.
They grilled a significant portion of deer meat and several rabbits. Most of the ones Shang Junlin personally grilled went into Shen Yu''s belly, while some of the others were consumed by Shang Junlin.
Shen Yu tried to roast a few times, but the first one ended up burnt, and the second one wasn''t cooked through. After a few consecutive failures, he gave up.
Rubbing his belly and looking at the uneaten meat, Shen Yu was in a dilemma. "There''s still so much left..."
Even though the weather was cool, the meat wouldn''t stay fresh until tomorrow.
"Give some to the pce servants, and send some to the high-ranking officials; that should be enough," Shang Junlin suggested.
Upon receiving the orders, the pce servants distributed the roasted meat. The Prime Minister and other officials who were highly regarded by Shang Junlin would also receive their shares.
Roasted meat might not be much, but it symbolized the Emperor''s favor towards his officials.
Regardless of what the recipients thought, Shen Yu enjoyed the meat Shang Junlin grilled. As a result, he would have to spend the night outside to aid digestion.
"If I don''t watch you, you''ll feel even worse now," Shang Junlin said, one hand around Shen Yu''s waist, supporting his weight. He sounded rather helpless.
"Being able to eat meat roasted by Your Majesty is not something that happens every day." Shen Yumented, still savoring the taste. If it wasn''t so delicious, he wouldn''t have overeaten.
"Deer meat and deer blood are excellent for nourishing the body. I''ll have Physician Gu prescribe some cooling and clearing herbs for youter." Shang Junlin was happy that the food he made was appreciated by his beloved.
Shen Yu realized that after the fact and widened his eyes. "How much did I eat?"
Shang Junlin counted and gave an answer, "Quite a bit. You clearly favored the deer meat over the other meats."
When he ate, Shen Yu did tend to choose the ones he liked more. He thought about it and admitted that, indeed, he ate quite a lot.
"No wonder I feel so warm all over now, and not cold at all," Shen Yu felt his body, and even if the wind blew, it wouldn''t make him feel chilly.
"What about Your Majesty? Did you also eat a lot of deer meat just now?" Shen Yu stopped walking.
"I''m not picky when ites to meat, it depends on what you served me more," said Shang Junlin.
During the barbecue, Junlin was responsible for grilling the meat for Shen Yu, and while Shen Yu enjoyed his food, he didn''t forget about Shang Junlin either. Half of the meat went into his own mouth, and the other half went into Shang Junlin''s mouth.
Shang Junlin had arge appetite, and Shen Yu had initially wanted to grill some meat for him, but unfortunately, the meat he grilled turned out to be a failure. He had to let the pce servants do the grilling and then fed the well-cooked meat to Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin was very easy to please when it came to food, and he basically ate whatever Shen Yu fed him.
"You also drank deer blood," Shen Yu thought about the possible consequences of eating deer meat and drinking deer blood, and fell silent for a moment. "We should walk around outside a bit more before going back."
If only he hadn''t overindulged, Shen Yu didn''t want to spend the second day of the autumn hunt confined to the camp for some unforeseen reason.
With Shang Junlin''s physique and the effect of the deer blood, Shen Yu couldn''t imagine what consequences it might bring.
"We have to wait until you''re less full before we can go back to rest," Shang Junlin didn''t confirm or deny anything.
The night had already turnedpletely dark. Shen Yu and Shang Junlin walked behind the camp, while on the other side, the officials gathered with their families around a bonfire. The barriers of status were less apparent than usual, making it a rare rxing moment.
The officials were no longer discussing state affairs but rather talking about what they saw and heard during the day, discussing the animals they had hunted, or looking for suitable partners for their children.
Every year, young people who performed well during the autumn hunt not only left a good impression on the emperor but also often secured a good marriage prospect.
Official Xu and his wife had originally wanted to use this opportunity to find a good husband for their daughter, but now, not to mention their daughter, even Official Xu himself was uncertain about whether he could continue staying in the capital. Naturally, they had no time or mood to consider this matter.
Madame Xu didn''t show any abnormalities and was happily chatting with the wives of other officials.
As the night deepened, everyone finished eating and drinking and went back to rest. Official Xu turned his head and couldn''t find his wife, so he was about to send someone to look for her when Madame Xu hurriedly walked over.
"What were you doing?" Official Xu asked.
"I just had some wine and felt a little stifled, so I went to a ce with fewer people to get some fresh air," replied Madame Xu.
Official Xu didn''t suspect anything, "The banquet is over; let''s go back to rest."
"Okay," Madame Xu said, relieved that he didn''t suspect anything.
After finishing their meal, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin returned to their tent together. Shen Yu was worried that Shang Junlin might take advantage of the situation, but to his surprise, Shang Junlin behaved properly and didn''t cross any boundaries even when Shen Yu fell asleep. He stayed obediently beside him.
There was nothing wrong with Shen Yu himself, so he finally put his mind at ease and fell asleep slowly.
Until midnight, he woke up feeling hot.
It was as if he had been thrown into a furnace, and he was shouting from the heat. Shen Yu tugged at his clothes and pulled back the nket.
His movements were not small, and Shang Junlin noticed that something was off almost as soon as he started to fidget. His arm, which had been resting on Shen Yu''s waist, was pushed away impatiently by the overheated youth.
The cor of his clothes was pushed open, and the heat not only didn''t dissipate, but it intensified. Shen Yu struggled to open his eyes, feeling like he had fallen from one illusion into another.
"Ah Yu?"
Shen Yu grabbed the hand Shang Junlin extended, and the heat subsided. As if inspired, he chased after Shang Junlin''s arm and cuddled up to his chest.
He heard Shang Junlin''s slightly amused voice from above, "Taking the initiative to embrace me, you can''t me me when you wake up, Ah Yu."
Author''s Note: The emperor is delighted.
Trantor''s Note:
I guess Its official Xu then.
Chapter 158
Chapter 158
On the second day, Shen Yu was unable to get up as he had feared.
When he woke up, Shen Yu tried to sit up, but any movement tugged at some part of his body below, causing him to wince in pain and fall back.
His whole body ached, and the soreness seemed to emanate from every corner. Shen Yuy on the bed, his gaze looking somewhat lifeless.
Though he acknowledged that he had a significant role to y inst night''s events, Shen Yu still felt unhappy. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn''t escape the fact that he was like a rabbit running headlong into danger, and that danger was Shang Junlin.
Outside the bed, there was movement, and before long, Shang Junlin entered the room, followed by two pce maids, each carrying something in their hands.
As the steamy food was brought in, Shen Yu couldn''t help but smell the enticing aroma, and his stomach growled involuntarily.
Shang Junlin walked to the bedside, and the pce attendants put down what they were carrying before quietly withdrawing.
"Did Your Majesty do it on purposest night?" Shen Yu asked hoarsely.
"I didn''t do anythingst night," Shang Junlin defended himself, "Yu took the initiative and offered himself. I couldn''t possibly reject you."
Shen Yu was helped to sit up. His body felt dry, and it seemed that someone had washed him.
"Have some water first," Shang Junlin offered a cup of warm water to Shen Yu.
Lowering his head, Shen Yu drank the water from the cup held by Shang Junlin, soothing his throat and making his voice less hoarse.
"Your Majesty didn''t deliberately make me eat so much deer meat, did you?" Shen Yu nced at him sideways.
With a blush still on his face and a hint of crimson in his eyes, when Shen Yu looked at Shang Junlin, it only served to excite him more.
Moving his leg slightly, Shang Junlin replied calmly, "I also roasted other meats, but Yu seemed to have a special liking for deer meat."
Of course, Shang Junlin wouldn''t tell Shen Yu that before feeding him, he had consulted with Physician Gu specifically. Although Shen Yu appeared to eat without restraint, the portions of various meats were strictly controlled by him.
Shen Yu couldn''t refute this statement since he did choose what meat to eat.
Shang Junlin chuckled softly, "Last night''s Yu was truly passionate, making me unable to resist."
Shen Yu reached out to cover his mouth, his fair skin marked with the red plum blossoms left by Shang Junlin. The sight of the marks stirred something within Shang Junlin.
"I won''t say it anymore. Have some porridge first. Are you hungry?" Shang Junlin''s voice became deeper.
Seeing the intense gaze in Shang Junlin''s eyes, Shen Yu refrained from provoking him further. The effects of the deer''s blood and meat fromst night made him realize that if it were to happen again today, his waist and legs might not hold up.
"Yes, I''m hungry," Shen Yu replied and wrapped himself tightly in the nket.
Shang Junlin couldn''t do anything improper right now. Shen Yu was not fully awakest night, but Shang Junlin was, and given the extent of what happened, without the deer''s blood and meat, Shen Yu might not have tolerated it.
Moreover, he had also consumed the same things, and although he was more conscious, he was still affected to some degree. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have repeatedly dragged the young man back to continue.
Shang Junlin closed his eyes, suppressing the turbulent images in his mind. He picked up the porridge next to him and fed it slowly to Shen Yu.
Shen Yu was exhausted, and he didn''t even have the strength to lift his arm. He enjoyed the pampering service of an emperor, guilt-free.
Shen Yu was indeed hungry, and the porridge suited his taste. Before long, he finished a bowl of porridge, feeling full.
Now that he had eaten and drank enough, Shen Yu finally had the mind to think about other things.
"What time is it now? Have the hunters already left?" he asked.
Shang Junlin mentioned the time, and as expected, it was already well past noon. Last night, they yed around until almost dawn, so it wasn''t surprising that Shen Yu woke up at this hour.
"Your Majesty didn''t go out today?" Shen Yu looked at Shang Junlin. The man was still wearing narrow-sleeved ck robes, with his hair tied high without the ceremonial crown that symbolized his imperial identity. He only wore a jade crown with dragon patterns to secure his hair.
"With you here, where else would I go?" Compared to hunting, Shang Junlin preferred to be with Shen Yu.
If he had left and Shen Yu woke up to find someone else by his side, he probably wouldn''t be pleased. Shen Yu had mentioned that once intimacy urred, if one party couldn''t be there the next morning, it would be irresponsible.
Apart from these reasons, Shang Junlin himself wanted to stay by Shen Yu''s side. He selfishly wanted to be the first person Shen Yu saw when he woke up.
Knowing Shen Yu''s habits, Shang Junlin picked up some clothes and asked, "Shall I help you dress, or do it yourself?"
Shen Yu moved slightly, realizing he couldn''t muster enough strength. He unreservedly pinned the me on the culprit responsible for everything that happened, "Help me, Your Majesty."
Shang Junlin unfolded the clothes and pulled Shen Yu out from under the nket. Even though it was noon, it was still a bit chilly in the mountains. Shen Yu shivered for a moment before being pulled into Shang Junlin''s embrace.
Except for the excessively hot summer, Shen Yu liked to snuggle up with Shang Junlin. The man''s body temperature was higher, which was especiallyfortable for Shen Yu, who was sensitive to cold.
Shang Junlin lifted Shen Yu''s arm and helped him put on his outer robe. Shen Yu noticed that today he was dressed in a long robe of ice-blue color.
Upon reflection, he realized that he probably couldn''t ride a horse today, and perhaps for the next few days as well.
His legs felt weak and powerless, and though Shen Yu had initially thought of going for a walk, he had to give up the idea. Shang Junlin wanted to carry him outside, but Shen Yu didn''t want to be observed by others, so he declined.
In the afternoon, the Prime Minister and another official came for a visit, discussing matters rted to the region of Subei.
Even during the autumn hunting season, daily government affairs had to be dealt with. When Shang Junlin stayed in the tent, he spent most of his time handling official documents.
Shen Yu didn''t feel like moving, and Shang Junlin wouldn''t avoid him during these tasks. They listened together to the affairs of Subei.
With He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqingthis was written as Shen Qingran lol. Maybe the author typo''d so I fixed it, and Fang Jiayi present in Subei, all internal problems had been resolved. The aid from various regions had facilitated the smooth progress of post-disaster reconstruction.
When Fang Jun left, everything in Subei had returned to normal, and the officials dispatched there werepetent, so there was no need to worry too much. The only thing they needed to be concerned about was the situation in Beimo.
The Prime Minister and the other official came to discuss how to deal with the Beimo issue.
The Beimo spies that had infiltrated Subei were all apprehended, and the ringleader was brought back to the capital. His identity was confirmed to be a member of the Beimo royal family and the younger brother of the current ruler of Beimo.
Such an identity indicated that they now had a more significant bargaining chip. The higher the person''s status, the more advantageous it was for them.
"Beimo wants to reim that person," the other official said.
"It''s not surprising. This person has been undercover in Subei for many years, and the secrets he knows are worth Beimo''s efforts to retrieve him. Beimo has been unwilling since they were driven out of Subei, and they want to reupy the region. While they maintain a peaceful facade, they''ve had multiple conflicts with the Subei army, and their cement of so many spies indicates their unwavering determination," the Prime Ministermented without surprise.
"Our intelligence reports indicate that Beimo has been making moves recently. It seems they want to march south again," the official furrowed his brow.
"For Beimo, the turmoil in Subei presents a rare opportunity. They have coveted the territory of Da Huan for many years and previously refrained from acting due to fear of Your Majesty. However, time is the most effective eraser of fear. Driven by their growing ambition, they have chosen to abandon their past defeats, believing this is an exceptional opportunity that they are sure to seize sessfully," Shen Yu expressed his opinion.
The Prime Minister and the other official didn''t mind Shen Yu''s involvement in politics. The Prime Minister had tried to persuade Shen Yu several times to take a more active role in the court and had even hinted about it to Shang Junlin.
Hearing Shen Yu''s words, both officials agreed. Beimo''s ambitions had always been significant, and their eyes had been on Da Huan for a long time. The officials were well aware of this.
"Prepare for both possibilities. If there''s a war, I was never afraid of them before, and now I am even less so," Shang Junlin dered.
Since they might be facing the possibility of war, the court needed to make preparations in advance. The Prime Minister and the other official received their orders and went to deploy ordingly.
In Beimo.
"How is the situation in Da Huan?" The Emperor of Beimo was a man in his forties, sitting on the imperial throne, looking down at his courtiers, his mood not very good.
Anyone would be in a bad mood when their ns that had been carefullyid out for many years were uprooted in one fell swoop.
"Da Huan is still not giving in. To save the Crown PrinceNow, I am he confused whos this crown prince. I don''t think it was mentioned who is the crown prince of beimo right? or is it really a Beimo Crown Prince? I remember in the previous chapters that I had to change Crown Prince to King of Yue because It was random having the the title crown prince without even introducing him or am i tripping and forgot about it? Please do let me know in thements. It really does help improving this chapter ToT, we sent all our forces near Subei. Now, unless Da Huan is willing to reveal the situation, we have no way of knowing what''s happening to the Crown Prince," a courtier knelt fearfully below and didn''t dare to raise his head.
"Subei just experienced a severe drought, which also affected the Subei army. The timing is rare for us. Do you think now is the right time to act and catch Da Huan off guard?" The Emperor of Beimo cast his gloomy gaze downward.
The courtiers of Beimo were rtively new and had little knowledge about the previous battle. They knew very little about how terrifying the Subei army was under the leadership of Shang Junlin. Beimo also wouldn''t widely publicize how devastating their defeat had been.
Over time, most people didn''t pay much attention to the Subei army anymore.
"What if the Subei army is strong? Last time, if it wasn''t for us intentionally letting them win, the oue might have been different. In my opinion, we should show them some colors directly. Beimo has a million cavalry, not just for show," one person said, and this sentiment was agreed upon by many.
"After suffering a defeat, Da Huan will naturally obediently return the Crown Prince," another minister said optimistically. However, some ministers were not as optimistic, but the Emperor didn''t want to listen to their opinions, as the more they spoke, the more likely they were to be disliked.
The autumn hunting was still ongoing, and Shen Yu had rested for two days and could now walk freely, but thepetition wasing to an end.
The winner would have the opportunity to meet the Emperor in person, which was a great encouragement for the young people who had not yet entered official positions.
This time, the winner was a young man who hadn''t reached the age of twenty, a child from a branch of the Duan family.
As usual, Shang Junlin rewarded him and called him to the front, saying a few encouraging words. When the young man left, he seemed to be floating on air.
Shen Yu sat beside Shang Junlin and witnessed the whole process. "The child from the Duan family is quite good," he remarked.
It was rare for someone from a prestigious family not to be affected by the bad habits associated with it.
The banquet was lively, and the younger generation brought by the Duan family achieved great sess, earning face for their prestigious family. Many people came to congratte them.
Observing the scene, Shen Yu teased, "The prestigious families can finally hold their heads high this time."
"They need to be given some benefits now and then," Shang Junlin replied indifferently while holding a wine cup.
Shen Yu shifted his gaze and curiously asked, "Your Majesty, what have you hunted these past two days?"
Trantor''s note:
Im confused about the Crown Prince thing-y. Please do help if you notice anything mentioned about this person in the previous chapters or in the previous trantor because I totally forgot!
And this is edited but not proofread. Im gonna edit this maybe tomorrow.
Notice
Notice
I may have to dy this week''s 1 remaining chapter and next week. One of the family members died and have to go on a vigil. Thank u so much for the support
Chapter 159
Chapter 159
Im baackkkk~
This is still unedited so feel free toment any inconsistencies~
No matter how one puts it, Shang Junlin is still the emperor. He cannot always stay inside the tent. Shen Yu cannot ride a horse, and even if Shang Junlin wants to apany him at all times, there are still specific times when he must go out.
When the king goes hunting, it also to some extent demonstrates the king''s strength and invincibility to his subjects. The first arrow before the start of the hunt is shot by Shang Junlin.
After Shang Junlin goes out, he will definitely not return empty-handed. Shen Yu has apanied him before and knows that this man is skilled in archery and will surely catch many prey.
"You didn''t ask before, so I thought you weren''t curious about it," Shang Junlin put down the cup in his hand and raised an eyebrow.
"I didn''t ask before because I wanted to leave the surprise for the end," Shen Yu casually replied.
Shang Junlin didn''t expose his slip of the tongue: "I also didn''t pay close attention to what was there. I''ll have Meng Chang bring the records for you to seeter."
When they hunt, they only handle bows and arrows. There are specialists to handle collecting the game. It''s normal for Shang Junlin to not remember all the details.
Saying this, Shang Junlin turned to look at Meng Gonggong who was waiting on the side. Without needing to say anything, Meng Gonggong quickly went to fetch the records.
As someone who serves in front of the emperor, he should have this kind of understanding, knowing what the master intends to do through subtle gestures.
Shen Yu scooped a spoonful of porridge into his mouth. The dishes in front of him were light and had some heat-clearing effects. It couldn''t be helped, given the special circumstances.
"It''s a pity. I only got to taste the meat roasted by Your Majesty once," Shen Yu sighed with regret.
Roasted meat is too greasy, and he can''t eat it now.
"Ah Yu likes it. I''ll roast it for you again after we return to the pce. The Imperial Kitchen has all kinds of ingredients," Shang Junlin gently wiped away the water stains from the corner of Shen Yu''s mouth.
Feeling the sudden gaze upon him, Shen Yu calmly covered Shang Junlin''s hand: "Your Majesty, it seems like many people are watching us."
Shang Junlin raised his gaze, his icy look causing the eyes on Shen Yu to dissipate.
"They''re curious about us," Shen Yu stated matter-of-factly.
Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand: "They''ve heard about various things that happened before. Many people wanted to meet you privately, but I stopped them."
With Shen Yu''s current status, he is qualified to meet with the imperial consorts. Naturally, those designated consorts can also send letters to the pce to request an audience with Shen Yu.
The original prince and princesses started like this.
"What''s there for them to see me for? At worst, I''m also a man. Most of the ministers'' families consist of women, right?"
Although Da Huan values the southern fashion, considering it as an elegant pursuit, the number of true male-male marriages is few and far between. As far as Shen Yu knows, the wives of the court officials are all women.
"I dismissed a few. After that, no one brought up the matter again."
Shang Junlin''s words were urate. Many in the court were curious about Shen Yu. Before entering the pce, people''s impressions of him were limited to not being favored by Marquis Zhenbei. After entering the pce, besides that one grand banquet, they didn''t have a chance to see him in person.
Merely being able to firmly grasp the emperor''s heart is enough to arouse strong interest in him from everyone. Not to mention, the emperor, for him, refused to bring in more consorts to the imperial harem. Now, they even ride in the same carriage and enter and exit together. Judging from the looks of it, he is thoroughly favored.
The world hasn''t stopped its intentions of sending women into the pce. As long as ambition persists, such thoughts will never disappear. Not bringing it up now is simply a demonstration of their understanding of the right timing, knowing that it''s not the opportune moment.
As long as the emperor''s affection for Shen Yu remains, these individuals will have to suppress their thoughts day by day.
After the formalities were over, Shang Junlin led the bored Shen Yu away.
It was only after they left that the banquet truly came to life.
Ladies and young misses who were on good terms with each other sat together, discussing various topics. As their conversation progressed, it turned to the Emperor and the noble monarch.
"I''ve always been curious about what kind of person the noble monarch is. To be able to captivate our usually unfeeling Emperor so thoroughly, I saw him today, and indeed, he''s remarkable. Such appearance, there are few in the world who canpare."
"His Majesty''s affection for the noble monarch is truly... " Thedy in blue clothes covered her chest, "Why can''t my spouse learn from His Majesty?"
"When they''re together, there really is no pretense. It''s obvious that His Majesty has genuine feelings for the noble monarch," lowering his voice at this point, the person continued, "But who knows how long this sincerity willst."
"It''s not something we need to worry about."
"True, but the noble monarch''s actions are so extravagant. He leaves no room for anything, aren''t you afraid that in the future...?"
Since ancient times, emperors have often been fickle in their affections. When deeply in love, you may be treated well, but once the feelings fade, everything that once happened can be evidence to be used against you at their whim.
"Given His Majesty''s personality, most of the things you''re concerned about probably won''t happen." It was Lady Fang who spoke, and her position had risen alongside Official Fang''s entry into the cab.
"Why is Lady Fang saying this?" The refuteddy''s expression didn''t look good.
"His Majesty has never been interested in physical beauty. If it weren''t for a twist of fate, the noble consort entering the pce, perhaps the harem would still be empty even now. If that''s the case, how could those things you''re worried about happen?" Lady Fang spoke calmly and unhurriedly.
Shen Yu didn''t know that the imperial consorts had already started worrying about his future fall from favor.
Back in the camp, Meng Gonggong presented the records.
All the game that everyone hunted would be recorded, and they could dispose of their own game as they pleased, either giving it away or keeping it for themselves.
Shang Junlin had hunted quite a lot, and some of it had been given away as rewards. More had been kept.
"His Majesty actually hunted this much?" Shen Yu was surprised. Shang Junlin spent most of his time inside the camp, and looking at the records, he saw that on the first day they hunted together, they caught rtively little game. But as the days went by, they caught more and more.
Among them were somerge wild animals.
"We haven''t dealt with this bear yet. When it''s done, we''ll steam the bear paw for you, but unfortunately, we didn''t catch a tiger. I mentioned before that I''d give you one. We''ll have to wait again."
The shock on Shen Yu''s face was evident. He knew Shang Junlin was skilled, but this was the first time he had seen it so vividly.
Unusually, Shen Yu''s astonishment showed, and Shang Junlin yfully stroked his face. "Were you this surprised when the generals and I hunted together?"
"Your Majesty, were you injured?"
Shang Junlin shook his head. "We were lucky to catch that bear. It was already injured, and it stumbled into our hunting range as it fled. It didn''t take much effort to kill it."
"But that''s a bear." Shen Yu knew that no matter how casually Shang Junlin described it, the situation at the time couldn''t have been so easy. Even if injured, unless immobilized, a bear''s strength was not something a person could easily contend with.
"I''m really not injured. How about you personally check, Ah Yu?"
Without hesitation, Shen Yu began unbuttoning Shang Junlin''s clothes, turning the tables on Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin was helpless and could only stand still as Shen Yu examined him.
Fortunately, there were no new injuries apart from the old ones.
After the inspection, Shen Yu casually straightened Shang Junlin''s clothes. "Your Majesty, your body is precious. You can''t afford to be injured casually."
Shang Junlin paid no mind to his clothes that had been haphazardly opened, and he draped an arm around Shen Yu.
Caught off guard by his actions, Shen Yu suddenly found himself falling into Shang Junlin''s embrace.
"Ah Yu?"
Shen Yu''s movements didn''t stop, and he raised an eyebrow slightly. "Your Majesty, didn''t you ask me to check?"
Shang Junlin couldn''t do anything but watch as Shen Yu continued his examination.
Unexpectedly, it was Shen Yu who turned the tables this time.
"Ah Yu, were you worried about me?" Shang Junlin''s voice, low and tinged with a smile, came close to Shen Yu''s ear.
Shen Yu''s ear tickled, and he shifted ufortably. "What does Your Majesty think?"
"I think you were." Shang Junlin finished speaking and lightly kissed Shen Yu''s trembling earlobe.
After two days of rest, Shen Yu had finally recovered somewhat. Having been bored at the camp the entire time, when Shang Junlin went out to hunt, Shen Yu volunteered to join him.
Shang Junlin couldn''t argue with him and had someone bring a white horse.
It had only been a few days since they werest outside. As Shen Yu rode along the forest path, every breath he took was exhrating.
Unlikest time, this time they were apanied by several ministers in addition to their guards. Shen Yu nced around briefly and deduced that these must be Shang Junlin''s close confidants.
After walking a while, everyone dispersed. Shang Junlin and Shen Yu were left behind, and their private conversations increased.
After another sessful shot at a running target, the chief of the imperial guards following them had gone from astonishment to numbness.
Shen Yu didn''t know how those rumors about the noble consort being frail had started, but it was time for those people to witness the noble consort''s heroic hunting.
As they reached a deeper part of the woods, Shen Yu spotted their quarry, nocked an arrow, and took aim.
"Whoosh"
The target fell as the arrow hit its mark.
As the guards were about to retrieve it, both Shen Yu and Shang Junlin spoke simultaneously, "Wait."
The horses pawed at the ground restlessly, and for a moment, the forest seemed eerily quiet.
The wind rustled through the trees, and the chief of the guards signaled. The guards surrounded Shang Junlin and Shen Yu, protecting them in the middle.
"Buzz"
Suddenly, the previously quiet forest erupted with activity. Arrows whizzed through the air, converging on them from all sides.
Hidden
figures in ck emerged from the undergrowth, wielding short des as they attacked.
Shang Junlin wasted no time, pulling Shen Yu onto the back of a dark steed and tightly sheltering him in his arms.
"Protect His Majesty"
In an instant, the sh of steel filled the air.
Shen Yu crouched on the horse''s back, calmly calcting his angles. His supply of arrows was running low, so each shot had to count.
Now''s the time!
Shen Yu swiftly turned around, quickly nocked an arrow, and let it fly.
"Bang"
The person concealed in the trees crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Fortunately, the arrows from those hidden in the trees were not endless. After the first wave ended, they joined the fray.
With no arrows threatening them, the guards had an easier time dealing with the attackers.
The guards shielded Shang Junlin and Shen Yu as they retreated.
The attackers were well-prepared, encircling them in a tightening formation.
"Break through!" With his arm around Shen Yu''s waist, Shang Junlin held the reins in his other hand, a sword in the other, its de stained with enemy blood. He was like a god of war.
Shen Yu had been observing his surroundings and pointed to the weakest point. "That way!"
They absolutely couldn''t be trapped here!
Chapter 160
Chapter 160
Realizing their intentions, the enemies gradually converged towards the weak points of defense.
"Don''t let them escape!" The leader''s voice was hoarse.
Those who could follow closely by Shang Junlin''s side were the elite of the elite. Under Shang Junlin''s lead, they fought their way out, leaving a trail of blood behind them.
The silence of the mountains and forests was shattered, and the sound of des shing would inevitably draw the attention of others sooner orter. The assassins knew this well; they needed a swift and decisive battle.
Most of the arrows on Shen Yu''s body had been used up, and the man protected him tightly against his chest, without a single scratch. However, the lingering smell of blood remained in the air, and there were bloodstains on his body and face.
It was the blood of the enemies.
Shen Yu clung closely to Shang Junlin. At this moment, he couldn''t burden the man with any unnecessary worries.
His fingers tightened around the bow and arrows, the knuckles turning white. Whenever someone tried to attack Shang Junlin when he wasn''t paying attention, he would counterattack and eliminate them.
The two of them cooperated seamlessly, encountering danger but managing to ovee it.
The Hidden Dragon Guards, who had received secret orders, appeared in time, instantly turning the tide of the situation.
"Capture them alive. I want to know who''s behind this," Shang Junlinmanded, his presence towering as he looked down at the suppressed assassins.
Shen Yu let out a long breath, rxing his body.
He leaned against the man''s embrace, finally releasing the tension that had been building up for so long. If it weren''t for the man''s strong arms holding him, he might have copsed.
Such a significant incident couldn''t be concealed. By the time Shen Yu and Shang Junlin returned to their camp, the courtiers had already received the news.
Shen Yu and Shang Junlin were both covered in blood. Many of the guards who followed them were injured as well. Shang Junlin ordered them to be treated and led Shen Yu back to their tent.
The captured assassins were handed over to Minister Fang. Shang Junlin didn''t care about the fate of these people, but he wanted to know who was behind them.
The pce servants swiftly prepared hot water and clean clothes before leaving the tent.
Shang Junlin wore a dark-colored robe, and the bloodstains only slightly deepened the color. Shen Yu wore a lighter color, and any bloodstains would be much more noticeable.
Shen Yu touched Shang Junlin''s hem, which was wet from blood. He let go, and his hand was stained red.
He furrowed his brows. "Your Majesty, are you not injured?"
"This is someone else''s blood," Shang Junlin said, casually removing his outer robe and using a clean inner garment to wipe away the blood on Shen Yu''s hand. "Ah Yu, you protected me. How could I get hurt?"
Shen Yu''s calm demeanor impressed Shang Junlin. Faced with such a perilous situation, maintainingposure was not easy. Shang Junlin had worried that Shen Yu might be frightened, but Shen Yu had shown no fear at all. Not only that, he had skillfully evaded harm several times.
"Today, thanks to Ah Yu." Shang Junlin raised his hand to touch Shen Yu''s face but hesitated when he saw the bloodstains on his hand.
Shen Yu took the initiative to hold his hand and pressed it against his face. "With Your Majesty by my side, I''m not afraid of anything."
Feeling the slight tremor in Shen Yu''s body, Shang Junlin''s train of thought was interrupted. "Today, I caused Ah Yu to be frightened."
Shen Yu shook his head, but the increasing trembling of his body revealed his true emotions.
"Ah Yu, you were amazing today." Shang Junlin gently kissed his forehead and pulled him into an embrace.
Once Shen Yu''s trembling subsided, Shang Junlin released him. "Freshen up first, soak in some warm water, and rx."
"Alright." Shen Yu nodded gently.
After Shen Yu left, the head of the Imperial Guards arrived, looking quite anxious. He reported the situation to the Emperor, not daring to dy any longer.
"What''s the matter?" Shang Junlin asked, his expression grave.
"Your Majesty, Shang Yue has been rescued."
Shang Junlin''s face turned cold. He strode into the tent with a purposeful gait.
Shen Yu sat up. "What happened?"
"Shang Yue was rescued."
"Who did it?" Shen Yu''s eyes narrowed.
"It''s not clear yet," Shang Junlin replied, his voice tight.
"Could it be..."
"Leave this matter to me," Shang Junlin interrupted, his tone firm. "I will personally investigate and handle it."
Shen Yu didn''t press further, but he was clearly worried.
"Your Majesty, the matter with Shang Yue is indeed concerning, but now that we''re back in the camp, we should focus on our safety," Shen Yu advised.
Shang Junlin nodded, his expression gradually rxing. "You''re right. I won''t let any harme to you."
Shen Yu managed a small smile. "I trust you, Your Majesty."
Shang Junlin returned the smile. "Rest assured, I''ll handle everything."
The two of them settled down to sleep, both knowing that the challenges ahead were far from over.
Days passed, and investigations continued. The captured assassins were interrogated, but extracting information from them proved difficult. The conspirators had been careful to erase any traces that could lead back to them.
Shen Yu spent his time beside Shang Junlin, providingfort and support as they navigated through the aftermath of the assassination attempt.
One day, Shang Junlin received a report from his subordinates.
"Your Majesty, we''ve uncovered some information regarding the origins of the assassins," the official reported.
Shang Junlin''s eyes flickered with interest. "Tell me."
"The assassins were hired by a noblewoman, Madam Xu," the official revealed.
Shen Yu''s eyebrows furrowed. "Madam Xu? Why would she do this?"
"We''re still investigating, Your Highness," the official replied.
Shang Junlin''s expression darkened. "Bring her in for questioning."
Madam Xu was brought to the pce and questioned extensively. Under pressure, she confessed that she had been manipted by external forces with their own agenda.
Shang Junlin and Shen Yu listened to her testimony. It seemed that this assassination attempt was part of arger plot aimed at destabilizing the empire.
"We must uncover the true mastermind behind all this," Shang Junlin dered.
The investigation continued, leading them to uncover aplex web of intrigue and power struggles within the court. As they delved deeper, it became clear that the assassination attempt was only the tip of the iceberg.
Shang Junlin and Shen Yu faced countless challenges as they worked to uncover the truth and maintain stability in the empire. Their bond grew stronger with each trial they faced, and their determination to protect each other never wavered.
And so, the story of their journey continued, marked by danger, loyalty, and the unbreakable bond between them.
Chapter 161
Chapter 161
"What?" Shen Yu suddenly grabbed the nket, "When was he rescued?"
"Today," Shang Junlin eased his expression and sat on the bed.
"Today..." Shen Yu pondered, "Could today''s assassination be rted to the rescue of the King of Yue?"
Shen Yu''s suspicion was not without reason. There were many motivated forces, but there wouldn''t be many left who would rescue the King of Yue simultaneously.
"Perhaps, I don''t know if Fang Jun has found out anything," Shang Junlin tucked the nket around Shen Yu.
"The King of Yue has been imprisoned for more than just a day or two. Besides the He family, have there been others trying to rescue him?" Shen Yu was very concerned about the King of Yue''s situation. Although this life''s developments differed significantly from the previous one due to his involvement, no one knew the ultimate oue of the story until thest moment.
Shang Junlin shook his head, "No, after the failed prison raid, I thought they had abandoned the idea."
The imperial examination cheating case concluded, and the implicated officials received appropriate punishment. Due to the special status of the King of Yue, Shang Junlin merely imprisoned him instead of subjecting him to execution like other officials.
The next morning, Shang Junlin summoned the prime minister and other important officials for a discussion.
They all had some knowledge of the King of Yue''s situation, and upon learning that someone had been rescued, their hearts sank.
"Did Minister Fang get any results?" the prime minister asked.
First an assassination attempt, then a prison raidtiming couldn''t be more coincidental. No one believed this was an ident.
"It''s difficult to get information from those people. From my interrogation, I''ve determined that their target is His Majesty, but they are unwilling to reveal much more," Fang Jun sighed.
Those who could carry out such an assassination were mostly fanatics, and extracting information from them was an arduous task.
"What about the person we captured in the mountains yesterday? Did they confess to anything?" Shang Junlin inquired.
"That person couldn''t withstand torture and revealed a fair amount of information. He came with Official Xu and is a servant of Madam Xu. Acting on Madam Xu''s orders, he was rying messages with Han Prefecture. A few days ago, Madam Xu instructed him to deliver a letter to someone who came from Han Prefecture, and yesterday he went to collect the response," Fang Jun provided a detailed ount of the results of his interrogation.
"Based on what I''ve learned from my interrogation, there doesn''t seem to be a direct connection between him and the assassins."
"A government official''s wife who just arrived in the capital from out of town shouldn''t have any connection with assassins, but..." the prime minister paused for a moment and voiced his perplexity, "During the recent incident involving the He family''s legitimate daughter, His Majesty sent officials to Han Prefecture. At this time, why was shemunicating with Han Prefecture?"
"What was written in the letter?" Shang Junlin lightly tapped the table with his fingers.
"That person doesn''t know the contents of the letter. He didn''t find the contact person, which led to him being seen as a suspicious individual and taken in. I''ve already instructed someone to find the contact person based on his description," Fang Jun answered.
"Minister Fang, I have full confidence in your work."
When Shen Yu woke up, Shang Junlin wasn''t there. Mu Xi came in to attend to him upon hearing the movement, and after she left, Shen Yu noticed that the pce attendants were packing things.
"His Majesty has ordered an early return to the pce," Mu Xi exined.
Given the two recent major incidents, Shen Yu could understand.
The high-ranking officials also received the news and began to pack.
"We''ve never encountered such a thing during the autumn hunt in previous years. I wonder if there are any hidden assassins lurking in the shadows?"
"His Majesty has already dispatched people to search. He spent the night peacefully, so there should be no problem."
"I hope we can determine things quickly and return home as soon as possible."
No one wanted to linger in a ce where assassins might be present.
Shang Junlin gave them three days. If there were still no results, the official in charge of the matter could be summoned for questioning.
Compared to the past, this was already a lenient approach. The official responsible for inspecting safety hazards on Qi Yue Mountain wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He led a team to the mountain for investigation, not daring to waste a moment.
The atmosphere at the camp was tense.
The individuals who had been retrieved the previous day were bewildered at first, but after learning about the situation, they all broke into a cold sweat. Assassination might be routine for Shang Junlin, but for many young scions from influential families, it was their first encounter.
With such an incident, the hunting couldn''t continue. As everyone gathered together, nervousness was mixed with the need to find something to ease the tension.
Wives and youngdies who were on good terms gathered to chat, while young masters with nothing to do began to discuss hunting ideas for the remaining game they had caught over the past few daysenough to sustain them for a dozen days or so. With the elders busy with serious matters, they couldn''t be of assistance. They could only gather in small groups, light a fire, and take the initiative to cook their own food.
Shang Junlin had been busy these days, and asionally Shen Yu would join him in discussions.
Fang Jun''s skills were impressive, and two dayster, he managed to extract some information from those individuals.
"ording to their confessions, the purpose of their journey was solely for the assassination. The higher-ups ordered them that even if they couldn''t seed, they should create a major disturbancechaos is better," Fang Jun revealed.
"A government official''s wife who just arrived in the capital from out of town shouldn''t have any connection with assassins, but..." the prime minister paused for a moment and voiced his perplexity, "During the recent incident involving the He family''s legitimate daughter, His Majesty sent officials to Han Prefecture. At this time, why was shemunicating with Han Prefecture?"
"What was written in the letter?" Shang Junlin lightly tapped the table with his fingers.
"That person doesn''t know the contents of the letter. He didn''t find the contact person, which led to him being seen as a suspicious individual and taken in. I''ve already instructed someone to find the contact person based on his description," Fang Jun answered.
"Minister Fang, I have full confidence in your work."
When Shen Yu woke up, Shang Junlin wasn''t there. Mu Xi came in to attend to him upon hearing the movement, and after she left, Shen Yu noticed that the pce attendants were packing things.
"His Majesty has ordered an early return to the pce," Mu Xi exined.
Given the two recent major incidents, Shen Yu could understand.
The high-ranking officials also received the news and began to pack.
"We''ve never encountered such a thing during the autumn hunt in previous years. I wonder if there are any hidden assassins lurking in the shadows?"
"His Majesty has already dispatched people to search. He spent the night peacefully, so there should be no problem."
"I hope we can determine things quickly and return home as soon as possible."
No one wanted to linger in a ce where assassins might be present.
Shang Junlin gave them three days. If there were still no results, the official in charge of the matter could be summoned for questioning.
Compared to the past, this was already a lenient approach. The official responsible for inspecting safety hazards on Qi Yue Mountain wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He led a team to the mountain for investigation, not daring to waste a moment.
The atmosphere at the camp was tense.
The individuals who had been retrieved the previous day were bewildered at first, but after learning about the situation, they all broke into a cold sweat. Assassination might be routine for Shang Junlin, but for many young scions from influential families, it was their first encounter.
With such an incident, the hunting couldn''t continue. As everyone gathered together, nervousness was mixed with the need to find something to ease the tension.
Wives and youngdies who were on good terms gathered to chat, while young masters with nothing to do began to discuss hunting ideas for the remaining game they had caught over the past few daysenough to sustain them for a dozen days or so. With the elders busy with serious matters, they couldn''t be of assistance. They could only gather in small groups, light a fire, and take the initiative to cook their own food.
Shang Junlin had been busy these days, and asionally Shen Yu would join him in discussions.
Fang Jun''s skills were impressive, and two dayster, he managed to extract some information from those individuals.
"ording to their confessions, the purpose of their journey was solely for the assassination. The higher-ups ordered them that even if they couldn''t seed, they should create a major disturbancechaos is better," Fang Jun revealed.
"They also mentioned that they were divided into two groups. One group went up the mountain for the operation, while the other stayed in the capital. They don''t know the specifics of what the second group was doing, but they waited for several days until they finally found an opportune moment to act," Fang Jun exined.
Without needing Fang Jun to say, everyone understood when that opportune moment was.
"And they didn''t have an insider?" the prime minister cut to the heart of the matter.
"They did," Fang Jun''s expression turned serious. "The insider posed as a servant from a prominent minister''s household. Theymunicated daily about the situation on the mountain, mainly focusing on His Majesty''s and Your Excellency''s movements."
As an emperor, Shang Junlin''s every move was widely observed. During the hunt, he wouldn''t deliberately conceal his whereabouts, making it easy for others to find out where he had gone.
"Find that person. I want to know whether his master was aware of his actions," Shang Junlin''s voice was cold.
Regardless of whether the official who had brought the individuals into the camp was aware or not, he couldn''t have remained entirely ignorant.
An hourter, after dealing with official matters, Shang Junlin encountered Shen Yu outside.
"What are you doing?" Shang Junlin approached and asked.
"I''m thinking about who could be behind the rescue of the King of Yue," Shen Yu replied.
A lingering confusion still remained in his eyes.
Shen Yu had only told Shang Junlin a partial truth. His true thoughts were about his past life. During this time in his previous life, he had apanied the King of Yue to his fief, while the King of Yue himself hadn''t stayed there. Additionally, Shen Yu had been intermittently ill during that period, living in a daze and having very limited knowledge of the outside world. Looking back now, he couldn''t even recall any useful information.
The book contained even fewer descriptions about that period, briefly mentioning Shen Qingran''s sufferings in the pce and providing only insignificant fragments of information.
"Fang Jun has extracted some information," Shang Junlin informed Shen Yu.
"Two groups of peopleone group stayed in the capital, likely to seize the opportunity to rescue the King of Yue," Shen Yu mused.
"I think so too. The assassination plot was actually well-organized. At least, no one noticed anything amiss before it happened. The only thing they underestimated was that I''m well-versed in various assassination techniques. Even though I appeared to have left the Hidden Dragon Guards elsewhere, there are ways to immediately inform them," Shang Junlin added.
By the end of the third day''s deadline, Official An finally discovered a way for the assassins to enter the mountain without alerting the guards, narrowly saving his own life.
Through Fang Jun''s investigation, the person who had secretly passed messages to the assassins was also identifieda servant from Official Xu''s household, coincidentally enough.
When Official Xu was brought before the emperor, he waspletely bewildered, not understanding how he had be implicated as a co-conspirator with the assassins.
"Your Majesty, this is a terrible misunderstanding! I truly have no idea what''s going on!" Official Xu knelt on the ground, tears and mucus streaming down his face.
"Then tell us, did this servant apany you to the mountain?" Fang Jun, standing nearby, questioned.
Official Xu turned his head to nce at the servant kneeling beside him. "It''s true that I brought him here, but I genuinely have no idea what he''s done! I implore Your Majesty to see through this!"
Listening to themotion below, Shang Junlin furrowed his brows.
Meanwhile, Madam Xu had been increasingly uneasy since Official Xu was summoned away. She paced back and forth inside the tent, her sense of foreboding growing stronger.
The person she had sent to collect a message hadn''t returned, and with such a significant event unfolding, she didn''t dare to inquire outside. She could only wait for news. Several days had passed, and she had given up any hope of a fortunate oue. Most likely, that person was in grave danger now. She could only hope that theirmunication with the family hadn''t been discovered.
After the King of Yue was rescued, he was plunged into a prolonged state of disbelief. He had almost thought he would spend his entire life in a dark dungeon, never expecting to see the sunlight again.
Standing in the courtyard, he stared nkly, feeling the sunlight on his skin. It was as if he were experiencing a dream.
Was he really out?
Wasn''t this just his imagination?
He had dreamt like this beforereturning to his fief, rallying his troops with a triumphant shout, and leading them back to the capital, avenging all the suffering he had endured at Shang Junlin''s hands.
Then the dream would fade away.
But he was still in a damp and dark cell, still possessing nothing.
The vast gap between reality and his dreams made him wish he could drown himself in that dream and never wake up.
Was this rescue just another dream he conjured up?
"Your Highness, please get ready. We need to set out," a middle-aged man approached.
"Oh, alright," the King of Yue seemed to snap back to reality. "Where are we going?"
"We need to evade the imperial pursuers first. My men have caused some trouble for the emperor. We must hurry. Once we pass Han Prefecture, we should be safe."
"Why Han Prefecture?"
"There are people waiting for us there."
If not for the King of Yue''s bloodline and the instructions left by that person, there would be no need for such borate ns to rescue him from the capital, resulting in the loss of so many lives.
Thinking about the assassins who were sent to kill the emperor, the man felt a pang of pain. Those were people he had painstakingly cultivated, and they had suffered heavy losses during this operation.
In his daze, the King of Yue failed to notice that the reverence these people showed him was only surface-level.
They set off toward Han Prefecture.
Once it was confirmed that there were no other assassins on Qi Yue Mountain, Shang Junlin ordered a return to the pce.
Shen Yu continued to travel with Shang Junlin, but this time there were no more objections from the high-ranking officials. They were all too preupied to concern themselves with such matters, and the number of guards apanying them had increased by half.
Leaning over, Shen Yu rubbed the furrowed brow of Shang Junlin. "Are you still thinking about the King of Yue?"
"I dispatched the Hidden Dragon Guards to investigate immediately, but they found no trace of them. I have no idea where these people came from. They were drawn out through Feng Pingqi, but they are just one faction among many," Shang Junlin responded.
"Having been locked up in a dark cell for so long, even if the King of Yue escaped, he wouldn''t have been able to create much turmoil. Those people had been quiet all this time; I even thought they had given up," Shen Yu spoke in a hushed tone.
"The King of Yue is just a title. What they care about is never the person himself, but the identity he represents," Shang Junlin understood this better than anyone.
Chapter 162
Chapter 162
"Perhaps at the outset, they genuinely wanted to assist the King of Yue," Shen Yu pondered, "But human hearts are fickle. When faced with readily avable power for an extended period, who can guarantee they won''t develop other thoughts?"
"Are you suggesting, Your Majesty, that the King of Yue was just a puppet to them?" Shen Yu quickly realized this point, which made sense. Many things that were puzzling before now fell into ce.
Why were they indifferent to the usations thrown at the King of Yue? Why did they show no urgency when he was imprisoned for so long? There were many inconsistencies, but it seemed that what they cared about the most was not the King of Yue.
They only needed to find the most opportune time and expend the minimal effort to rescue someone.
As for what difficulties the King of Yue might face during this time, it was not their concern.
Mount Qiyue was within the capital''s boundaries. When the Emperor was attacked, most of the capital''s forces would rush to this location. This would leave a gap in the defense, which the jailbreakers could exploit.
"I haven''t fully determined what thete Emperor left behind for the King of Yue. So far, I haven''tpletely uncovered it. In his earlier years, I interrogated some of thete Emperor''s close aides, and while I discovered some things, there were deeper secrets that even they didn''t know."
Common knowledge was that Shang Junlin, upon ascending the throne, executed many officials from the previous dynasty. If not for this, the power dynamics within the court wouldn''t have shifted so drastically, leading to a thorough purge. However, few were aware that among those individuals, not all were executed from the start.
They were secretly imprisoned, their remaining value drained.
"Wasn''t it rumored that thete Emperor became senile and ipetent towards the end of his reign?" Shen Yu scratched his chin. "Seeing it from this perspective, it doesn''t quite match."
"No matter how reckless he became in hister years, in his earlier years, he defeated numerouspetitors to im the throne. Never underestimate such an individual."
Shang Junlin didn''t care about why thete Emperor underwent such a drastic change in hister years. Between him and thete Emperor, there was only a deep-seated vendetta, devoid of any father-son affection.
Shen Yu redirected the conversation, asking, "Did Fang Jun uncover any new leads?"
Most of what Shen Yu knew was directly from Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin replied, "The servant''s actions were unknown to Fang Jun. Even the fact that Madam Xu secretly contacted Han Province, he was unaware of. The assassins'' testimonies correspond with the incident of the King of Yue being abducted. Both events are tied to the same force."
Shen Yu inquired, "Were they able to find out where the King of Yue might have been taken?"
"They don''t know. The actions of the two groups were separate. Perhaps to prevent the current situation, the assassins were unaware of the other side''s subsequent actions."
Shen Yu added, "It seems that the mastermind is also aware of the high failure rate of assassinations. They probably didn''t expect these assassins to return unscathed, even if sessful."
"Regardless of whether their actions seed or fail, from the moment they took on this task, they were destined for a sacrificial oue."
Shen Yu agreed with this point. If they failed, the consequences for those captured were clear. At the very least, if they seeded, it would be impossible for them to escape unscathed.
"The servant who ryed information was brought up the mountain by Official Xu. Your Majesty might want to investigate in Han Province." Despite Official Xu''sck of knowledge about the real situation, Shen Yu still found it suspicious.
"Indeed, I''ll also look into the situation of the Xu family and Madam Xu''s maternal family in Han Province."
With the reasons at hand, the provocation against the Emperor and the King would be attributed to the eldest daughter of the Xu family. They needn''t worry about arousing suspicions from outsiders.
After returning to the pce, Shang Junlin busied himself with handling umted state affairs. He convened his ministers for a meeting, while Shen Yu returned to Yu Zhang Pce.
Even though the master wasn''t present, the pce attendants didn''t dare to bex. Everything in Yu Zhang Pce remained just as it was when Shen Yu left.
After a few days of absence, Shen Yu missed the flowers in the greenhouse. He tidied up a bit and went to the greenhouse with Mu Xi.
After the previous incident, a new batch of pce attendants were assigned to care for the greenhouse. Upon seeing Shen Yu, the attendants respectfully greeted him.
The greenhouse was divided into several sections. Some were specifically designated for the flowers sent by Shang Junlin''s people, while others held flowers that had been sent based on word of Shen Yu''s preferences. This included the nt sent by Prince An.
Shen Yu first tended to the ones he personally cared for. The attendants were attentive, knowing his fondness for flowers. The nts in the greenhouse were flourishing, with various blooms in full disy.
Shen Yu watered and loosened the soil for them before moving to another area.
"This nt hasn''t withered yet?" He was surprised at the sight of the vibrant blossoms.
"I''ve never seen flowersst this long," Mu Xi marveled.
It was Shen Yu''s first time witnessing this too.
The greenhouse was well-ventted, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, as if weing visitors.
"Master, do these flowers look like they''re weing you?" Mu Xi, being a young girl, had a natural affinity for beautiful flowers and nts.
Shen Yu nodded and beckoned one of the attending pce maids over. He asked, "Has this flower been in bloom all this time?"
"Yes, as you say, it has always been like this."
"Have you figured out its species now?" Shen Yu remembered that Shang Junlin had been having people investigate the origin of this particr flower.
"We asked the people Prince An sent earlier. They said they identally found this flower on the mountain, but they don''t know its specific name." The pce maid replied.
"Why would Prince An send a flower of uncertain origin into the pce?" Mu Xi expressed dissatisfaction with this answer.
Shen Yu was also puzzled. After all, things sent into the pce weren''t as simple on the surface. If something went wrong in the process, the sender would bear responsibility.
"They said Prince An only sent it after confirming that the flower posed no harm to the human body." The pce maid ryed the information they had obtained.
Verifying whether a nt could have an impact on the human body wasn''t a difficult task.
Shen Yu recalled the previous vision he had seen in the illusion. Subconsciously, he nced at the center of the flower, where the delicate petals clustered together. There was nothing like what he had imagined.
As he withdrew his gaze, Shen Yu found it amusing. It had been nothing more than a hallucination induced by the psychedelic substance. Why had he taken it seriously?
Upon returning, Physician Gu came to take Shen Yu''s pulse.
For this autumn hunting event, Physician Gu did not apany them. Chief Physician Wu had not yet returned to the capital, and someone was needed to oversee the Imperial Medical Hospital.
After examining Shen Yu''s pulse, Chief Physician Gu prescribed a new regimen: "Your Excellency''s health has improved quite a bitpared to before. The new prescription I''ve prepared should be taken once daily."
Even when it came to restorative remedies, it was important not to overuse them once the body showed improvement.
Shen Yu wasn''t fond of taking medicine, so upon hearing this, a smile deepened on his face. Mu Xi was also pleased to hear this news. Knowing that her young master had always struggled with his health, she felt genuinely happy that there was an improvement.
Shen Yu remembered the night he had talked to Physician Gu about his reaction to eating deer meat. "I''m not sure if this is normal or not."
"Rest assured, Your Excellency. Deer meat is very nourishing. After your body has been restored through the period of recuperation, any reactions you''re experiencing are positive. They indicate that your recovery is indeed taking ce."
Shen Yu nodded to show his understanding.
"Has Your Excellency notice he has been less sensitive to cold this yearpared to previous years?" Physician Gu inquired.
Shen Yu recalled for a moment. It did seem that way. After the deep autumn, the temperature in the capital dropped significantly. In previous years, he would have already been feeling the onset of winter at this time, but this year, he hadn''t noticed it as much.
Seeing his nod, Physician Gu exined, "It means the medicines you''ve been taking have been effective. If my estimation is correct, this winter, Your Excellency won''t be as susceptible to cold as in previous years."
This was good news for Shen Yu.
After Shang Junlin returned, Shen Yu shared Physician Gu''s words with him. A smile appeared on the tired man''s face after a day of dealing with various matters. "It''s better for Ah Yu to be in good health."
Shen Yu''s health had always been a heavy concern for Shang Junlin. Physician Gu''s words had undoubtedly provided him with a sense of relief.
Negotiations between Subei and Beimo were ongoing, and the Beimo prince imprisoned in the capital was receiving "friendly" treatment from Da Huan. Shang Junlin continued to leave matters to Fang Jun for handling, hoping to extract useful information from them.
Seeing that Da Huan had no intention of releasing the prisoners, Beimo grew restless.
Cavalry units were assembled, and war was about to break out.
Subei had been vignt against any Beimo actions, and as soon as Beimo showed any sign of movement, Subei''s forces detected it.
News reached the capital at the fastest speed.
In the court, there were two opposing viewpoints regarding Beimo''s military actions. One faction believed that they must fight back; since Beimo dared to disrespect Da Huan, they should face his wrath. The other faction believed that Subei had just endured a natural disaster and should avoid conflict. If possible, negotiations should be pursued.
Each side held their ground, and neither could convince the other.
Finally, a few officials stepped forward and respectfully said, "Please decide, Your Majesty."
"I, the Emperor, have never feared any enemy. That was true in the past and remains so now. Since we can''te to an agreement, we shall go to war." Shang Junlin''s voice was resolute as he made his decision.
Some ministers with differing opinions and beliefs wanted to say something, but in the end, they merely opened their mouths and silently suppressed their dissent. His Majesty had already made a clear decision, and it wasn''t something that could be swayed by a few words.
Since preparations for war were underway, the court entered a new round of busyness. Fortunately, they had employed methods involving donations from the people during the drought, so they were notcking in provisions.
This was likely something that the people from the Beimo hadn''t anticipated. The undercover prince in Subei, who had been arrested, hadn''t had the chance tomunicate with the Beimo.
"Has Your Majesty arranged Gu Huai into the Su Bei Army?" Shen Yu asked as he took a segment of peeled orange and put it in his mouth.
The orange had been peeled by Shang Junlin. That hand, ustomed to wielding a sword or holding a pen for official documents, had grown used to peeling all sorts of fruits for Shen Yu.
The Hidden Dragon Guards who secretly protected Fang Jun''s journey to Subei had already returned with him. Only Gu Huai hadn''te back to the capital. Shen Yu had subtly inquired with Physician Gu, and the physician had only said that Gu Huai had matters to attend to outside and wouldn''t return for the time being.
"Yes, at the time, I gave him a choice. Staying was his own request. I originally thought he would need a few more years of experience. If the Beimo were to mobilize, it would''ve given him an excellent opportunity for training." After finishing peeling the orange, Shang Junlin took the handkerchief from the pce maid and wiped his hands.
"Is he nning to keep it hidden from Physician Gu?" Shen Yu discerned from Physician Gu''s attitude that he was unaware of the situation.
"This is a matter between the two of them. Even if Gu Huai wants to keep it hidden, once this battle is over and he achieves merit, Physician Gu wille to know what he should know."
After Shen Yu finished eating thest segment of orange, there was a moment of silence. In this lifetime, many things were different from the previous one. His influence extended far beyond his own fate.
"Your Majesty mentioned the intention to go to war. Did any of the ministers oppose it?" Due to Shang Junlin''s deliberate actions, Shen Yu was quite informed about the matters of the court.
"The Subei Army hasn''t truly experienced war for quite some time. This time, I also want to let them taste the bloodshed."
Leaving a de unused for a long time would only cause it to be dull.
Author''s Note:
There''s a double update, likely around 10 to 11 PM.
It''s the end of the month, so I''m seeking some nutrient solution support (nutrient solution will reset at the end of the month, soe irrigate Ah Yu and His Majesty~).
Chapter 163
Chapter 163
Over these years, although there had been ongoing friction between Subei and Beimo, they hadn''t engaged in actual warfare. One reason was that both sides had left room for negotiation, and the other was that Shang Junlin''s ruthless actions from years ago had instilled fear in Beimo, preventing any rash actions.
Several years had passed, and time had eroded the fear while nourishing the ambitions of the people from Beimo.
Especially after sessfully infiltrating upper-level officials within Subei, they had fostered the misconception that "Subei was not that special." The recent drought had given them the impression that they had seized the best opportunity and those in power hadn''t resisted the temptation.
"How is the situation with Subei now?" Shen Yu was curious.
"I dispatched the Hidden Dragon Guards to Subei to gain an understanding of their development over these years. They haven''t disappointed me. They''ve practiced everything they should have. In recent years, Subei has recruited many new soldiers. They''ve never experienced an actual battlefield. I want this campaign to be an opportunity for them to grow fully."
Soldiers who hadn''t experienced warfare, regardless of how formidable they appeared, couldn''t be urately judged until they were on the battlefield. What Shang Junlin needed weren''t these kinds of soldiers. He needed soldiers who could fight for Da Huan.
"Could Your Majesty tell me more about what happened in Subei in the past?" Shen Yu blinked and gazed at Shang Junlin, resting his chin on his hand.
"Why are you suddenly interested in this?" Shang Junlin sat down beside him.
"I want to know more about Your Majesty. There have been so many things that happened in the past, and I''ve only heard about them from others. I want to hear about them from Your Majesty''s own mouth." Shen Yu gazed at Shang Junlin.
His eyes were very beautiful. When he looked intently at someone, his eyes glimmered with subtle light, as if the only people in the entire world who could enter his gaze were those he looked at. No one could resist such a gaze.
The same applied to Shang Junlin.
He grasped Shen Yu''s wrist and began to recount the events of those years.
"The true confrontation with Beimo urred after I ascended the throne. Thete Emperor, swayed by deceitful advisors, ceded Subei to Beimo in exchange for a momentary peace. However, wolves are never satisfied. A single step of concession only invites them to take more. With Subei in their possession, Beimo remained unsatisfied and sought to acquire even more fertilend. Coincidentally, I ascended the throne and was disinclined to engage in lengthy debates with the courtiers. Instead, I led my troops to Subei."
Shang Junlin possessed his own forces, umted over years of military service. These were the individuals who stood by him through thick and thin, apanying him from rags to bing the ruler of a nation. They witnessed every step of his growth and gradually reimed the territories lost during the era of Da Huan.
"Because it was an area voluntarily relinquished by thete Emperor, Subei had not experiencedrge-scale warfare. o''s entry into Subei, they unterally tore apart agreements and subjected the people to oppression, arson, looting, and all kinds of atrocities. By the time I arrived with my troops, the people of Subei had spontaneously organized themselves into a resistance force against Beimo. If we were to quantify it, that would mark the inception of the Subei Army."
Recalling the past, Shang Junlin''s expression remained devoid of emotion. Shen Yu used his other hand to cover Shang Junlin''s hand: "So, what happened to the army stationed in Subei?"
"They withdrew beforehand. In hister years, thete Emperor harmed countless loyal subjects. He simply wouldn''t care about the life or death of these people," Shang Junlin''s voice turned cold.
The distance between the capital and Subei was vast, and thete Emperor indulged in his own debauchery within the pce. How could he have imagined that his seemingly innocuous decision would lead to the discement of so many innocent people?
"It''s fortunate that Your Majesty was there at the time to rescue Subei from such dire straits," Shen Yu said softly.
"After I arrived in Subei, I reorganized the scattered soldiers and integrated them with the local spontaneously formed units. We fought back. It''s almostughable Beimo thought the people of Da Huan were easy targets to bully. They never anticipated a day when they would face a counterattack. We decisively defeated them in the first battle."
"As time went on, more and more people voluntarily joined us. After over a month of fighting, Beimo surrendered. I didn''t want to deal with them, and the people of Subei didn''t want to ept them either. So, I led them out of the boundaries of Da Huan."
Shang Junlin''s voice was low, and even though his tone was straightforward, Shen Yu couldn''t help but immerse himself in imagining the situation in Subei at that time.
Shen Yu knew that the situation couldn''t have been as simple as Shang Junlin described, but he didn''t press for further details.
"At that time, I was often away from the capital. Thanks to Prince Li stabilizing the situation in the court, I was able to cultivate my own group of subordinates. Prince Li gradually reduced his presence, and I felt grateful for his initial assistance. Many times, I turned a blind eye to certain matters concerning him." Shang Junlinter wondered if he had made a mistake in handling this situation.
"Is Your Majesty on good terms with the other royal princes?" Shen Yu only knew that Shang Junlin had a difficult rtionship with his half-brother, Prince Li, and the other princes who were a generation above them didn''t seem to be particrly fond of being around Shang Junlin.
"Other than Prince Li and Prince An, there isn''t much interaction with the others," Shang Junlin had long passed the age of yearning for familial rtionships. Even his own father didn''t care, let alone other uncles and nephews.
Shen Yu wasn''t particrly surprised. Those royal princes acted as if they had seen a cat when encountering Shang Junlin, a mouse. Initially, he thought they were just intimidated, but now he realized that from the very beginning, those individuals had feared Shang Junlin.
"By my side, there''s only Ah Yu," Shang Junlin sighed softly, pulling the young man into his embrace. "Ah Yu must not leave me. If there everes a day when he does, I don''t know what I would do."
All his emotions were invested in Shen Yu. Before falling in love with Shen Yu, Shang Junlin had believed that he would spend his entire life alone on the cold dragon throne. Shen Yu''s presence showed him another aspect of life.
"I won''t leave," Shen Yu reassured as he patted the man''s back, feeling a bit puzzled. "Why does Your Majesty always seem to think that I might leave? Without Your Majesty, I have nowhere to go."
Shen Yu didn''t deny that initially, he had considered leaving. After settling all grudges, he had nned to find a peaceful ce to spend the rest of his life. However, over time spent with Shang Junlin, that thought had gradually faded away.
Shang Junlin couldn''t quite exin the reason. Perhaps it was his nature. He had never obtained much in life, and suddenly gaining something made him easily fret over losing it.
The Beimo royal family sent a missive to Da Huan, thinking that the other side would back down. They expected Da Huan to acquiesce to their demands. However, a few dayster, their scouts detected signs of activity from the Subei Army near the border.
"What did you say?!" The Emperor of Beimo abruptly stood up, his face filled with disbelief.
"Your Majesty, I wouldn''t dare lie. We did indeed discover traces of the Subei Army near our border with Da Huan," the speaking soldier said, keeping his head down and his voice quivering.
"How is that possible?!" The Beimo Emperor paced around anxiously. "Weren''t we informed that Subei had just gone through a major drought? How could Da Huan have the audacity to wage war against us?!"
Beimo''s audacity to go to war stemmedrgely from the recent drought that Subei had experienced. In their view, the shortage of food and supplies effectively condemned the Subei Army to death. After the disaster relief efforts, the national treasury was depleted. At this time, starting a war seemed far from a wise decision.
The Beimo Emperor''s ideal scenario was for Da Huan to back down and obedientlyply with their demands. They would then march their forces south and seize an opportunity to plunder Subei. This would provide them with resources to sustain the winter.
However, to their surprise, Da Huan''s response waspletely different from their expectations. The female official responsible for negotiations from Da Huan proved to be exceptionally skilled. No one from Beimo could match her, and every negotiation ended in a resounding victory for Da Huan.
The Beimo Emperor had been holding back his frustration for a long time. He had initially nned that once they advanced southward, he would force Da Huan to dispose of this woman to alleviate his pent-up anger.
"Now, what should we do?" a minister asked with a furrowed brow.
The army was already assembled. They couldn''t just abandon their ns because of a minor disturbance. Otherwise, how would they maintain their reputation in other countries?
"Since Da Huan refuses to negotiate, don''t me us for taking direct action!" The Beimo Emperor''s eyes gleamed with malice.
At this moment, the Beimo Emperor remained unaware that the Subei Army had already sharpened their swords, waiting for the right opportunity to strike.
"In the past, these Beimo people always cowered and hesitated, unable to truly enjoy a battle. This time, we can finally engage in a satisfying fight."
Within the Subei Army, there wasn''t a trace of fear regarding this war. When they received themand from the court, excitement surged through everyone. Beimo had ridden right up to their doorstep. If they didn''t fight back now, then when?
"It''s no wonder His Majesty, who drove the Beimo people away single-handedly in the past, responded to Beimo''s provocation with such a gratifying reply!"
War was not a good thing for themon people, but for the people of Subei, being able to fight against Beimo was worth any price they had to pay.
The blood-soaked vendetta of shattered families and broken homes, of wives lost and children scattered, was not something that could be easily forgotten.
For those left in Subei, namely He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing, and Fang Jiayi, Shang Junlin issued a confidential decree with a general message: Pursue whatever you intend to do and go all out, knowing that I stand behind you.
Fang Jiayi''s audacity to confront the emissaries from Beimo every time, leaving them red-faced and speechless, wasrgely fueled by this imperial decree.
These three individuals were far from foolish. From Shang Junlin''s actions, they discerned his stance toward Beimo. As loyal subjects, they naturally shared their ruler''s concerns. Thus, in this war, they added fuel to the fire.
For instance, they intentionally allowed Beimo to misunderstand that the Subei Armycked funds and had suffered greatly from the drought. Moreover, during every negotiation, Fang Jiayi would deliberately provoke the Beimo emissaries, leaving them speechless and unable to refute her.
"She dares to do this because it''s at Your Majesty''s behest, isn''t it?" Shen Yu remarked as he looked over the dispatches from Subei that detailed Fang Jiayi''s prowess during the negotiations.
"Indeed, Ah Yu is perceptive. Beimo sees this drought as a rare opportunity, so why shouldn''t I think the same way?" Shang Junlin admitted openly.
"Is Your Majesty using this opportunity to exert pressure on Beimo, or is there something specific you wish to gain from them?" Shen Yu''s question was incisive.
"In the past, Beimo seized Subei from Da Huan. This time, I want them to bleed a little," Shang Junlin asserted. Furthermore, the actions of Beimo had already crossed his bottom line.
"Your Majesty wantsnd from Beimo?" Shen Yu was taken aback.
Shang Junlin instructed Meng Gonggong to bring a map andid it open on the table. He pointed to a particr area north of Subei, saying, "Thisnd north of Subei is suitable for breeding horses. I want to establish a powerful cavalry."
"A cavalry?" Shen Yu thought of Shang Junlin''s private horse ranch. Clearly, this idea wasn''t a sudden revtion. "When did Your Majesty start considering this?"
"When I was at war with Beimo in the past, I suffered losses at the hands of their cavalry. Afterward, I began to think whether it was possible to form a formidable cavalry force. However, there were too many things that Da Huancked. Until now, this aspiration remains unfulfilled."
However, the time was approaching.
Shen Yu pointed to a spot circled on the map. "This location is close to Subei and offers convenient ess. Your Majesty''s wish will soon be realized."
Author''s Note: Second update, seeking nourishing votes and support! (^o^)/~
Chapter 164
Chapter 164
Thank you so much for the donation <3
Here''s the regr + bonus chapter for the donator <3
This is unedited. Please feel free toment any mistakes I bypassed
Confidence was high as they prepared to face Beimo in battle.
Shen Yu opened another document on the table. It was a report from the Ministry of Justice, inquiring about how to deal with Feng Pingqi.
The influence of the Feng family had already been eradicated from the heart of power in Da Huan. The once prestigious elder of the Feng family had been imprisoned, and any officials sheltered by him were appropriately punished. The only matter left unresolved was the fate of the Feng family itself.
"How does Your Majesty intend to handle Minister Feng?" Shen Yu closed the document.
Upon seeing the document, Shang Junlin furrowed his brow. "The Ministry of Justice can determine his guilt and punishment on its own. Whye to me for this?"
Shang Junlin wrote "Handle ording to thew" on the document and discarded it aside.
Speaking of Minister Feng, why did he conspire against Prince An back then?" Shen Yu asked, taking a seat next to Shang Junlin.
cing the hallucinogenic substance next to the flower, if something happened to Shen Yu, the first person Shang Junlin would hold ountable would be Prince An, who had sent the flowers to the pce.
"He imed it was their intention," Shang Junlin replied.
By "their intention," Shang Junlin referred to the people manipting Feng Pingqi from behind the scenes, who were currently held in the Ministry of Justice''s dark prison.
"I had the Ministry of Justice interrogate those individuals. They imed that because I favored you, they wanted me to experience the pain of losing a beloved," Shang Junlin said, his tone carrying a chilling edge.
"But what about when I first entered the pce? Could they have foreseen that Your Majesty woulde to favor me? If so, they should have stopped me from entering the pce from the beginning," Shen Yu said, puzzled.
However, the reality was that his entry into the pce was orchestrated by these individuals.
Wanting him to disappearter, Shen Yu could understand. By that time, Shang Junlin''s affection for him was no longer concealed, even though only they knew that this affection was mixed with a measure of genuine emotion.
Outsiders were unaware of this, and from their perspective, Shen Yu gained the favor of the emperor as soon as he entered the pce. And up to this day, the imperial favor showed no sign of waning.
Shang Junlin continued, "The message from the Ministry of Justice stated that they were merely following orders and the medicine that made you ill was also given by the person behind the scenes."
Shen Yu asked, "Can we extract information about the one who orchestrated the prison escape from them?"
Shang Junlin replied, "I had the Ministry of Justice interrogate them about the King of Yue''s abduction, but we haven''t obtained any meaningful results."
The Minister of Justice had been quite troubled recently. Dealing with the matter of Minister Feng and the subsequent revtion of a plot against King of Yue had made him more cautious. It was clear to anyone with eyes that King of Yue was held in high regard by Shang Junlin, and based on this, the Minister of Justice was even more determined not to make any mistakes.
"Sir, should we continue the interrogation today?" a subordinate asked respectfully.
"Yes, continue. If we haven''t obtained results, we can''t let up for a single day. The emperor entrusts us with the task of dealing with these matters, a sign of his high expectations. Regardless of the circumstances, we must not disappoint his trust," the Minister of Justice stated firmly.
"Understood!"
Feng Pingqi was now a far cry from his former distinguished appearance. His hair was disheveled, falling over his face. His prison uniform was dirty and stained with blood, and the prolonged interrogation had taken a severe toll on his condition.
"I''ve already revealed everything I know. There''s nothing more I can say, no matter how much you interrogate me," Feng Pingqi''s voice was hoarse as he looked at the Minister of Justice approaching him.
Seeing his former subordinate now in the role of his judge was a strange feeling that was hard to describe.
The Minister of Justice beckoned, and a subordinate brought a whip.
At the same time, a simr scenario was ying out elsewhere, but the treatment for that individual was far less lenient than what former Minister Feng received.
Shang Junlin didn''t need to concern himself with how they were conducting the interrogations. He only needed to know the final oue.
As autumn passed and winter approached, the weather grew colder. Shen Yu had changed into thicker clothing. As the imperial physician had said, he was finding this winter easier to bear than the previous ones.
After a few strategic maneuvers, the forces of the Subei Army confronted Beimo head-on. In their first engagement, the Subei Army caught Beimo off guard.
The news of this victory reached the court, greatly pleasing Shang Junlin.
The Beimo prince who had been captured was still held in the capital. His days grew more difficult as the battle between Da Huan and Beimo unfolded. If Beimo emerged victorious, he might have a chance to return, but if Da Huan prevailed, his situation would be perilous.
The capital remained unaffected by the war''s immediate impact. Whenever news of victory arrived, it would be released to the public at an appropriate time.
Regarding the battle with Beimo, the people had already formed their own expectations.
"The Subei Army is truly remarkable. Just like back then when they defeated Beimo, this time they can strike back just as fiercely!"
"They actually tried to take advantage of the severe drought in Subei tounch an attack on us. In my opinion, they deserve a good beating in this battle to show them their ce!"
"They even had spies hidden within Subei. Now they threaten us with war if we don''t release their people. They really have no shame!"
With the guidance of the popr press, public opinion was skillfully managed.
Shang Junlin received news from outside the pce and shared it with Shen Yu, saying, "I never expected a small newspaper to have such a significant impact."
"Your Majesty, never underestimate the power of the people. In the past, those individuals manipted the gap in information between the people and the court to spread nder against you. But from now on, such situations will never arise again," Shen Yu said, lowering his gaze, his eyes glinting with determination.
"Does Ah Yu really defend me this much?" Shang Junlin squeezed Shen Yu''s hand.
"I can''t let malicious individuals nder you when you''ve done things that benefit the people. It''s only fair," Shen Yu said, his tone turning serious. Remembering how Shang Junlin''s reputation was deliberately tarnished in his previous life, Shen Yu felt uneasy.
The court had departed from its previous practices. Every action the emperor took was now reasonably exined. The emergence of the newspaperspletely changed the image of the court and Shang Junlin in the eyes of the people.
This was the oue Shen Yu was pleased to see.
"I''ve dispatched the Hidden Dragon Guards to secretly head towards HanzhouHan Prefecture. Along the way, they discovered traces of the King of Yue''s movement. However, their actions were cautious, and after tracking them for a distance, the trail disappeared," Shang Junlin said.
"Does this mean that our initial spection was incorrect? They indeed intend to go to Hanzhou," Shen Yu toyed with his cup, deep in thought. "Is there anything particrly significant about Hanzhou?"
Initially, they had all assumed that those individuals would take the King of Yue back to his fief. Shang Junlin sent people to trace their footsteps along the way. Hanzhou wasn''t a necessary stop between the capital and the King of Yue''s fief. Choosing Hanzhou would take them on a rather circuitous route.
"Most likely, there are people in Hanzhou ready to assist them," Shang Junlin said calmly.
"Your Majesty, could it be that this situation is more than just a coincidence? Minister Xu''s legitimate daughtermitted an offense in the hunting grounds, and you sent people to investigate their past affairs in Hanzhou. Those individuals went to great lengths to abduct the King of Yue, and they''re heading to Hanzhou as well. If they learned that your people happened to be there, what would they be thinking?" Shen Yu contemted the scene in which these individuals, who thought they had everything under control, inadvertently walked into a well-prepared trap.
"Thinking of it that way, Ah Yu might be their nemesis. Every incident seems to lead them to a sh with him by chance," Shang Junlin expressed his astonishment.
The previous events aside, the current situation was indeed too coincidental. Furthermore, the fact that he and Shen Yu were hunting together on that day, encountering Minister Xu''s petnt legitimate daughter, added anotheryer ofplexity to it all.
Shen Yu chuckled. "Perhaps."
As implicated parties, Minister Xu''s family was now detained. Regardless of their involvement in the assassination attempt, since they brought the perpetrators into the city, they were aplices in some way.
"Minister Fang captured the servant that day and asked, ''He imed to be delivering a letter to Madame Xu. Has Your Majesty found out what she discussed with Han Province?'' Shen Yu inquired.
Shang Junlin replied, "ording to Madame Xu''s confession, she intended to have Hanzhou conceal some actions her beloved daughter had oncemitted there."
Shen Yu remarked, "Considering the haughty nature of the legitimate daughter of the Xu family, she must have caused quite a stir."
Shang Junlin agreed, "Ah Yu''s assessment is urate. She is even implicated in several murders."
"So, Your Majesty has already obtained results so quickly?" Shen Yu marveled.
"It was the illegitimate daughter of the Xu family who revealed this. After her imprisonment, she divulged numerous secrets about the Xu family. I''ve ordered verification, and if her ims are true, Hanzhou is in for a significant change," Shang Junlin exined.
With those words, a seemingly casual decision determined the fate of various major powers in Hanzhou.
Members of the Xu family were detained together.
''Why did you tell them those things? Do you think now that we''re all imprisoned, you can nder your sister as you wish?'' Madame Xu red hatefully at the woman crouched alone by the wall.
"She dared to do those things herself. Why wouldn''t I dare to speak of them?" The woman lifted her head from her arms and stared directly at Madame Xu. "Instead of interrogating me, perhaps you should worry about your precious daughter. She''s responsible for so many lives lost. Isn''t she afraid of vengeful spirits in the dead of night?"
"What nonsense are you spewing?" Minister Xu rebuked in annoyance. "Junjun might be a bit headstrong and willful, but she couldn''t have taken lives. If you''re displeased with her, you shouldn''t resort to such base usations."
"So Father is unaware of these matters? Perhaps you should ask your dear wife by your side. Or your loving daughter. How did the daughter of the Wu family meet her end three years ago? Or inquire about the death by drowning of the daughter of the Yu family two years ago? There are many instances like this. Should I go on and recount them one by one?" The woman''s lips curved into a mocking smile.
Minister Xu furrowed his brow and hesitated, ncing at the person beside him.
Madam Xu seemed to have been struck a painful blow and jumped up, saying, "You believe whatever she says? Junjun grew up by your side. Don''t you understand her nature?"
"No need for exnations here. Officials have already been sent to Hanzhou, and whether I''m lying or not will be clear when they return," the woman replied impassively.
"Why argue? Why argue? You two love to argue the most," a prison guard grumbled as he approached.
The cell fell silent once again.
The officials dispatched to Hanzhou initially encountered resistance. Upon arrival, they realized that within the small Hanzhou, the web of influence was intricate. Despite Minister Xu being transferred to the capital, his influence still remained significant. Investigating the Xu family''s affairs was much more challenging than anticipated.
It wasn''t until the Xu family became implicated in an assassination attempt that they found an opening to pursue.
As the investigation delved deeper, one shocking case after another came to light.
The responsible officials didn''t dare dy and immediatelypiled reports.
"Even if they weren''t involved in the assassination attempt, the Xu family should still face death!" Shang Junlin erupted in anger after reading, "Who was the one who promoted this person in the first ce?"
The study fell into silence. Meng Gonggong lowered his head, afraid to speak.
The ministers who had gathered for discussions were also too afraid to speak. They hadn''t anticipated that a case involving a junior''s insolence towards the emperor could unravel several instances of bloodshed.
Being the daughter of Minister Xu of Hanzhou, bearing the weight of numerous lives lost, these cases that hade to light so far left it hard to ignore suspicions about the minister and the role his family might have yed.
"Prime Minister, you''ll handle this matter. I want to know how this individual was transferred to the capital and if there are any simr situations within the court."
Author''s Note: Happy National Day, lovelies~ This chapter has an update.
Chapter 165
Chapter 165
2/3
Unedited
From ancient times, the Capital Government''s control over local affairs has always been a headache for those in power.
In theter years of the previous emperor''s reign, due to his ipetence and misrule, not only was the capital government affected, but the local areas were also impacted.
After Shang Junlin ascended the throne, he first tackled the issues within the central government swiftly and then gradually addressed the matters at the local level. Up until now, most localities can be said to have clean and just governance.
However, there are always exceptions.
For instance, the recently resolved situation involving officials in Subei, and now, the issue arising in Hanzhou.
In the end, Shang Junlin entrusted this matter to the Prime Minister and Minister Duan to handle together. The problem of officials'' reassignment was a problem, and as ministers of the inner court, they bear varying degrees of responsibility.
Officials who can be transferred to the capital have all passed the assessment of the court. This assessment is not solely based on examination scores but takes various factors into consideration. Only those deemed capable and without major faults can return to the capital.
Since Minister Xu has been transferred to the capital, it indicates that he passed the assessment. As for the matter in Hanzhou not being discovered, that''s a question that the Prime Minister and Minister Duan need to rify.
Back at the Yu Zhang Pce, when Shang Junlin saw Shen Yu standing by the window, his anger dissipated somewhat.
"Your Majesty, back already?" Shen Yu turned around upon hearing footsteps.
Shang Junlin walked over without saying a word and embraced Shen Yu: "Did newse back from Hanzhou today?"
"Have they found any trace of the King of Yue?" That was Shen Yu''s immediate concern.
"Not yet. It''s about the Xu family. The illegitimate daughter from the Xu family was telling the truth. What the Xu family did in Hanzhou goes far beyond that."
"Your Majesty, are you upset about this matter?" Shen Yu raised a hand to soothe the man''s back.
"For someone like that to still be transferred to the capital... IZhen = I for emperor..."
"Your Majesty didn''t originally know. Now that he knows, he will naturally go where he should go. Those who make mistakes will eventually receive the appropriate punishment. Your Majesty need not overthink it," Shen Yuforted.
Having broken the first barrier, the next steps in the investigation became much simpler.
Hanzhou.
"What exactly happened during the autumn hunt? Why did Junjun offend His Majesty during that encounter? How is the Xu family now?"
Madam Xu''s maternal family, the Cheng family, was in a state of panic.
When news reached them, the Cheng family immediately made preparations. With deep roots in Hanzhou and a close connection to Minister Xu, they held immense influence in the region. Leveraging Minister Xu''s power, they practically held sway over Hanzhou.
If not for their formidable connections, they wouldn''t have been able to force the aggrieved party into silence after the incident. Outwardly, they appeared untouchable, but behind the scenes, their hands were stained with the blood of countless innocent individuals.
"Sir, what should we do now? Imperial officials have arrived in Hanzhou, and news from the capital is spreading. Many people are no longer heeding our words."
"What''s the use of talking about this now? You all should be well aware of the current Emperor''s disposition. Unless he can''t uncover the truth, otherwise, considering what we''ve done all these years, none of us can escape!"
A deathly silence filled the room.
"Is there truly... no way to turn things around?" After a long silence, someone couldn''t help but speak up.
"What about that nobleman? Didn''t he ask us to temporarily shelter a distinguished guest? Our Cheng family has done so much for him. He can''t just ignore us..." As they spoke, their voices grew quieter.
At that moment, all eyes turned towards the leader of the Cheng family.
The head of the Cheng family closed his eyes briefly. "I will contact that nobleman."
Another person stepped forward, saying, "Things haven''t reached the worst point yet. Let''s not lose ourposure."
In contrast to the tense atmosphere within the Cheng family, the smaller families that had long suffered oppression were jubnt.
"Didn''t the Cheng family always boast about their connections to high-ranking officials and nobles?"
"If it wasn''t for Minister Xu''s protection, would the Cheng family have been so audacious all these years? Now that their protector is gone, let''s see how long they can stay arrogant."
"The imperial court sent officials to investigate the Xu family''s legitimate daughter. Those who held grudges can finally breathe a sigh of relief."
"It''s a tragedy. Such a fine youngdy, just because she dressed a bit prettier, had to go through such things. It''s not just one family, right?"
"Of course, it''s not just one. The things we know about happened because the families involved had some influence. The small families dependent on the Cheng family for survival don''t dare to speak up if something goes wrong."
"Remember the youngdy who was arranged to marry the young master of the Li family? Didn''t she hang herself the night before the wedding? There might have been foul y involved."
"I recall that for a while, the Xu family''sdy was very close to the young master of the Li family. After that youngdy passed away, the Li family swiftly moved away. There might be some hidden connection there."
"Do you all remember an old story from years ago? When Minister Xu was sent on a mission, he had a family, and it was the youngdy from the Cheng family at the time. Relying on the Cheng family''s influence, she forced herself into his life. Later on, Madame Xu was reced by another person, and the original Madame Xu never appeared in public again."
As the Cheng family lost power, old stories that were never openly discussed were brought to light one by one. While the Cheng family had been dominant and powerful, such revtions came back to haunt them as they fell from grace. Those who had grudges from the past were quick to seize this opportunity.
After the initial difficulties, the officials sent by the imperial court to Hanzhou made rapid progress. Details about the crimesmitted by the Xu and Cheng families were sent to the capital like snowkes in a blizzard.
"I underestimated them. A mere local aristocratic family managed to cause so much trouble," Shang Junlin said, his expression turning cold as he looked at the reports from Hanzhou.
"When far from the capital and backed by someone powerful, people tend to get bolder," Shen Yu said, sitting on a soft divan, a sly smile ying on his lips. "The farther away from the imperial city, the more likely events like these are to ur."
When the desire for power grows within people, and they''re no longer restrained by external forces, they can easily be led down a path towards destruction.
"The Cheng family can''t be allowed to remain," Shang Junlin made a decision within his heart.
"Your Majesty, why not wait a bit longer? The people who kidnapped the King of Yue and took him to Hanzhou might also have the Cheng family in their sights. If that''s their destination, and they''ve managed to evade the Hidden Dragon Guards this far, why not wait at the destination and catch them in the act?" Shen Yu suggested.
It was only in thest couple of days that Shen Yu recalled this possibility. In his previous life, when the King of Yue rebelled, the Cheng family had been loyal supporters of his cause. They had reportedly aligned with him quite early. But what about now? Regardless of whether they were involved or not, the Cheng family would serve as a potential anchor point.
"If their destination is indeed Hanzhou, and assuming it''s not just a coincidence rted to the Xu family''s situation, then once they reach Hanzhou, the Cheng family could indeed ensure Shang Jun Yue''s safety," Shen Yu continued.
"But ording to your analysis, the premise is that these individuals haven''t heard of the developments and actions we''ve taken. Now that I''ve dispatched people, will they still proceed ording to their original n?" Shang Junlin questioned.
"But they don''t have much of a choice," Shen Yu smiled knowingly. "They must have realized the presence of the Hidden Dragon Guards by now. How long can they continue hiding and evading? They have so many people, they''ll need supplies. ording to their original n, Hanzhou is their resupply point. Even if they suspect a trap, they''ll have no choice but to press on."
As Shen Yu predicted, the situation unfolded ordingly.
The middle-aged man, escorting the King of Yue on their journey, found the prince''s condition improving over time. Still, the journey was rough, and they had to avoid being detected, leading to minimal food, rest, and amodations.
Apart from his time spent in the dungeon, Shang Jun Yue had never endured such hardships.
"The Emperor has already sent people to Hanzhou. If we go there too, won''t we be walking right into a trap?" the King of Yue sat by the doorway in a dpidated shrine, asking.
"Do you think that after so many days, your fiefdom is still under your control as it was before? If you were to go back directly, that would truly be walking into a trap," the middle-aged man replied irritably.
"Where exactly are you all taking me?" After these days, even if he was slow on the uptake, Shang Jun Yue could sense that something was amiss. These people didn''t treat him with the respect he was ustomed to, and they never listened to him. He had thought he escaped a dire fate, but he still felt confined by others.
"You''ll find out once we arrive, Your Highness. Don''t worry, we won''t harm you."
Shang Jun Yue wasn''t at all reassured. He detested the feeling of being controlled by others.
"You''ve rescued me, but whates after that? I can''t return to my fiefdom. What else can I do?"
"Your Highness need not worry. Even if you can''t return to your fiefdom, there are still things you can do. As long as..."
Whatever that "something" was, the person didn''t specify.
Aside from the ongoing war with Beimo, the most discussed topic in the capital was the examination organized by the Ministry of Public Works.
The originally scheduled date was postponed due to various reasons, and it finallymenced, much anticipated by everyone.
Shen Yu was quite interested in this first assessment and asked Shang Junlin about it afterward.
Shen Yu: "Your Majesty, how many people did the Ministry of Works recruit this time?"
Shang Junlin: "A total of forty-eight individuals were recruited. Among them, twelve were formally epted. They all demonstrated remarkable skills in certain areas. Currently, all twelve have chosen to take positions within the Ministry of Public Works. Apart from these, an additional thirty-six candidates were selected. They will undergo a probationary period, and their suitability will determine their final appointments."
Shen Yu: "Who came up with this approach?"
Shang Junlin: "It was suggested by the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue. For this examination, the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works kept visiting the Ministry of Rites, and the Minister of Rites became quite annoyed by this. So, he started inviting a few other secretaries each time. Except for the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, who attended every time, the others declined after participating twice."
Shen Yu: "This approach seems effective."
Shang Junlin: "Among the remaining candidates, some of them are illiterate. Illiteracy poses its own set of problems. The Secretary of the Ministry of Works ns to use this period to teach them some basic characters."
In Da Huan, those who could read often had some wealth, as the cost of printing books was high, leading to expensive book prices. People without some financial backing could hardly afford books.
"I recall that previously, Ah Yu had the lower-ranked officials sell basic literacy books at a low price. Many citizens in the capital purchased them."
After all,pared to the usual price of other books, the cost of this book with its limited content was extremely low. Many people bought a copy to keep at home; learning to read was much more convenient than relying on others to do the work for them.
"It''s good that people are buying them. I n to have them organize some activities if the sales aren''t satisfactory, to push for more sales," Shen Yu picked up a cup of tea from the table and took a sip. "Have the noble families caught on?"
"There''s been a lot going on in the court recently, so they haven''t paid much attention to these matters. Even if they notice, it''ll be a while before they can spare the resources to address it."
"That''s good. By the time they start taking this seriously, the situation will have settled. Even if they decide to act, it won''t achieve much."
Whenmon people can afford to read books, what will the noble families use to maintain their sense of superiority?
Author''s Note: The story''s a bit stalled, and the update''s a bitter, sorry QAQ
Chapter 166
Chapter 166
3/3
Once again, thank you for the donation! Here''s the bonus chapter for you <3
The assessment organized by the Ministry of Public Works concluded sessfully. Now, it was only a matter of time to verify the feasibility of this approach and make continual adjustments. Once proven effective, it could be extended to the entire Da Huan. However, this process wouldn''t happen overnight.
The citizens of the capital most tangibly felt the changes within the imperial court. The emergence of "" (Minbao)People''s Daily newspaper deepened their understanding of Da Huan. The more they knew, the stronger their sense of belonging became. With public sentiment united, Da Huan''s development thrived without harm.
In the tranquil afternoon, Shen Yu sat on a swing in the courtyard, basking in the sun. The warm sunlight gently enveloped him, bringing a sense offort. In his hands was a book, one of the most popr novels outside the pce. It was based on him and Shang Junlin, nestled among a pile of other books. Shen Yu had picked it out.
Shen Yu had originally thought that someone with Shang Junlin''s temperament wouldn''t let such things circte among themon people.
Flipping through a few pages, Shen Yu roughly understood. In this novel, the explicit descriptions were removed, but the depiction of their emotions was delicately crafted. It was more touching and heartwarming than the original version.
Unconsciously, Shen Yu immersed himself in the novel and didn''t even notice Shang Junlin walking over.
Golden sunlight filtered through the gaps between leaves and fell upon the young man, while a gentle breeze rustled the foliage, causing the spots of light to dance. Seated on the swing woven from green vines, his gaze was fixed on the book in his hands, and the moment was tranquil and beautiful.
Seeing this scene, Shang Junlin''s heart settled.
As a pce attendant prepared to offer greetings, Shang Junlin gestured for her to stand down.
"Mu Xi, hand me that te of chestnut cake." As he spoke, Shen Yu''s gaze never left the book in his hands.
After a moment, the chestnut cake appeared within his view. It was evident that the hand picking it up didn''t belong to a woman. Shen Yu lifted his gaze and met a pair of smiling eyes.
"Your Majesty, howe you came over without anyone announcing your presence?" Shen Yu paused for a moment.
Shang Junlin fed him a piece of the cake, saying, "I saw you engrossed in your reading and didn''t want to disturb you. What are you reading? What''s so captivating?"
Shen Yu took a bite of the cake, savoring the sweet and delightful taste in his mouth, then squinted his eyes. "A novel written by Mr. Qingli. It''s quite good."
Qingli was a bold individual who directly used the current emperor and noble monarch as prototypes for a novel.
As soon as this name came up, Shang Junlin knew what Shen Yu was reading. He walked over and sat next to Shen Yu, holding a small te of chestnut cakes. From time to time, he would feed a bite to Shen Yu.
"Does Ah Yu like what he wrote?" Shang Junlin inquired.
"It''s quite moving. This novel sells well outside the pce, right?" Shen Yu hadn''t forgotten that he had picked this book out from a stack of bestsellers.
There were dedicated pce attendants responsible for purchasing and categorizing the storybooks brought to Shen Yu''s pce. Shen Yu often started reading from the most popr ones.
"People are naturally curious about things they can''t experience firsthand. Though not explicitly stated, those who read it assume that it''s about me and you," Shang Junlin admitted.
Shen Yu closed the storybook and turned his head to look at Shang Junlin. "I thought Your Majesty wouldn''t allow such storybooks to circte among themon people."
"What''s wrong with letting everyone know that I have deep feelings for Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin''s tone was calm.
Shen Yu hadn''t expected that Shang Junlin''s reason for allowing the storybook to circte would be this.
"Has Your Majesty met Qingli?"
"What does Ah Yu want to do?"
"This person''s writing style is excellent, with great power to evoke emotions. It''s a waste for him to write only novels. Why not invite him to contribute to the Minbao? It could be a great contribution to the people."
Minbao was a newspaper sponsored by the court, directly under the emperor''s authority. By inviting Qingli to be the chief editor of Minbao, would essentially grant him a legitimate position within the imperial court.
"I''ve inquired about it. He said he doesn''t want to be constrained. He thinks writing these small storybooks is quite satisfying."
For some reason, Shen Yu didn''t find this strange. Anyone bold enough to write a small storybook about the emperor likely wouldn''t be someone who followed conventional norms.
Since the person wasn''t willing, Shen Yu didn''t press the matter further.
"Your Majesty, you should try this chestnut cake. It tastes good."
Influenced by Shen Yu, the cooks at Yu Zhang Pce were enthusiastic about exploring culinary arts, especially various pastries.
After the results of the Ministry of Public Works assessment were announced, some were joyful while others were disappointed. Those who passed the examination began to pack their belongings in preparation to take up positions in the Ministry of Public Works. With the Ministry of Public Works currently in need of manpower, the Minister of Public Works swiftly enlisted the sessful candidates.
Several cement roads had beenid down in the capital, and with theirpletion, many people aspired to be officials. The funds for road construction were sponsored by several influential merchants in the capital. Once the roads werepleted, the merchants were granted the naming rights for those roads through discussions.
For these businessmen, this was a significant honor. Moreover, beside each road, a small monument was erected, bearing the information of the sponsoring individuals.
In thergest restaurant in the capital, the Yingxing House, several prominent merchants gathered. Yan Zheng, who had returned to the capital, was among them.
"Nowadays, there are inscriptions with our information on the monuments beside the roads the court constructed. In the past, who could have imagined such a day?"
"Indeed, I heard that the imperial court is preparing to erect a stone monument listing the personnel providing aid to the Northern Expedition. Yan Gongzi, do you have any inside information?" One of the merchants raised his wine cup.
At this point, they were all specting whether Yan Zheng, an outsider among them, had connections with some high-ranking officials. Otherwise, how could he be so well-informed about internal matters?
Yan Zheng clinked his cup with theirs and finished the wine inside. "The information I''ve received indicates that the monument will be ready before the New Year, and the promised rewards will be distributed then as well. Additionally, it seems that after this year, the imperial court is nning to revise themercialws."
Yan Zheng''s words reverberated like thunder among the people, and even Master Jin couldn''t help but show surprise.
"Is that true?"
"What kind of changes are they nning?"
"Actually, the current situation is quite good for us merchants. It''s already much better than in the previous dynasty."
"Yan Gongzi, do you have more urate information?" Master Jin asked in a hushed tone.
"Rest assured, Master Jin. The newmercialws will only be more favorable for us than the old ones. As for the specifics, I''m not very clear. The imperial court has only proposed an idea so far, and the more concrete details will need to be discussed and decided by the ministers."
Yan Zheng knew all of this due to Shen Yu''s revtion. Shen Yu had mentioned this matter to Shang Junlin before, and it had sparked his interest.
The information gathered from Hanzhou continued to be transmitted to the imperial court. Each piece of evidence confirmed the truth of what the concubine from the Xu family had said. With solid evidence, both the Xu and Cheng families were doomed.
"Has Your Majesty said that Minister Xu isn''t aware of what Madam Xu and Miss Xu Wanjun did?"
The flickering candlelight illuminated the beauty of the figure beneath, and Shang Junlin set down the stack of documents and gazed at Shen Yu''s face for a moment.
"Why is Your Majesty looking at me like that?" Shen Yu reached for his own face. "Is there something on my face?"
"Every time I see Ah Yu, he captivates me," Shang Junlin raised his hand, e over here."
Shen Yu walked over, having changed into sleeping attire. Even in simple clothing, his charisma was undiminished and entuated the intricate details of his face.
Shang Junlin held him close, burying his face in the fragrance of Shen Yu''s hair, the restlessness caused by political matters dissipating in an instant.
"As for the matter of Xu Wanjunmitting acts of murder in Hanzhou, Minister Xu Linghua was unaware. When the crimes of Madam Xu and her daughter were exposed, his astonishment didn''t seem feigned. Further interrogation of Xu family members confirmed this."
"Such a significant matter, how could they have kept it hidden from Minister Xu Linghua? With so many cases of murder, he couldn''t have beenpletely oblivious to the rumors, could he?" Shen Yu found it rather incredulous.
"They were probably able to deceive Minister Xu Linghua due to the fact that he trusted Madam Xu and the pressure from the Cheng family. None of the victims dared or were able to escte the matter, especially since Minister Xu Linghua was known to handle such cases. Officials who relied on Minister Xu Linghua for their positions wouldn''t have dared to speak out. They all believed that Minister Xu Linghua was aware of the situation."
Since their immediate superior was aware, who would willingly stir up trouble by revealing the wrongdoings of their superior''s daughter?
"Furthermore, they epted benefits from the Cheng family. Due to the face they''ve saved, they merely turned a blind eye and kept their mouths shut. It''s an easy thing to do."
Shen Yu discerned the hint of sarcasm in Shang Junlin''s tone and nudged his face. "Now that the truth is revealed, those who chose to remain silent at the beginning have now be aplices. I wonder if they regret their choices."
Regardless of what they might think, the matter had already urred. Regret now wouldn''t change the oue. People had to take responsibility for their actions.
Hanzhou wasn''trge like Subei. It was easy to change a few officials here and there without causing a major upheaval. With the truth exposed, those guilty would all be demoted from their positions, in ordance with thews of Da Huan.
Shen Yu continued, "After the truth was uncovered, those who once chose to remain silent have be essories to the crime. I wonder if they regret their decisions."
Hearing Shen Yu''s analysis, Shang Junlin nodded in agreement.
"Moreover, by epting benefits from the Cheng family, they were inclined to look the other way and close their mouths. It''s quite convenient for them."
Shen Yu sensed the irony in Shang Junlin''s words and brushed his face against his. "Now that the truth hase to light, those who chose to keep silent have be aplices to the crime. I wonder if they''re regretting their choice."
Regardless of what they thought, the deed was done. Now, even if they regretted it, it would be toote. People had to take responsibility for their actions.
Hanzhou wasn''t arge region like Subei, where a small move could trigger a significant effect. It was easy to change officials here, as it was a rtively small ce. Once the truth was revealed, those found guilty would be stripped of their official positions. The punishment was clearly outlined in thews of Da Huan.
They had almost made a grave mistake due to a momentary oversight.
"Given their control over Hanzhou, it''s normal that information couldn''t escape. The fact that no one in the local area dared to speak about these matters made it even harder for the news to spread beyond. If it weren''t for the incident involving the legitimate daughter of the Xu family and Your Majesty''s decision to send officials to Hanzhou to investigate, these matters might have remained hidden forever." Shen Yu leaned back against his seat.
In his previous life, Shen Yu hadn''t heard of this matter at all. Even in the end, the Cheng family survived unscathed, and Xu Linghua remained in Hanzhou until he joined the rebellion led by the King of Yue. Only then did he leave Hanzhou for the capital.
Xu Linghua was genuinely surprised. He had always believed his obedient and well-behaved daughter, at most a bit willful, would nevermit such terrible deeds. Back in prison, his mind was still reeling.
With the Xu family''s mother and daughter punished, their spirits were dejected. Only the Xu family''s illegitimate daughter radiated an unusual gleam in her eyes. She had been waiting for this day for a long time.
Time passed day by day, and the deeds of the Cheng family were gradually brought to light. Numerous individuals consumed by hatred yearned to tear them apart, to feast on their flesh.
The Cheng family members were like ants on a hot te these days, scurrying around in anxious circles.
"Elder brother, has that person responded? What should we do now? Are we just going to wait passively, ending up with our family destroyed and lives lost?"
"It''s been a couple of days. That person said their people would arrive soon. Once they''re here, we can leave."
"Leave? Besides Hanzhou, where can we go?"
"We have only a few more days. That person said their people will be here soon. Once they arrive, we must leave before the official verdict is announced. Otherwise, we won''t be able to escape. That person said someone woulde to help us."
"But..." This course of action would turn them into fugitives.
At night, the King of Yue and his entourage secretly arrived near the Cheng family''s estate.
A servant knocked on the door of the Cheng family''s patriarch, "Master, the guests have arrived."
The head of the Cheng family donned his robe and left his bed.
At the same time, the Hidden Dragon Guards stationed near the Cheng family''s vicinity detected movements from the Cheng family.
Chapter 167
Chapter 167
Guess who''s back? XD
College is a fucking pain especially being a graduating student. So much to do, so much to pay, so much time taken. I want to just immediately graduate and find a job to end this school torture.
I may have to again change my release to 1 chapter a week. Of course, if some angel buy me kofi, there''s a bonus chapter for being such a bright light to doom heart.
Anyways, here''s the superte chapter and I may or may not make mistakes here so please point out if you notice any.
Knowing that the emperor had sent someone to Hanzhou, the King of Yue and his party changed their original n. They had initially intended to go directly to the Cheng family. Given the location of the Cheng family in Hanzhou, there was no safer ce than the Cheng family''s. However, due to the recent events, the Cheng family''s safety was now in jeopardy.
Currently, the court is primarily investigating the actions of Xu Wanjun. The Cheng family has been entrenched in Hanzhou for many years, conducting their affairs discreetly. If it weren''t for Xu Wanjun, they wouldn''t have exposed themselves so quickly.
Do the people behind this not consider other, safer options? It''s just that time is too pressing, and the court is pursuing them urgently from behind. They have no other choice.
The Hidden Dragon Guard operates covertly, while the official face participating in the capture operation is the Imperial Guards of the capital.
Don''t assume that the Imperial Guards are just a ce for the children of officials to make their mark. The Imperial Guards under the control of Shang Junlin are different from the past. These were the first troops to fight alongside him on the battlefield, the ones who have truly fought in the field. Those who wish to join the Imperial Guardster must pass through rigorous assessments, and only the most outstanding individuals are chosen.
A military force like that is not to be taken lightly, and evading their pursuit is no easy task.
If it weren''t for the diversion created by arranging an assassination, the most likely scenario is that they wouldn''t even have been able to leave the Imperial City.
So, even though they knew thating to Hanzhou was unsafe, they had no choice but to take the risk.
When they learned that Xu Wanjun had offended the emperor during the autumn hunt, attracting the attention of the court to Hanzhou, the people behind the scenes were furious. Their foolproof n had been disrupted by a single idiotic mistake. If that person had been in the capital, they might have considered eliminating them on the spot.
The Cheng family was no longer safe, so they had to find another ce. Fortunately, the Cheng family has arge and extensive enterprise with manynd territory, making it easy to select one that was unknown to outsiders. They ultimately chose a remote property in Hanzhou.
Upon receiving the news that the guests had arrived, the head of the Cheng family didn''t rush to that ce but instead called a meeting with influential family members to discuss the situation.
"Now that the guests have arrived, what should we do?"
The Cheng family''s deep roots in Hanzhou made it not easy to give up. No one wanted to abandon a life of luxury andfort for an uncertain path. Except for a few key individuals, most members of the Cheng family were unaware of the situation.
"Are we, the Cheng family, really going to fall apart for such an unidentified personrefers to Shang Jun Yue?" one family member questioned.
"You should ask Xu Wanjun about this matter. If it weren''t for her stirring up trouble, would we need to jeopardize ourselves like this?" another replied.
The previous favor and affection vanished in an instant when interests were at stake.
"She''s the daughter of the family head''s sister. She''s been spoiled since she was a child, and her behavior might be tolerable on our home turf. But in the capital, she''s causing trouble left and right. Sooner orter, it will harm her and others. I kept saying from the beginning that we should discipline her properly, but you all insisted I was having issues with a younger family member..."
This conversation highlights the family''s internal conflict and the tension arising from their involvement with an unidentified person and the trouble they find themselves in.
"Alright, let''s stop talking about it," someone advised when they noticed the family head''s grim expression.
"The situation has already urred. What''s the use in discussing this now? Sometimes talking about this is less productive than figuring out what we should do next."
"Even though it hasn''t affected us directly yet, if those high-ranking officials continue their investigation, they will eventually reach us. We won''t have a choice, right?"
A brief silence fell upon the room.
"What did that high-ranking official say?" someone finally asked.
"He said he couldn''t confront the court for the time being. He instructed us to meet with the guest and leave with them," the head of the Cheng family replied, looking weary.
"With so many members of the Cheng family and so many possessions, are we really going to abandon everything?"
"If we make too big of a move, the court will surely take notice..."
The conversation revolves around the family''s dilemma, considering their options as they discuss whether to abandon their assets and go into hiding or stay and face the consequences.
The intentions of the head of the Cheng family are now quite evident.
In the dead of night, the Cheng family head changed into different clothing and quietly left the family residence to go to the other property. He possessed more information than the other members of the Cheng family and knew the identity of the guest. Given the magnitude of the Cheng family''s current crisis, they were unlikely to escape unscathed. So, he decided to change course and pledge allegiance to another master.
the King of Yue.
He was the favored candidate for thete emperor, and if the Cheng family joined forces with him, they could potentially gain favor and recognition. What did they losepared to what they stood to gain?
He needed to meet this person first.
In another Cheng Family''s property, which was at least somewhat secure, the King of Yue could finally get some rest. However, not long after falling asleep, he was awakened and told that someone hade to see him.
Despite his inner dissatisfaction, he dared not show it on his face. This period of fugitive life had significantly altered his temperament. Whereas he might have once been praised as an elegant young man, the current coldness in his eyes made him seem entirely unrted to that description.
Dressed in his robe, the King of Yue met with the head of the Cheng family.
"Greetings to Your Highness. Your Highness has endured much during this period of time," the head of the Cheng family showed the proper respect expected when addressing the King of Yue.
Shang Jun Yue, who hadn''t received such treatment in a while, visibly rxed and stood up with assistance. "No need for excessive courtesy. This time, I''ll need to rely heavily on the Cheng family."
One person offeredpliments, and the other was pleased. The atmosphere between them was quite amicable.
Before dawn, the head of the Cheng family quietly returned to the Cheng family residence.
What he didn''t know was that every move he made had been closely observed by the Hidden Dragon Guard.
Shang Jun Yueand his party were temporarily settled in Hanzhou, awaiting instructions from their hidden backers on their next destination and course of action.
The information from the Hidden Dragon Guard made its way to the Imperial City. After reviewing the report, Shang Junlin set it aside and turned to Shen Yu. "The King of Yue has arrived in Hanzhou."
"The Hidden Dragon Guard found their trail?" Shen Yu asked, putting the book he was holding back on the shelf and turning to face Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin replied, "They have formed an alliance with the Cheng family."
Shen Yu inquired, "The Cheng family, the inws of Official Xu?"
Shang Junlin confirmed, "Yes."
Shen Yu questioned, "Are they really involved? And regarding that assassination, does Madam Xu have any knowledge of it?"
Shang Junlin said, "She didn''t know. She didn''t even suspect that someone close to her was passing information to the assassins. When the officials from the Ministry of Punishments informed her, she thought they were trying to smear her."
Shen Yu asked, "When does His Majesty n to take action?"
Shang Junlin replied, "We''ll wait a bit longer. They certainly have people waiting for them. I want to find out where those people have their bases."
Shen Yu noted, "If they have operatives in the capital, it''s likely they have them in other ces as well."
As the weather grew colder and winter rain began to fall, the temperature dropped even further. In the pce, the fires were lit, and unless it was necessary, Shen Yu had no intention of venturing outside.
In the capital, not much was happening, and the attention of the court and officials remained focused on the situation in Subei and the ongoing war with Beimo, which was their primary concern. The assassination case and King of Yue''s escape from prison came next.
As Minister Fang''s investigation progressed, the court and officials began to understand that both incidents were connected to the same powerful force.
During the morning court session, Fang Jun stepped forward and said, "I believe that we need to thoroughly investigate the source of the power behind King of Yue. This time, they were willing to attempt to assassinate His Majesty to rescue King of Yue. What might they attempt next? Are they nning to crown King of Yue as the new emperor?!"
A hushed silence fell over the court as Minister Fang''s words resonated. His statement was quite audacious, but it echoed the concerns of the other ministers. The audacity to break King of Yue out of prison and attempt to assassinate the emperor raised the question: were they aiming to change the ruling dynasty next?
No one wanted to witness such an oue.
If King of Yue''s rebellion were to seed, they would be former officials of the old dynasty, and in history, how many former officials fared well in such circumstances? Even for the sake of self-preservation, they couldn''t allow this situation to unfold.
After a considerable pause, another minister stood up and dered, "I believe Minister Fang''s words are absolutely correct. We must thoroughly investigate this matter!"
Following this, more and more ministers began to voice their support for Minister Fang''s approach.
The confrontation with King Yue and the force behind him was now brought into the open.
"Since you all believe that a thorough investigation is needed, Minister Fang, you will be responsible for this matter. As of this moment, King of Yue''s title is temporarily revoked. If it is determined that the King of Yue is innocent, I willpensate him. If King Yue truly has treasonous intentions, he shouldn''t me me for not sparing him due to our family ties," Shang Junlin''s words served as the final verdict on the matter.
In addition to Fang Jun, Shang Junlin also appointed several officials from the Ministry of Punishments and the Supreme Court to work on the case. He dispatched officials and troops to King of Yue''s fief, as the title andnd needed to return to the court.
King Yue''s crimes, including his escape, the assassination attempt, and maintaining private armed forces, were publicized one by one, cementing the suspicions of his disloyalty.
Overnight, Shang Jun Yue went from being a heavenly prince to a rebel, and the public sentiment shifted dramatically.
"I can''t believe it. King of Yue was actually like this behind the scenes. I used to think he was a gentle prince. I must have been blind."
"What King of Yue? He''s no longer that. But this guy''s character is really terrible. It''s said that he used to get involved with several ministers'' daughters simultaneously, and when caught, he didn''t even admit it."
"Yes, it happened at the Yingxing House. Many people saw it, but they kept quiet to protect the reputation of those girls. It just goes to show that no matter how well someone disguises themselves, they''ll eventually be exposed."
"Do you remember those rumors that tarnished His Majesty''s name? Those were spread by King of Yue too."
"So you mean he''s been plotting treachery for a while?"
"Have you seen his own behavior? How can he evenpare himself to His Majesty? He''s just a hypocrite who says one thing and does another. Being a prince is just his good fortune."
In a short span of time, King of Yue''s reputation among themon people hit rock bottom. In contrast, Shang Junlin''s reputation improved. The citizens firmly believed that all the past negative incidents were concocted by King of Yue to tarnish the Emperor''s image.
Numerous schrs wrote articles denouncing their previous gullibility and vowed to develop better judgment in the future, pledging not to blindly follow popr opinions.
A new trend among schrs emerged, and countless articles praising the current emperor were published, which was something no one had anticipated.
Shen Yu, upon hearing the news, teasingly asked, "How do you feel now, Your Majesty?"
He rested his chin on his hands, gazing up at Shang Junlin with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
In addition to official news outlets, the court also published a newspaper in coboration with Shen Yu''s publishing house. This newspaper documented various interesting stories from themon people and epted contributions from citizens, as well as featuring reviews of quality goods at affordable prices. It became quite popr among themon folk.
During this period, the newspaper was filled with articles either strongly criticizing Shang Jun Yue orvishly praising Shang Junlin, creating a stark contrast.
Shang Junlin, who was reading documents at the time, heard Shen Yu''s words. He lifted his other hand and gently pinched Shen Yu''s cheek, saying, "Making fun of me?"
Shen Yu shook his head, and his eyes twinkled with a subtle light. "Of course not. I''m just genuinely happy for Your Majesty."
Shang Junlin released Shen Yu''s cheek, then cupped his chin, leaned in, and kissed his lips.
"All of this is because of you, Ah Yu..."
The whispered words disappeared into their kiss, which gradually deepened.
Eyyy retribution~
Anyways, I think King of Yue is a bit too much. I think King Yue is much better, same with King Li, right? I dont know. What do you guys prefer? Stay as ease or change it?
If you want to support me, considering donating to my kofi ToT
Notice (to be deleted before the next Chapter)
Notice (to be deleted before the next Chapter)
So around chapter 155-167, the chapter is already meticulously edited. While I was editing, I cursed myself numerous times because of such mistakes. Anyways, i know the early first chapters, are a mess. Dont tell me about it. So, I''ll update the next chapter maybe tomorrow and after that, I will do a big rehauling of the early chapters.
Please note of this change:
Instead of King of Yue, I will opt for King Yue. I think its much easier to read it like that than the former one. I have already applied that change on my just recently edited chapters 155-167. That is the only thing I think that needs major changing.
You may notice that the dates when I edited it jumps literally at any chapter. Its because I backtrack to chapters I remember i made mistakes and needed some editing. So dont be confused about it.
I will inform you all if I made some major changes so that you can prepare. I am aiming for this novel to be finished before New Year''s eve so expect some regr releases. And I promise, I''ll never go hiatus unless I finish this novel.
As of the other finished esports novel i tranted, that novel needed some rehauling cause damn, I messed up some references.
Please do note that I used any means to trante the novel and edited it to make it more sense. Thus, this is not a 100% trantion. If you dont like that, well I suggest you find another trantion or novel.
I am also asking the opinions of the readers to help me point out mistakes.
That is all.
Love lots
Chapter 168
Chapter 168
Update for this week <3
In the candlelight, the two figures gradually merged together.
At some point, Shen Yu changed his position, and the documents on the table were swept away by his sleeves. But at this moment, neither of them cared.
Shen Yu sat in Shang Junlin''sp and tilted his head slightly.
His slender, fair fingers rested on the dark-colored robes and clenched as they followed the man''s movements.
Like lotus leaves swaying in a storm, they rose and fell.
The night grew darker.
The imperial wanted posters were distributed throughout thend, and news of them reached Hanzhou as well.
To avoid being discovered, King Yue and his party had been hiding in the remote property since their arrival. They received the news through the Cheng family head.
"The court has issued wanted posters. At this point, there might be no safe ce left for King Yue, even in his fief. Can Your Highness return there?" The Cheng family head, despite hisposed exterior, was filled with anxiety.
He knew that King Yue had escaped from prison and understood that this day woulde sooner orter. However, he hadn''t anticipated it happening so quickly. While the Cheng family no longer had any choices, he was having a hard time reconciling with openly aligning himself with an outsider who, in the eyes of the world, was a rebel.
"As for the fief, I have soldiers stationed there, and I''ve already sent a message for them to join us. I can''t return to the fief for the time being. Since the Emperor has officially used me of treason, he won''t allow me to return to the fief afterward."
King Yue was truly caught between a rock and a hard ce. Most of his forces were in his fief, and he had no usable allies by his side now. With the charge of treason hanging over his head, he couldn''t return to the Imperial City either. Going back would only be walking into a trap with no way out.
If Shang Junlin acted unfairly, then he shouldn''t me King Yue for acting unjustly in return.
Thebel of rebellion had been ced upon him, and what could he do about it? It was all because Shang Junlin had forced him into this position. Wasn''t he just trying to protect himself?
"How many men do you have on your side here?" King Yue turned to the middle-aged man who had remained silent by his side.
"What does Your Highness intend to do?" The middle-aged man''s eyes shed with a glint.
"Isn''t it what you''ve been hoping I''d do all along? Why bother pretending, Mr. Qin?" King Yue replied irritably.
"Your Highness, it''s best if youe to terms with your decision on your own. I and the forces behind me will be at your service," Mr. Qin smiled as he stroked his beard.
"As for my family, we''re also willing to serve Your Highness loyally," the Cheng family head expressed his loyalty.
With the decision to rise in rebellion, King Yue''s camp swiftly sprang into action. The Cheng family held considerable influence in Hanzhou, with many officials in the region having intricate connections with them. They acted decisively, seizing control of most of the local power structures. The Imperial officials sent to Hanzhou were detained, and King Yue''s group officially took over the local government, making Hanzhou their stronghold.
Their reinforcements, informed of the situation, began streaming into Hanzhou. This force numbered in the thousands. The highest-rankingmander of the Hanzhou garrison was the son-inw of the Cheng family and had long been loyal to them. With the Cheng family''s support for King Yue, he joined their rebellion. Those who opposed him were publicly executed, instilling fear and quashing any dissent.
Hanzhou had undergone aplete transformation.
King Yue had sent messages to his supporters, who were individuals he had arranged long ago and were not all stationed in his fief. Upon receiving the news, they discreetly made their way to Hanzhou.
Mr. Qin''s associates also began arriving in Hanzhou, and in no time, the city had gathered tens of thousands of troops.
This winter was destined to be anything but peaceful.
The news from Hanzhou to the Capital had been blocked, but Shang Junlin received the information through the Hidden Dragon Guards.
"King Yue has rebelled," Shang Junlin said, crushing the paper note in his hand into fragments that fell to the floor.
"What?" Shen Yu stood up in surprise. "King Yue has openly rebelled?"
After the initial shock, Shen Yu realized it wasn''t entirely unexpected. King Yue had harbored rebellious intentions for some time, and now he was simply acting on his long-held ns.
"When they arrived in Hanzhou and learned about the Imperial warrant for their arrest, they allied with the Cheng family and took control of Hanzhou directly. The Imperial officials sent there have gone missing, and half of the Hidden Dragon Guards were lost before they could send the message out," Shang Junlin said with a cold tone.
"What''s the current situation in Hanzhou?" Shen Yu asked with concern, furrowing his brow.
"The garrison in Hanzhou has all defected, and with reinforcementsing from an unknown source, Hanzhou now has an army of eighty thousand troops. The Hidden Dragon Guards report that there are continuous arrivals of reinforcements," Shang Junlin replied.
King Yue had outmaneuvered them with a time dy, and if it weren''t for the Hidden Dragon Guards risking their lives to send the message, they would have been eventer to learn of it.
Shang Junlin immediately summoned his ministers for a council.
Inside the study, upon hearing the news from Hanzhou, the ministers collectively gasped in disbelief. None of them had expected that King Yue would actually have the audacity to rebel.
"Where did King Yue get so many troops and horses?" one minister asked, visibly puzzled.
Princes had the right to maintain private armies, but the scale was typically limited, even for a prince of King Yue''s status, who could maintain up to two thousand troops. The current situation, however, involved a force of over eighty thousand troops, and their numbers were still increasing. The question remained: where did all these troopse from?
Many ministers had this question in mind.
"Since he harbored disloyalty for some time, it''s not surprising that he secretly raised a private army. Our concern now should be how to handle the issue with King Yue," the Prime Minister interjected, refocusing the discussion.
"That''s a valid point," another minister added, "King Yue''s guilt has been established, but the situation in Subei is still ongoing with Beimo. Who should we send to suppress this rebellion?"
Given the dearth of capable military leaders after the prior emperor''s downfall, the choices for leading the campaign were quite limited. Sending the Emperor himself into battle was not an option unless the situation grew much more dire.
"In regards to suppressing the rebellion, there''s someone in mind," Shang Junlin said, "Apart from Hanzhou, we need to be concerned about the situation in Yuezhou as well."
Yuezhou was part of King Yue''s domain. Shang Junlin had dispatched officials to oversee Yuezhou temporarily. However, with King Yue''s rebellion, Yuezhou might not remain peaceful for long.
"Yuezhou is prosperous and was originally given to King Yue by thete Emperor. King Yue won''t give it up easily. The court needs to make early preparations."
"We should start by carefully guarding the surrounding areas, and if anyone is found trying to stir up trouble, they should be dealt with on the spot. The court also needs to send reinforcement troops as soon as possible."
Yuezhou, an area that had long been under King Yue''s rule, was thrown into turmoil following his rebellion. He had deep ties with the local power structures, and if the usations against King Yue turned out to be true, they wouldn''t escape post-rebellion repercussions.
"Now, what should we do?" Leaders of various factions in Yuezhou gathered to discuss their options.
"It turns out the reason His Highness has been absent for so long is that he''s been trapped in the capital. Now, the capital has forced him into rebellion. We have benefited greatly from His Highness''s kindness, so we can''t abandon him at a time like this."
"That makes sense. His Highness has been diligent and fair all these years, and Yuezhou has thrived under his rule. Without King Yue, we wouldn''t be where we are today. Regardless of the circumstances, we must stand behind King Yue!"
The concerns voiced by these local factions were not without reason. Their loyalty and self-interest were closely tied to King Yue. Fortunately, the court had acted swiftly to quell any minor uprisings.
Shang Junlin appointed a general from the court to lead an expedition against King Yue.
"The war with Beimo should be ending soon, right?"
Shang Junlin approached from behind and wrapped his arms around the chilly figure of his beloved. "It''s close. As the weather gets colder, it bes harder for Beimo to hold out."
The battle with Beimo had been in a stalemate for over a month, and it was high time it concluded.
"It''s hard to believe it''s been nearly a year since I met His Majesty," Shen Yu said as he extended his hand, letting a snowke settle there, melting quickly.
Shang Junlin held Shen Yu tighter. "It''s been only a year so far. In the years toe, Ah Yu will spend them all with me."
Shen Yu asked, "How is the situation in Hanzhou?"
Due to the incident in Hanzhou, members of the Xu family, who should have been dealt with by now, were still imprisoned, awaiting their final judgment.
Shang Junlin replied, "The city gates are closed, and King Yue has remained holed up inside, refusing toe out and engage inbat."
Shen Yu pondered, "With the addition of so many people in Hanzhou, how long can they sustain themselves regarding food supplies? King Yue can''t possibly remain holed up indefinitely."
Shang Junlin replied, "That is his concern. I just want to uncover the people hiding behind him."
The lingering threat left by thete Emperor was always a thorn in Shang Junlin''s side.
In Hanzhou, King Yue had not anticipated Shang Junlin''s swift actions. It happened so fast that he hadn''t had time to prepare, and now he was trapped inside Hanzhou. They say, "Feed the horses before moving the army." At this moment, King Yue was being backed into a corner. He had soldiers, but he had nothing else.
Fortunately, the Cheng family was willing to support him, and they had control of Hanzhou, so food supplies weren''t an immediate concern. However, it was not a long-term solution. Hanzhou was under siege, with no oneing in or going out. His main forces were in his own territory, and the situation was uncertain.
"Your Highness."
"It''s you, Tan-xianshengIt can mean a doctor, a teacher or sir. In this case, Sir is the best context here.," King Yue greeted with a dignified nod. The people around him were more respectful to him now.
"How is the situation outside?"
"It remains the same," Tan-xiansheng shook his head.
"Your Highness."
"I said from the beginning that we should leave as soon as possible, while the court hadn''t reacted. But Tan-xiansheng, you never agreed. Did you anticipate that we would end up trapped in Hanzhou like this?"
King Yue''s anger could no longer be contained, and he vented his frustration at Tan-xiansheng.
After the appearance of the Hidden Dragon Guards in Hanzhou, King Yue was prepared to leave with his troops but was stopped by Tan-xiansheng, who told him to wait a little longer. He waited and waited until the court sent arge army.
If he hadn''t been rescued by Tan-xiansheng and the others, he would have suspected that Shang Junlin''s people were ying games with him.
"Why the hurry, Your Highness? The court is currently tied up with the situation in Beimo. How many troops can they spare toe here? Our scouts have reported that there are at most fifty thousand troops outside, which is less than half our numbers. Can they really stop us with just that?
"Your Highness, I advise you not to underestimate Shang Junlin. He has plenty of examples of winning against the odds. It was his victory with fewer troops against arger force that brought him years of peace after defeating thete Emperor.
"Your Highness, have peace of mind. If you want to seed, will our troops alone be enough? Your message to your people has been delivered, and once they all arrive, the real show can begin."
King Yue''s gaze flickered, and he replied, "Tan-xiansheng is right. I''m being too impatient. I''m just worried that the people of Hanzhou might be dissatisfied with being trapped for so long."
Up until now, King Yue hadn''t figured out how many cards these people had up their sleeves. They seemed to be helping him, but their motives were evidently not entirely pure.
King Yue was brought out of prison hastily, and he had too few loyal followers by his side. To achieve their goal, he had to rely on Tan-xiansheng and the people behind him. As for what happened afterward, they could decide when the mission waspleted.
"Trivial pests. Those who don''t obey can be killed," Tan-xiansheng said indifferently.
Chapter 169
Chapter 169
Look, who''s back from the dead? Do you believe I almost died doing my thesis? No? Well, you should. I have already had my final defense and thank god I passed. Right now, Im in my internship era, and updates will be slow af. But here you go. I present to you a new chapter.
P.S. Go check out my new tranted novel. <3
"In reality, this situation is advantageous for us as well. Beimo''s diversion effectively ties up the main forces of the court."
"Tan-xiansheng, aren''t you concerned about Beimo prevailing? If that were the case, wouldn''t my first act upon ascending to the throne be surrendering to them?" King Yue expressed discontent.
"Those lofty-minded individuals in Beimo are no match for the Subei Army. Who''s to say that when the timees, among those celebrating Your Highness''s sess, there won''t also be victories from the Subei Army?" Tan-xiansheng remarked.
"It seems Tan-xiansheng is quite knowledgeable about the people of Beimo?" King Yue inquired, seemingly nonchnt.
"We''ve had some dealings. Your Highness need not worry about their side. Even if we were to face defeat, it wouldn''t be catastrophic. At most, we''d return Beimo to them."
King Yue remained silent. He was aware of the duration of public condemnation following the relinquishment of Beimo by thete emperor. Even if such a scenario were to ur, he was determined not to shoulder that me.
As if discerning his thoughts, Tan-xiansheng continued, "Even if we were to cede Beimo eventually, what of it? This war wasn''t instigated by you. When the timees, you''ll emerge as the victor. Changing people''s perceptions somewhat won''t be too challenging, will it?"
"Tan-xiansheng makes a valid point. Should we continue to wait for now? Could you enlighten us, Tan-xiansheng, about what exactly we are awaiting?" King Yue didn''t wish to remain uninformed.
"Naturally, we''re awaiting someone who can aid us in achieving victory decisively," Tan-xiansheng responded, but he declined to provide further details.
The troops dispatched by the court weren''t solely stationed around Hanzhou. Before their departure, they were specifically instructed to remain vignt, as the enemy might not only be within the confines of Hanzhou but also elsewhere.
Consequently, in addition to the troops encircling the city, the general tasked with quelling the rebellion allocated a portion of his forces to search for suspicious individuals in the surrounding areas.
Particrly towards the west.
Hanzhou was situated in an expansive region, with mountains to the west providing cover. Previous armies had entered Hanzhou through this route.
The mountainous terrain was sparsely popted, making it an ideal hiding ce.
The situation in Hanzhou has reached a stalemate. On the other hand, upon receiving orders from the court, troops stationed in various regions surrounded King Yue''s territory, awaiting the arrival of emissaries from the court.
"In Your Majesty''s opinion, who should be sent to Yuezhou?" In the warmly lit chamber, Shen Yu removed his thick cloak and handed it to a servant attending to him.
He and Shang Junlin had just entered from outside, andpared to the cold outdoors, the temperature inside the chamber was noticeably warmer. Considering Shen Yu''s health, the heating in the Yu Zhang Pce was set a bit higher than in other pces.
"Xun Chao." Shang Junlin took off his outer garment and sat down on the edge of the soft couch.
Xun Chao, a venerable figure who had performed admirably in the matter of Subei, had taken over Fang Jun''s previous position upon their return to the court. Shang Junlin trusted him greatly, and it seemed fitting to send him for this task.
"Xun-dashen is meticulous; I believe he can handle the affairs in YuezhouKing Yue''s fiefdom. Just shortened and retained the pinyin quitepetently."
Servants brought hot tea for the two men. Shen Yu picked up a cup, and after drinking, he felt warmth spreading throughout his body.
"I initially intended to send Fang Jun. But with the recent surge of affairs in the court, before I could even mention it, the Prime Minister intervened."
Fang Jun had finally entered the Grand Secretariat, and the Prime Minister was not keen on seeing him dispatched elsewhere. With so much to handle in the court, if Fang Jun were sent to deal with the matters in Yuezhou, it would again fall upon the Prime Minister to manage all sorts of affairs, big and small.
"The Prime Minister has finally found someone to share the administrative burden. Your Majesty shouldn''t trouble him further," Shen Yu chuckled lightly.
"Both he and Fang Jun rmended Xun Chao. I didn''t object. Despite his significant contributions in Subei, it cannot be denied that there were certain... incidents involving him and those individuals. Some in the court have been holding onto that." Shang Junlin pulled the person''s wrist, drawing them into his embrace.
"Does Your Majesty not understand what these ministers are thinking? They simply feel that Xun-dashen is obstructing their paths. It''s true, they can always find fault. This trip to Yuezhou to resolve matters there is perfect. If it''s executed wlessly, the court won''t have anyone clinging onto his past missteps."
"That''s precisely my thinking as well. The Prime Minister and Fang Jun suggested it, surely with such considerations in mind."
Upon receiving the royal decree, Xun Chao wasted no time in the court and immediately led his entourage towards Yuezhou. Besides Xun Chao, Shang Junlin also dispatched several officials to apany him, including those from noble families and others from humble backgrounds.
Coincidentally or not, most of these individuals were the same officials who had originally apanied Fang Jun to Subei.
This journey wasn''t entirely safe. Though King Yue wasn''t physically present in Yuezhou, his many years in the fiefdom likely left behind some potential threats. One of Xun Chao''s objectives was to address these contingencies.
"Your Majesty, news from Subei! The Subei Army has achieved a resounding victory, and Beimo has surrendered!" Minister Meng burst into the room, excitement lighting up his face.
Shortly after, the court received the surrender letter from Beimo.
"This is excellent news! The heavens favor our great nation!"
Despite the expectation of victory for the Subei Army, receiving the official confirmation was a different matter. Until everything settled, there was always a chance for unexpected developments.
But now, things have changed. The war with Beimo had ended, the oue was clear, and there would be no more surprises.
During the morning court session, the ministers disyed evident joy. Ever since they learned about King Yue amassing troops, the worries that had gued them for so long could finally beid to rest.
With the Subei Army no longer entangled by Beimo, achieving sess for King Yue became even more challenging.
The following day, the newspapers covered the event.
"I always had faith in the Subei Army''s victory. This is fantastic; Beimo got what it deserved!"
"I heard Beimo boasted about teaching us a lesson this time. Yet, they ended up defeated by the Subei Army."
"They''ve been defeated before; who gave them the confidence to challenge the Subei Army?"
"Will the court demand reparations from Beimo? They once demanded the entirety of Subei; I believe they shouldpensate us with somend in return."
"It''s not just Subei; they emptied half of the national treasury back then."
"Wouldn''t it seem undignified for us to demand reparations first?"
"At a time like this, dignity matters little. What''s important is seizing tangible benefits. They certainly didn''t care about dignity when they demanded it from us."
"Exactly."
The court was abuzz with controversy over this matter.
Beimo has presented a surrender letter, and that''s allno further indications.
"We can''t just let this slide," the Prime Minister spoke up. "If we lightly let them off this time, will Beimo think that losing a war with us doesn''t matter? After all, they won''t have to pay any price, and they can freely invade Subei whenever they want in the future."
"Although that''s true, as a great nation, we shouldn''t diminish ourselves by actively demanding reparations," another official remarked.
"Why not?" the Minister of Revenue retorted, ring at the speaker. "Do you really think we haven''t incurred any losses just because we won the war? Do you want me to itemize how much money this war has cost us?"
Without waiting for a response, the Minister of Revenue began to list out the expenses.
Regardless of when it happens, war always entails significant costs. If it weren''t for the new relief model implemented this year, which didn''t entirely rely on the national treasury, Beimo''s strategy might have seeded.
The cost of a war is no less significant than that of relief efforts. If the national treasury had been depleted solely due to relief efforts, this war could have crippled the economy of our nation.
After the Minister of Revenue finished listing the expenses, no one in the court raised any objections.
Fang Jun also stepped forward. "Even for the sake of deterrence,pensation is necessary. If they don''t pay anything at all, Beimo will feel emboldened to attack whenever they please. Only by making them feel the pain this time will they hesitate beforeunching another war in the future."
"Fang Jun''s words make sense. Otherwise, wouldn''t others see us, people from Da Huan, as easy targets? They could just attack us at will, even if they lose, there''d be no consequences."
The opinions in the court quickly leaned towards demandingpensation from Beimo.
Seated on the dragon throne, Shang Junlin waited until themotion subsided before speaking up, "Minister of Revenue, calcte the losses incurred this time. Then, discuss the specifics ofpensation with the Prime Minister and several other esteemed ministers."
"Understood, Your Majesty," the Minister of Revenue bowed.
Next on the agenda was the discussion of rewards and promotions for the victorious soldiers. Since they had won the battle, promotions, and rewards were essential, none of which should be spared.
Shang Junlin was always generous with his soldiers, offering ample rewards and promotions. In this instance, he even made an exception by directly promoting a young soldier who had recently joined the Subei Army and performed exceptionally in several battles.
The ministers were ustomed to Emperor Shang Junlin''s generosity in this regard, and none dared to upset him at this moment.
After the morning court session, Shang Junlin retained a few ministers in his study for further discussion.
"I think the grasnd adjacent to Subei is a good option. What do you think, Prime Minister?"
The Prime Minister caught Lord Shang Junlin''s subtle hint and responded, "I agree, Your Majesty. DaHuan could certainly use such a grasnd."
The other ministers also voiced their agreement.
Seeing the ministers understanding his intention, Shang Junlin felt satisfied, "Draw up a rough n for thepensation, and then submit it to me for review."
"As youmand, Your Majesty."
With the surrender of Beimo, the court once again became busy. On his way back to the Yu Zhang Pce, the Prime Minister couldn''t help but feel relieved. If it weren''t for keeping Fang Jun back then, all these matters would have fallen squarely on his shoulders. Now, at least, he had Fang Jun to share the burden.
As Shang Junlin stepped out, a light rain began to fall. Minister Meng hurriedly brought an umbre, "Your Majesty, are you heading straight to the Yu Zhang Pce?"
"Yes."
A servant brought a cloak, and Lord Shang Junlin donned it before walking out into the rain.
Meanwhile, Shen Yu was busy painting in his studio.
With just a few strokes, the figure of a man was captured on the paper.
The sky was gray and murky, thend scorched ck by the spreading mes of war. Amidst it all stood the man, sword in hand.
gsy fallen, gpoles broken, and the only ssh of color on the canvas was the vivid red of blood sttered across it.
Shen Yu meticulously transferred the images from his mind onto the paper.
The man in the painting didn''t reveal his face, d in ebony armor with a mask made of dark iron covering his features.
With bowed head, Shen Yu delicately traced intricate patterns onto the mask with a fine silver pen.
As Shang Junlin entered, he didn''t bother having the servants announce him. Minister Meng stood outside with a cloak and umbre, understanding enough not to intrude.
The steady footsteps broke the silence of the room.
As Shen Yu finished the final stroke, he looked up.
A man dressed in regal ck attire and imperial crown approached him, gradually merging with the figure in the painting, d in armor. The face beneath the mask, previously indistinct, became clear in an instant.
"What are you painting, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin walked over.
"I''m painting Your Majesty." Shen Yu ced the brush back on its stand.
Shang Junlin approached, observing Shen Yu for a moment before shifting his gaze to the painting.
"Why are you painting Me with a mask?"
"Don''t you think it adds a mysterious allure?" Shen Yu inquired.
Shang Junlin pondered for a moment, "So Ah Yu enjoys this sort of thing. I''ll have someone make a simr one for you to try on."
"With a mask," Shang Junlin leaned in close behind Shen Yu, whispering in his ear with a lowered voice, "Will Ah Yu be more excited?"
Author''s note:
Role-ying theater:
A man wearing a mask covering the upper half of his face, with a cold and distant demeanor. Shen Yu, feeling an urgent desire to kiss his lips, but ultimately only touches the cold surface of the mask...
(High and mighty guards and their protected young masters are always an enticing trope!)
Chapter 170
Chapter 170
Wee to our weekly update~
Shen Yu hesitated for a moment before grasping what Shang Junlin meant, and unwilling to appear weak, he retorted, "Your Majesty can certainly give it a try."
"Ah Yu, you promised me, so you can''t go back on your word," Shang Junlin chuckled lightly.
"What do I have to regret?" Shen Yu licked his lips. "Your Majesty is unique. It should be an interesting experience."
Shang Junlin nibbled on his earlobe and picked up the painting on the table. "How did Ah Yue up with painting me like this?"
"Perhaps I''ve heard too much these days and couldn''t help but wonder what Your Majesty, who leads in battle, would be like," Shen Yu replied. He had never seen Shang Junlin in such a light, and people always have a great interest in the unfamiliar.
"If Ah Yu wishes to see, just say it. There are the armors I wore in the pce back then. I''ll have Meng Chang find them," Shang Junlin fulfilled his minor wish, amused by Shen Yu''s satisfaction.
Upon receiving the order, Meng-gonggong went to the storage to find the armor Shang Junlin had worn in the past, cleaned it, and presented it.
Shang Junlin raised his arm to ask the pce servant to help him put it on, but Shen Yu stopped him.
Looking at the armor gleaming with cold light nearby, Shen Yu said, "I can already imagine how Your Majesty would look in it."
Shang Junlin approached. "Why don''t you want to see?"
"I hope I''ll never see Your Majesty wearing this armor," Shen Yu''s voice lowered gradually.
Under what circumstances would an emperor wear armor?
Only at a critical moment when there are no capable people in the court, would such a possibility arise. Shen Yu hoped Da Huan could remain stable forever and never face such a day.
"Since Ah Yu doesn''t want to see, I won''t wear it," Shang Junlin waved his hand. "Take it away."
The pce servants retreated with the armor.
Seeing that Shen Yu''s mood wasn''t high, Shang Junlin intended to bring up something that would make him happy.
"Beimo has been defeated. I''ve instructed the Prime Minister and the Minister of Revenue, among other high-ranking officials, to discusspensation matters. Is there anything you would like?" Shang Junlin asked.
"Beimo is willing topensate? Did they propose it voluntarily?" Shen Yu was surprised. From his perspective, Beimo didn''t seem like they would be so generous.
"Of course not. They merely sent a surrender letter. Thepensation was demanded by me. They initiated the provocation, so they must pay the price," Shang Junlin exined.
"You''re right. If we don''t make them feel the pain, they''ll dare to provoke us again," Shen Yu fully approved of Shang Junlin''s approach.
"Some officials in the court think this approachcks grace. I believe they''ve spent too much time buried in books over the years. There''s no room for grace when dealing with aggressors who attacked Da Huan," Shang Junlin expressed his dissatisfaction with those conservative old officials.
"Your Majesty need not concern yourself with them. Compensation is necessary. What war doesn''t involve sacrifices? Even for those soldiers who sacrificed their lives, they deserve fullpensation," Shen Yu argued.
And as for the sacrifices made by the other side, what? Wasn''t it their own decision to start the conflict? What does that have to do with them Da Huan?
"In this war, Gu Huai''s performance was outstanding. In a little while, he''ll be able to return to the capital and report on his achievements," Shang Junlin said as he caressed Shen Yu''s long hair.
"Has Your Majesty publicly announced his achievements in the court? Does Physician Gu know what Gu Huai has been doing during this time?" Despite the distance and the presence of Physician Gu between them in this life, Shen Yu couldn''t help but inquire about Gu Huai''s situation.
"Not yet. There are some issues with his identity. I n to wait until he returns to discuss it," Shang Junlin replied.
Originally, without this sudden war, Gu Huai would have stayed in Subei for at least three or four more years, providing a buffer and allowing for more significant maneuverability.
In Subei Military Camp.
After the victory in the war, the Sumilitarymanders held a celebratory feast, indulging those deserving of reward with good food and drink.
"What is Junior General Gu doing?" Amander who usually got along well with Gu Huai approached him.
They clinked their wine vessels, and Gu Huai said, "I''m thinking about how to tell my family I want to go back."
"Just tell them straightforwardly. Junior General Gu has made great contributions this time. Even if you don''t say anything, the court will remember you," themander encouraged.
"It''s not that. I don''t know how to tell my family because I left without their knowledge," Gu Huai took a sip of wine.
"I see. Don''t worry. A real man seeks adventures far and wide. Besides, you''ve made significant achievements now. Your family won''t me you," themander reassured. He understood that Gu Huai was still young, and initially, many brothers didn''t respect his leadership. However, after several victories, everyone recognized his abilities.
You couldn''t afford not to acknowledge him. Despite his young age, he had a natural talent for warfare. He could turn the tide in even the most difficult situations. It could be said that as long as he intervened, there was no chance of defeat.
Those who were initially reluctant to follow him in his unit, now all called him "General Gu" with utmost respect.
Gu Huai gazed at the moon in the sky and fell silent. It had been a long time since he parted ways with his brother, and he did so without saying goodbye. He wondered if his brother was angry with him.
"By the way, you''re from the capital, right? The medicines from there are really effective. Thanks to the ones brought by Head Physician Wu, many injured soldiers were saved. Our current Emperor is also generous, allocating military funds without hesitation. If it weren''t for the timely provision of provisions after the disaster relief, winning this battle would have been much more difficult than it is now."
After winning the battle, there was jubtion throughout Subei, while the atmosphere in Beimo was bleak.
When they initiated the war, the people in Beimo never imagined they would suffer such a devastating loss.
"Weren''t we told that the Subei military funds were insufficient? Is this what you meant by not being able to sustain for more than a few days?" The Emperor of Beimo was filled with anger at being yed around by the Subei military these past few days.
"Well... the news from Subei did indicate that the military funds of Subei were used to aid the people. At that time, our people hadn''t been discovered yet. It was impossible to send back false information," one minister stammered.
"How do you exin the current situation then?" The Emperor pressed further, but the ministers could only mumble in response.
"Forget it, we lost, and we surrendered. Anything else is futile," the Emperor of Beimo seemed to have resigned himself to the situation, letting out a deep sigh.
They couldn''t win the fight, so what else could they do but ept it?
"Your Majesty, there''s a rumor I''ve heard. It''s said that one of Da Huan''s princes has rebelled with his troops. Perhaps we could coborate with him..." a minister cautiously suggested.
The Emperor of Beimo eyes gleamed with interest. "Is that so? Please borate."
The minister spoke with lowered eyelids, concealing his calctions. "I also stumbled upon this information identally. In fact, thete Emperor of Da Huan favored not the current Emperor sitting on the throne, but another prince, who is leading his troops to reim the position that rightfully belongs to him, His Royal Highness, King Yue..."
Under the cloak of night, numerous conspiracies were being concocted by those with ulterior motives.
After finishing their evening meal, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin took a stroll in the corridor.
Shen Yu spoke first, "Even though we emerged victorious this time, Your Majesty should remain vignt regarding Beimo''s activities, particrly since the matter concerning King Yue remains unresolved."
"Do you suspect that King Yue might collude with Beimo?" inquired Shang Junlin.
Shen Yu replied, "Do you recall the individuals who manipted Feng Pingqi from behind the scenes? They were also in contact with the disposed Subei officials. While we''ve yet to find concrete evidence linking them to collusion with Beimo, we cannot dismiss the possibility."
"This defeat will undoubtedly deepen Beimo''s animosity towards Da Huan, especially given the significant losses we inflicted upon them. If both parties find a means tomunicate, collusion bes a distinct possibility," analyzed Shang Junlin.
To forestall such a development, Shang Junlin issued directives to officials across various regions, especially those bordering Beimo like Subei, urging them to promptly report any unusual activities.
The court''s directives swiftly reached Subei.
He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing now possessed the capability to lead independently. Following Fang Jun''s departure, they quickly matured, firmly grasping control of Subei and swiftly bringing it into line.
Rather than assuming managerial responsibilities, Fang Jiayi favored engagement with Beimo. Owing to her previous aplishments, the court awarded her a more fitting position.
Yao Ji opted not to leave but instead became a minor clerk under Fang Jiayi''s direction, adopting the name Jiang Yao.
With Fang Jiayi''s remarkable performance, the people of Subei weed the emergence of a second woman involved in governmental affairs.
Upon receiving the court''s decree, senior officials in Subei convened to deliberate on subsequent actions.
"The court insists that Beimo''s surrender alone is insufficient; they mustpensate for the losses incurred by Da Huan this time," summarized one official.
"I feared the court might simply ept the surrender without further repercussions. The document sent by Beimo only bore the title of surrender, devoid of any acknowledgment of wrongdoing," added another official.
"They likely assumed that Da Huan wouldn''t hold them ountable. I can already envision their expressions upon receiving this document in Beimo," spected yet another.
"It appears we''ll once again need to rely on Miss Fang to intervene," remarked another official.
Today, every official in Subei understood that once Fang Jiayi took action, Beimo would have no choice but to capitte without resistance.
As the weather grew colder, Shang Junlin''s birthday drew near.
Last year, Shen Yu presented him with a manual, a gesture of goodwill. Now, their rtionship had evolved, warranting a gift different from before.
Given the unique circumstances, Shang Junlin opted not to host an borate birthday banquet this year.
On the day of his birthday, Shang Junlin remained upied with state affairs.
Shen Yu had prepared his birthday gift in advance: a painting.
In contrast to the previous piece, which depicted a battlefield in somber hues, this painting featured vibrant warm colors, capturing the lively essence of spring with birdsong and blooming flora.
Anticipating the opportunity to present the painting, Shen Yu found it difficult to rest that night.
Sensing hispanion''s restlessness once more, Shang Junlin tenderly held him close. "If sleep eludes you, perhaps we can find another activity to enjoy together."
Although fatigued, Shen Yu nudged Shang Junlin with half-open eyes. "What time is it?"
"We''re nearing midnight. Come, let''s rest. Whatever matters you have can wait until tomorrow," Shang Junlin suggested, soothingly patting Shen Yu''s back.
"No, I need to make a quick trip downstairs," Shen Yu insisted, struggling to keep his eyes open.
Shang Junlin tightened his embrace. "Whatever it is, the pce attendants can manage. It''s chilly outside at this hour."
"It''s a gift for Your Majesty. Would you like me to bring it?" Shen Yu inquired.
It took Shang Junlin a moment to realize. "Is Ah Yu sacrificing his sleep just to deliver a birthday present?"
Perceiving a hint of disappointment in Shen Yu''s tone, Shang Junlin quickly reassured him, "How could I not appreciate it? Whatever Ah Yu presents, I will cherish."
Author''s note:
Congrattions to His Majesty on receiving the affectionate Shen Yu!
Chapter 171
Chapter 171
Here''s our weekly updates! And because someone kindly sponsored me a coffee, I will release an extra chapter! XoXo
Shang Junlin held the person close,forting them for a while. Seeing that Shen Yu remained insistent, he reluctantly agreed to wait with him.
Luckily, it wasn''t long before the time arrived. With Shen Yu''s persistence, he directed the pce servant to fetch the painting, which was promptly brought over.
"I can fetch it myself; you should rest," Shang Junlin insisted.
"No," Shen Yu countered.
Resolute, Shen Yu sat up, wrapping himself in a thick coat before leaving the bed.
Unable to sway him, Shang Junlin watched as Shen Yu left to retrieve the painting.
When Shen Yu returned with the painting, Shang Junlin immediately drew him into an embrace. "Feeling cold?"
"There''s underfloor heating in the room; it''s not cold," Shen Yu replied, more awake now. Handing over the painting, he added, "I must be the first to wish His Majesty ''Happy Birthday.''"
"Your Majesty, Happy Birthday."
Shang Junlin acknowledged, touched by the gesture.
After presenting the gift, Shen Yu felt his task wasplete. Fighting off drowsiness, he blinked and dered, "I''m going to sleep."
Without waiting for a response, he closed his eyes.
Truly exhausted, his breathing soon became steady.
In the dim candlelight, Shang Junlin gazed at the young man sleeping soundly in his arms, his eyes filled with emotions that no one else could decipher.
Shen Yu woke up feeling refreshed at dawn, unaware that his sudden action had kept the man awake for most of the night.
Feeling well-rested, Shen Yu went to check on the flowers he had been nurturing. Winter had arrived, and some of the flowers that bloomed in winter were gradually showing their beautiful blossoms.
The most mysterious was the nt that Prince An had sent, whose origin remained unknown. Since it started blooming, it had never withered.
"Young Master, this flower is truly miraculous. Will it keep blooming indefinitely?" Mu Xi apanied him whenever he visited the flowers.
"Perhaps. It''s nice to see it blooming continuously. It would be a shame if such a beautiful flower withered," Shen Yu replied.
As if responding to Shen Yu''s words, the flower branches gently swayed.
"I''ve always felt that this flower is quite spiritual. Every time youe to see it, it seems quite ''lively,''" Mu Xi observed the flower curiously. "All things have spirits, and I believe this flower quite likes you, Young Master."
After several days, it was confirmed that the flower posed no ill effects to anyone. Shen Yu thought for a moment and decided to move the flower to the flower room he frequently visited. Since then, he had seen the flower more often.
It wasn''t just Mu Xi who felt this way; both Shang Junlin and Shen Yu himself had simr feelings. ording to pce staff, when Shen Yu wasn''t around, the flower remained motionless. But when Shen Yu was present, it seemed to wee him, swaying its branches from time to time.
Shen Yu found it fascinating and reached out to touch the blooming petals. They felt as cool as jade, unlike those of other nts.
After just a brief touch, Shen Yu withdrew his hand and watered the other flowers before leaving with Mu Xi.
"The people at the estate have been trained ording to your instructions, and they''re showing some progress. They''ve sent someone to inquire whether they should continue or send some people out first," Mu Xi reported softly to Shen Yu as they walked along the path.
Before entering the pce, Shen Yu already had a group of his people with him. However, due to his hurried entrance into the pce, he couldn''t settle these people promptly. Unlike in his previous life, he hadn''t trained these people to be directly usable.
After settling in the pce, Shen Yu instructed on how to train them. After a year passed, they had almost reached the effectiveness he desired.
"ording to the n, let''s send out a group of people first, especially to Hanzhou. I need to know the specific situation there," Shen Yu stated.
Among the people he had trained were those who specialized in gathering intelligence. Shen Yu was in the pce and knew little about the outside world. He needed eyes and ears to bring information from outside into the pce.
The development in this life was vastly different from the previous one. In the previous life, King Yue''s rebellion didn''t ur at this time, nor was it handled as it is now.
In the previous life, King Yue''s reputation was excellently cultivated. His uprising was supported by the people and was seen as the will of the masses. But this time was different.
Now, King Yue''s reputation was ruined. Othersbeled him a rebel, and the hat of rebellion couldn''t be easily removed. This was undoubtedly difficult for King Yue, who always cared about his reputation.
"By the way, isn''t it currently trendy among schrs to criticize King Yue in their writings and various publications? Let them find a way to spread these things to Hanzhou, preferably directly to King Yue''s ears. How could such ttering voices not reach his ears?"
Returning to the Yu Zhang Pce, Shang Junlin had not yet returned, so Shen Yu went to the study room.
The study room was arrangedter and, besides the books Shang Junlin often used, it was filled with books that interested Shen Yu: gossip from outside the pce, rare books from the imperial library, books collected by Shang Junlin from various ces... There was a variety of them, as long as Shen Yu might be interested in them, they would be found here.
Shen Yu would also paint here sometimes. Recently, in preparation for surprising Shang Junlin, he had deliberately painted while Mu Xi stood guard outside, ready to remind him once Shang Junlin approached.
"Do you want to paint, Young Master?" Mu Xi asked as Shen Yu approached the desk.
"No, bring me a copy of the roster from Zhuangzi''s side, bring thetest one," Shen Yu replied. After a year, only those who had undergone training could further gain Shen Yu''s trust.
Mu Xi walked to the antique bookshelf and opened a hiddenpartment, retrieving the roster from inside.
Seeing her bring out several books, Shen Yu said, "Bring them all over; let me take a look."
Mu Xi brought the rosters over and ced them on the table. Some of these rosters were brought in by Shen Yu when he entered the pce, while others were sentter on.
Shen Yu initially hadn''t nned to stay long in the pce. Without sufficient power, leaving the pce would mean he couldn''t live the life he desired. These people were his backup n, but now that he had dispelled the thought of leaving, their arrangements needed to be adjusted.
Shen Yu was busy in the study for the entire afternoon, working until the sun began to set, until Meng-gonggong came to find him.
Mu Xi approached him, asking, "Does Meng-gonggong have urgent matters to discuss?"
"His Majesty ordered this servant to escort the Noble Monarch over. His Majesty is currently discussing matters with the Prime Minister and several other ministers and can''t leave temporarily," Meng-gonggong exined.
Putting down his pen and rubbing his wrist, Shen Yu walked out. "Does His Majesty have any ns for today?"
"His Majesty only instructed this servant to escort Your Excellency; he didn''t specify anything further."
After tidying up, Shen Yu walked out to find the carriage already prepared outside.
He was taken to the Imperial Study.
Shang Junlin was still in the middle of discussions, so Shen Yu decided not to disturb him and instead headed to the side hall.
Shen Yu rarely came to this area. The furnishings in the side hall were elegant, and there were pastries and tea, all to Shen Yu''s liking.
Meng-gonggong stayed for a while before returning to the Imperial Study to attend to his duties.
Shortly after, the door to the side hall was pushed open again, and Shang Junlin, dressed in court attire, walked in.
Shen Yu approached him. "Why did His Majesty bring me here?"
"I wanted to see you sooner," Shang Junlin said, reaching out to pull Shen Yu into his embrace. "There''s a small banquet in the pceter. I want you toe with me."
"Your Majesty couldn''t wait a little longer?" Shen Yu raised an eyebrow.
"If it weren''t for you sleeping so soundly, I would''ve woken you up earlier. Who stayed up all night just to give me a giftst night, hmm?" Shang Junlin teased.
"Don''t tell me, Your Majesty couldn''t sleep well all night because of the gift I gave."
"What are you thinking, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin yfully flicked his forehead.
Beside them, Meng-gonggong couldn''t help but think to himself, ''Weren''t you up all night excitedly searching for ces to hang the painting that the Noble Monarch gave you?''
"Has Your Majesty seen the painting? Do you like it? It''s a pity it''s not as useful asst year''s gift. This year..."
Shang Junlin leaned down to kiss Shen Yu on the lips, interrupting him, "Ah Yu, you don''t need to say these things. As I''ve said before, regardless of what you give me, I''m equally pleased. This time, you gave me a painting you personally created, and I''m very happy about it. I can feel your sincerity."
Shen Yu willingly wrapped his arms around Shang Junlin''s neck and returned the kiss, saying, "This is also Your Majesty''s birthday gift."
Shang Junlin exerted force with his arms, taking the initiative without any reservations.
As the sovereign, Shang Junlin''s birthday was not just a personal celebration but often marked by a banquet in the pce. The scale varied depending on the circumstances. Apart from a grand banquet, there would also be a separate gathering for the women of the harem.
Normally, the Ministry of Rites would oversee the state banquet. However, due to the special circumstances this year, Shang Junlin had no intention of hosting arge event. Still, given the recent victory of Subei, it was essential to acknowledge it. Consequently, the Ministry of Rites organized a smaller-scale banquet, which also served as a celebration of the victory.
With the banquet about tomence, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin spent some time in the side hall before heading to the main hall where the banquet was being held.
By the time they arrived, the ministers had already taken their seats. Shang Junlin led Shen Yu to the high seats, and this time, no one dared to speak out against them.
The events fromst year''s banquet were still fresh in everyone''s minds. The officials who had confronted Shang Junlin were still not reinstated, and the ministers hadn''t had enough time to settle back into their roles.
As Shen Yu sat beside Shang Junlin, he could observe the expressions of the ministers below.
The banquet proceedings were simplified this time. First, there were blessings for Shang Junlin, followed by gifts prepared by the ministers. Once these were mostly concluded, Shang Junlin gestured.
Meng-gonggong approached, holding the imperial decree.
In the following time, rewards and honors were bestowed upon the Subei Army. Although they weren''t present, these rewards would swiftly reach them in the north, delivered into the hands of each deserving individual.
After Meng-gonggong finished reading the imperial decree, the ministers noticed a very unfamiliar name: Gu Huai.
Before today, no one had heard of this name. However, in the recent war against Beimo, the individual behind this name had performed exceptionally well. His Majesty had even granted him a higher official position, which intrigued them greatly.
Who exactly was Gu Huai?
Seeing the surprise on the ministers'' faces, Shen Yu lowered his voice and asked, "Has Your Majesty mentioned Gu Huai to them before?"
"I didn''t mention specific names. Gu Huai''s identity is somewhat sensitive. If they were informed in advance, it might lead to unnecessary trouble," Shang Junlin said, picking up a piece of meat and putting it into Shen Yu''s bowl.
"Does Your Majesty know his true identity now?" Shen Yu picked up the meat and put it into his mouth.
Since Shang Junlin intended to cultivate Gu Huai, at least under the premise that there were no issues from all aspects, it didn''t seem like Shang Junlin would nurture an enemy.
"If I didn''t, how could I rest assured to let him go to Subei?" Shang Junlin caressed Shen Yu''s temple. "I''ll exin everything to you in detail when we return."
Shen Yu nodded.
As it was a banquet, it naturally included music and dance. After the formal proceedings concluded, it was time for enjoyment.
With the sound of silk and bamboo, the dancers gracefully performed, their movements captivating.
Perhaps due to the limited opportunities to showcase their talents, the dancers exerted themselves to present their most beautiful selves as soon as they took the stage.
Shen Yu nced at them a few more times, only to be pinched by Shang Junlin, who was not pleased and turned around. "Why are you looking so intently?"
"Their dancing skills are exceptional, but they rarely get the chance to perform. It''s a pity," Shen Yu sighed.
"If Ah Yu likes it, I can have them dance for you every day," Shang Junlin''s finger gently caressed the soft skin under Shen Yu''s chin.
Despite the gentle tone, Meng-gonggong, standing behind the two, sensed a chill.
"Your Majesty clearly dislikes it, so why bother saying things that only upset yourself?" Shen Yu bluntly exposed the man''s contradictory behavior.
"Why wouldn''t I like it? Ah Yu, tell me," Shang Junlin''s eyes narrowed slightly. "It''s because it''s my birthday, and you''re making me jealous. Ah Yu, you shouldpensate me tonight."
Seeing the intense jealousy in the man''s eyes, Shen Yu couldn''t help but feel amused.
To those who wants to support me: /serafintrantions
Chapter 172
Chapter 172
Bonus Chapter! <3 Thank you for the support <3
Shen Yu began to feel a subtle ache in his waist.
Noticing the change in Shen Yu''s expression, Shang Junlin inquired, "Ah Yu, what were you just thinking about?"
''Just considering how to get through tonight,'' Shen Yu silently replied to himself.
He picked up a piece of his least favorite vegetable and ced it into Shang Junlin''s bowl. "Nothing in particr, just felt that Your Majesty could use some calming down."
Shang Junlin was well aware of when Shen Yu''s expression shifted and why, but when it came to the meat before him, there was no reason to let it go untouched.
He acted as if he hadn''t noticed.
Shang Junlin consumed the vegetables from his bowl without altering his demeanor.
With the conversation diverted, Shen Yu lost interest in observing the performances. While he asionally enjoyed teasing Shang Junlin, he understood the importance of knowing when to stop. Moreover, if he persisted, he might suffer more than just a sore waist tonight.
Shang Junlin wasn''t particrly captivated by the music and dance. He preferred watching Shen Yu, who sat quietly beside him. In Shang Junlin''s eyes, Shen Yu outshone everyone else.
With no further interest in the performances, Shen Yu redirected his attention to their conversation. They conversed as if there were no one else present, leaving many of the ministers below astonished.
They were aware of Shen Yu''s favor in the court, but hearing about it and witnessing it firsthand were entirely distinct experiences. The Shang Junlin beside Shen Yu defied the image of the emperor they had stored in their memories.
Many couldn''t help but marvel inwardly: So His Majesty possesses such a side as well.
The ministers had arranged fine wine, and naturally, cups were set before Shen Yu and Shang Junlin. Unable to partake, Shen Yu refrained, while Shang Junlin indulged in a few sips at the start of the toast from the ministers, thereafter abstaining from the wine.
Feeling a slight temptation, Shen Yu secretly took a sip from Shang Junlin''s cup when he wasn''t attentive. Knowing he shouldn''t indulge too much, he restricted himself to a small sip.
Beneath the piquant vor, Shen Yu couldn''t help but furrow his brows. His body was yet to limate to the taste of alcohol, and just one sip left him feeling slightly lightheaded.
As Shen Yu nced at the cup, contemting another sip, arge hand abruptly reached out and seized the cup from him.
Following the hand upward, Shen Yu peered at the owner of the hand.
Shang Junlin looked at him helplessly. "How did you manage to sneak a sip when I wasn''t paying attention?"
"I only tasted a tiny bit, didn''t drink much," Shen Yu defended himself.
Seeing Shen Yu''s lingering gaze on the cup in his hand, Shang Junlin simply brought the cup to his own lips and downed the remaining liquor in one gulp. "You can only have one sip, so I drank the rest for you."
To prevent Shen Yu from sneaking more, Shang Junlin instructed the pce attendants to remove the wine from the table altogether.
Shen Yu chuckled. "Your Majesty won''t let me watch the performances or drink. What do you want me to do?"
"Watching over me is enough," Shang Junlin replied, hoping not to divert even the slightest attention away from himself.
Feeling a bit stifled after drinking, Shen Yu said, "Your Majesty, I''d like to go outside for a walk."
"Why?"
"It''s a bit stuffy in the hall, and I''d like some fresh air."
The braziers burned fiercely in the hall, with the doors and windows tightly shut. While warm, it could get stuffy after a while.
"Wait a moment, I''ll apany you back," Shang Junlin said.
Summoning Meng-gonggong, Shang Junlin whispered a few words to him before rising from his seat. "Let''s go, Ah Yu."
At such gatherings, once the necessary formalities werepleted, leaving early was permissible, especially for Shang Junlin, the reigning emperor. No one could stop him from doing what he wished.
As they left, the atmosphere in the hall became even livelier.
Before stepping out, Shang Junlin carefully wrapped Shen Yu in a cloak. "It''s cold outside. Be careful not to catch a chill."
As the door opened, a chilly breeze swept in, causing Shen Yu to shiver involuntarily. The slight haziness in his mind was cleared by the wind.
With Shang Junlin''s warm hand enveloping his, they walked side by side along the path, with pce attendants trailing behind at a distance.
Upon reaching the Yu Zhang Pce, Shen Yu, who had been slightly intoxicated, becamepletely sober.
"Your Majesty, are you leaving all the ministers behind like this?" Shen Yu asked as Shang Junlin showed no intention of leaving after entering.
Do they matter as much as you do? Today is my birthday, and I want to collect my gift, Shang Junlin said, his hand on Shen Yu''s waist subtly caressing.
"Didn''t you receive your gift from me yesterday?" Shen Yu countered, cing a hand over the one attempting to slip into his robe.
"That was your initiative. Today, I''m asking for one," Shang Junlin replied, exerting pressure with his arm to draw Shen Yu closer, keenly aware of the changes in his body.
A kissnded on Shen Yu''s neck, Shang Junlin''s voice growing huskier. "I''ve been wanting to do this for a while now. How could you look at someone else..."
Indeed, it was about the incident with the dancers. Shen Yu knew he probably couldn''t escape tonight, but he couldn''t help but struggle a bit.
His hands restrained, his breath stolen away, every escape route preemptively blocked.
As the temperature around them rose, it felt like being engulfed in mes, from the inside out.
Wherever Shang Junlin''s fingertips touched, tremors followed. Shen Yu felt like he was adrift in the vast ocean, tossed by the waves.
Shang Junlin remained as domineering as ever, refusing to slow down his movements no matter how much Shen Yu begged.
The waves grewrger, and Shen Yu clung tightly to the man holding him.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating the night.
As dawn approached, Shen Yu couldn''t bear it any longer. He kicked the still-enthusiastic man away. "Stay away from me!"
Amid their movements, certain areas were inadvertently touched, causing Shen Yu to inhale sharply. He wrapped himself tightly in the nkets, ignoring Shang Junlin''s attempts to coax him out.
"I promise, I won''t do anything this time, just clean you up," Shang Junlin assured, but Shen Yu, wary, turned his back to him, his voice full of distrust. "You said that before."
But as soon as he let his guard down, he was dragged into it again.
Shang Junlin tried for a while to pull away the nkets, but Shen Yu had wrapped himself up tightly, and after several attempts, Shang Junlin gave up.
Tired and sleepy, Shen Yu soon fell asleep once the man stopped bothering him.
Shang Junlin looked at him for a moment before pulling both Shen Yu and the nkets into his arms, slowly closing his eyes.
Shang Junlin only rested for a short while before getting up for the morning court. When the time came, Meng-gonggong entered quietly to attend to him.
Putting on his outer robe, Shang Junlin instructed, "Prepare hot water in the bathroom. Send it up as soon as the Noble Monarch wakes up."
Meng-gonggong nodded, bowing his head to straighten Shang Junlin''s robes. "Understood. Meals will also be kept warm. Rest assured, nothing will becking when the Noble Monarch wakes up."
Satisfied, Shang Junlin nodded. "Instruct them not to disturb him. If he doesn''t get enough sleep, he''ll be irritable."
During the morning court, the main topics remained the same: Beimo and King Yue. Shang Junlin, concerned about Shen Yu still in the Yu Zhang Pce, swiftly concluded the morning court.
After the court session, the ministers left the hall in twos and threes.
"His Majesty seems particrly anxious today. Is something important happening?"
"Has something gone wrong again?"
"If something really happened, there should have been some movement in the court. But there''s no sign of anything. It shouldn''t be anything major."
"His Majesty directly promoted Gu Huai to the rank of General of the Third Rank. Does anyone know about this Gu Huai?"
"We sent people to investigatest night. All we know is that he''s the younger brother of Physician Gu. Nothing else could be found."
Physician Gu was known to many. He was the royal physician responsible for the Noble Monarch''s health and also the designated sessor to Head Physician Wu.
"Is it because of Physician Gu that His Majesty treats him so favorably?"
"It shouldn''t be. If His Majesty were really favoring his family, wouldn''t he havevished praise on Marquis Zhenbei as well? But look, it''s been a year since the Noble Monarch entered the pce, and there haven''t been any major changes in Marquis Zhenbei''s manor."
The ministers were less resistant to Shang Junlin''s exclusive favor toward Shen Yu because Shang Junlin hadn''t promoted any of Shen Yu''s family members excessively.
"The rtionship between Marquis Zhenbei and the Noble Monarch may not be as good as we think..."
"Even if it''s not good, that is still his biological father. Blood is thicker than water. From this perspective, our Majesty is still rational. Even if he favors the Noble Monarch, he hasn''t promoted anyone who shouldn''t be promoted."
"Moreover, regarding Gu Huai, after the incident with thete emperor, there are few capable militarymanders avable in the court. Gu Huai''s outstanding performance as a young general makes him a talent worth nurturing. It''s only natural for His Majesty to have high hopes for him."
"Exactly. It''s difficult to find talented individuals, and His Majesty is indeed adept in this regard. However, he is also the emperor of Da Huan. It''s not feasible for him to personally don armor and lead the troops into battle. Da Huan currently needs capable militarymanders."
As Shang Junlin was pressed for time, when the ministers left the pce, it was still early, and they might be able to return home to have breakfast with their families.
When Shen Yu woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
Shen Yu remained in the same position he had been in the previous night, wrapped in nkets. The other side of the bed was empty. With some effort, he rolled out of the nkets and examined the mottled marks on his body, sighing deeply.
With his rationality returning, Shen Yu felt the stickiness on his body and his expression changed. Every time he woke up before, his body would be dry. Only this time, because of his own actions, it remained until the next day.
Should he me Shang Junlin? It was because Shen Yu refused to cooperate. But if he didn''t me him, the culprit for the current situation would still be him...
Shen Yu sat up with aplicated expression.
"Is Ah Yu awake?" Shang Junlin entered with warm water. "Have some water first."
Shen Yu was thirsty, so he drank a ss of water from Shang Junlin''s hand, feeling relieved, and then said, "I need to freshen up."
"I''ve already had hot water prepared."
Following Shang Junlin''s instructions, the servants brought in the hot water and quietly left after cing it down.
"If Your Majesty can''t control yourself next time, just go back to your own bed."
The ten-day agreement had been broken countless times already. Later, Shang Junlin learned to control himself and no longer disturbed Shen Yu for half the night. Perhaps he was affected by somethingst night, as Shang Junlin was particrly excited.
Aware that he had gone too farst night, Shang Junlin silently regretted it as he gently wiped away the marks he had left on Shen Yu''s body with a towel. He had be quite skilled in doing this kind of thing.
Shen Yu leaned against the edge of the bathtub, his eyes slightly closed. His skin was faintly visible under the water, and hey half-leaning in front of Shang Junlin,pletely defenseless. Shang Junlin''s throat moved slightly, and he submerged his arm in the water.
Shen Yu''s eyes widened suddenly as he grabbed the hand. "What does Your Majesty intend to do?"
Lol, Shang Junlin the insatiable beast XD
Chapter 173
Chapter 173
"If you don''t clean up, you''ll get sick." Shang Junlin looked calmly into his eyes, his face showing no signs of anything unusual.
"I''ll wash myself." Shen Yu pressed his hand, not letting him move.
A trace of regret shed in Shang Junlin''s eyes. "Really don''t want me to help?"
Shen Yu quickly pushed his hand away. "No need."
Seeing him insist, Shang Junlin slowly withdrew his hand. Shen Yu thought he had given up, and he breathed a sigh of relief, but little did he know, Shang Junlin took advantage of his rxation and grabbed his hand.
"Let me do it, it''s not convenient for you to do it alone, Ah Yu," Shang Junlin chuckled softly. "Besides, it''s not the first time for me to do this kind of thing, Ah Yu, don''t worry."
Shen Yu suddenly grabbed the edge of the bathtub, wanting to say that he wasn''t worried about this, but unfortunately, he didn''t get the chance.
Water sshed as Shang Junlin followed suit into the bathtub for ease of movement.
The bathtub was spacious enough for Shen Yu alone, but with two men inside, it felt somewhat cramped, nowhere to hide, only able to stick closely together.
Shen Yu''s fingers, clutching the edge of the bathtub, were gradually pried open by the man. "If you''re ufortable, you can hold onto me."
Shen Yu was powerless,pletely no match for the man. Once he fell into the man''s hands, he could only submit to his actions.
"Weren''t you supposed to help me wash? Your Majesty, what are you doing?!" Shen Yu''s voice was slightly breathless.
"Like this..." Shang Junlin took Shen Yu''s earlobe into his mouth, red and tempting like a strawberry. "Wouldn''t this make it cleaner?"
"You don''t wash like that..." Shen Yu bit down on his lower lip, trying to stifle any sounds.
After a bath thatsted almost half an hour, when Shen Yu was lifted out, his entire body was flushed.
After changing clothes, Shen Yu leaned on the soft couch while Shang Junlin sat beside him, automatically massaging him.
Shen Yu couldn''t help but reflect on himself. He hadn''t resisted Shang Junlin either. Last night, Shang Junlin hadn''t eaten anything special to provoke such a reaction.
He didn''t know that the night before, watching Shang Junlin insist on staying up even though he was clearly exhausted, softened Shang Junlin''s heart.
Being reciprocated by someone who cherished him was a kind of happiness that couldn''t be described in words.
Filled with various emotions, if not for not wanting to disturb Shen Yu''s peaceful sleep, Shang Junlin wouldn''t have just held him all night, would he?
After another round of activities during the day, Shang Junlin knew he was in the wrong. He had the kitchen prepare Shen Yu''s favorite dishes, albeit light ones. He set up a small table next to the soft couch and fed Shen Yu himself.
Shen Yu was ravenous and had no intention of dwelling on what had happened earlier with Shang Junlin. After finishing his meal, a minister came looking for Shang Junlin.
"I''ll be back in a moment," Shang Junlin kissed Shen Yu''s forehead. "If there''s anything you want to do or need, just tell them."
"Your Majesty, go quickly," Shen Yu waved his hand, his back hurting at the sight of him.
After lying down for a while, Mu Xi walked in. "Young Master, Physician Gu is requesting an audience."
"But today isn''t the day for a checkup. Why is Physician Gu here?" Shen Yu wondered. "Let him in first. Did Physician Gu mention what it''s about?"
"It seems to be at the request of His Majesty," Mu Xi went out to receive him.
Physician Gu entered with a medicine box on his back and bowed to Shen Yu first. "Greetings to Your Excellency."
"Physician Gu, no need for formalities."
Physician Gu straightened up and looked at Shen Yu.
The young man''splexion was rosy, with a hint of redness at the corners of his eyes and vivid lips, making it easy to tell he had just been through something. Physician Gu remembered why he hade and approached Shen Yu to feel his pulse.
"It was His Majesty who sent me to check on Your Excellency," Physician Gu exined.
After taking Shen Yu''s pulse, Physician Gu withdrew his hand. "There''s no major issue with Your Excellency''s health, just a bit of deficiency in qi and blood. I''ll prescribe some tonics for you to take for two or three days."
Physician Gu had been called away early in the morning by the pce, thinking something had happened, only to realize his mistake when he arrived at Yuzhang Pce.
Having to take tonic medicine after just one night made Shen Yu''s forehead twitch. "Please wait here for a moment, Physician Gu. When His Majesty returns, he should also be examined."
"Of course."
Physician Gu stayed, and Shen Yu didn''t want to leave him hanging. Besides, there were some things he wanted to ask.
"Now that General Gu Huai has achieved military exploits, I congratte Physician Gu in advance."
"Thank you, Your Excellency. To be honest, it wasn''t until the person came to report the good news early this morning that I learned about it." He hadn''t even had time to process it before he was called into the pce again. So far, he hadn''t felt much about the whole thing.
Regarding Gu Huai''s disappearance these days to join the army, Physician Gu always felt a sense of unreality. In his impression, Gu Huai was still a child who needed his protection at every turn. Who knew that one day, this child would spread his wings and be a towering hero.
He had heard about Gu Huai''s deeds, how he had be a little war god who never lost in battle in the Subei Army. This matter was widely talked about in the capital, from newspapers to neighbors, with countless people discussing it.
When he heard about it before, he didn''t know the protagonist was Gu Huai, so he just brushed it off. But now, Physician Gu couldn''t help but wonder, would Gu Huai be cold on the border? Would he get hurt?
Shen Yu was feeling a bit crowded mentally, but he managed to chat with Physician Gu for a while until Shang Junlin returned.
Physician Gu stood up to bow.
Shang Junlin waved off Physician Gu''s courtesy and sat down on the soft couch. "Is His Excellency feeling well?"
He directed the question at Physician Gu.
"In response to His Majesty, His Excellency is in good health," Physician Gu repeated his earlier words.
"I asked Physician Gu to stay on purpose, to examine Your Majesty as well." Shen Yu nudged Shang Junlin''s arm.
"I''m not... feeling any difort..." Under Shen Yu''s gaze, Shang Junlin swallowed the rest of his words. "In that case, I''ll trouble Physician Gu."
Shen Yu was finally satisfied.
Physician Gu approached to feel Shang Junlin''s pulse.
After a moment, Physician Gu released his hand. "Your Majesty is in good health, without any issues."
"Does His Majesty need to take medicine?" Shen Yu couldn''t help asking.
"Well..." Physician Gu hesitated for a moment. "Your Majesty is indeed fine and doesn''t need medication."
Shen Yuy back wearily, feeling like he was the only one with a weak body.
Meng-gonggong escorted Physician Gu out and also took the servants out of the room.
"Why did you suddenly want Physician Gu to check my pulse?" Shang Junlin lifted Shen Yu up and pulled him into his arms.
Shen Yu squirmed, finding afortable position. "Physician Gu prescribed medicine for me, so I thought Your Majesty might want to take it too."
Shang Junlin finally understood why Shen Yu wanted Physician Gu to stay until he returned. He pinched Shen Yu''s chin. "You really underestimate your husband."
Shen Yu turned his head away, not wanting to look at him.
Shang Junlin ordered someone to bring the documents to the soft couch. He held Shen Yu while reviewing the documents, and Shen Yu fell asleep in his arms before long.
Shang Junlin looked down at him, a hint of a smile in his eyes.
The atmosphere in the pce was warm, in stark contrast to the bleakness at King Yue''s side.
As the New Year approached, it should have been a time for reunion. However, due to being forced into a corner, King Yue had no choice but to retreat to Hanzhou. He couldn''t return to his well-established fief, and even his own people didn''t know where he was. He didn''t have a single trusted follower by his side, which was deeply frustrating.
The people of Hanzhou also had strong opinions. Being confined to the city without reason made them live in constant fear, worrying about the possibility of conflict both inside and outside the city, leaving them far from content.
At first, the people of Hanzhou hadn''t realized their situation, but they soon realized they had been forced into rebellion. Many of them were dissatisfied, and this dissatisfaction led to a small-scale uprising, which was quickly suppressed.
Several troublemakers were executed on the spot, and the rest were thrown into the dungeons, their fate uncertain.
The people of Hanzhou were angry but dared not speak out. Their lives were at the mercy of others, and they couldn''t do anything about it.
What should have been the busiest time of the year was now deste throughout Hanzhou. All the gates were tightly closed, and unless absolutely necessary, everyone stayed indoors.
Who knew if going out would meaning back alive.
"How much longer can Hanzhou''s food suppliesst? Has Tan-xiangsheng''s people not arrived yet?" King Yue looked discontentedly at the middle-aged man in blue.
"Don''t worry, Your Highness. Just wait a few more days, and they''ll be able to join us," the man reassured.
"How could I not be worried? Hanzhou''s food reserves are already low, and if the court''s forces don''t arrive before long, our people might starve to death first." After waiting for so many days, King Yue was bing increasingly anxious.
He knew he would tread this path eventually. He had once fantasized about various possible scenarios, but he never imagined it would happen in such a messy situation, rushing things.
In his expectations, before taking action, he would be fully prepared, winning the support of the masses and having the people''s hearts on his side. But now, now the people saw him as a traitor.
He was only trying to reim what rightfully belonged to him. He could have done it openly and honorably. If it weren''t for Shang Junlin''s coercion, why would he end up like this?!
The more he thought about it, the more unwilling King Yue felt.
He didn''t know when it started, but rumors about him began to spread in Hanzhou. Even children sang rhymes mocking him.
As the rumors spread, inevitably, they reached King Yue''s ears.
The first time he heard someonepare him unfavorably to Shang Junlin and criticize him as worthless, King Yue smashed everything in his study.
The servants stood with bowed heads in the empty room, not daring to say a word.
Even after smashing everything, King Yue was still not relieved. He red fiercely at the other person in the room, like an enraged lion. "What other rumors are circting about me? Imand you to immediately arrest anyone spreading rumors, and I will personally torture them!"
"My Lord, calm down," the servant knelt down. "It''s not that I refuse to do it, it''s just that now..."
"Now what?"
"Now, almost everyone is spreading these rumors, not just in Hanzhou, but all over Da Huan. And, some of them are even more outrageous..."
King Yue''s head throbbed. He couldn''t even dare to imagine how he was being portrayed outside. This was the ending he had envisioned for Shang Junlin, but it ended up happening to himself.
A bloody sweetness surged in his mouth, and King Yue''s vision ckened as he copsed.
"My lord! Quick, someone! The lord has fainted!"
The mansion instantly fell into chaos.
"Your Majesty, are you saying King Yue fainted from anger?" Shen Yu, draped in a snowy white fox fur, walked through the snow as if he were an otherworldly being.
"Yes, that''s the news just received from Hanzhou. It''s said that someone told King Yue about the rumors outside, and he fainted on the spot." Shang Junlin held Shen Yu''s hand, strolling leisurely.
"King Yue is too fragile. With just this bit of news, he couldn''t handle it. And yet, he still dares to harbor thoughts of Your Majesty''s position." Shen Yu sneered coldly.
Shang Junlin sensed something and raised an eyebrow. "Did you have a hand in this, Ah Yu?"
Shen Yu looked at him innocently. "Doesn''t Your Majesty know everything I do every day?"
Author''s note:
A little scene about the medicine:
Shen Yu was displeased that only he had to take medicine and insisted on dragging His Majesty into it.
His Majesty held the medicine. "Do you really want me to drink it? Won''t you regret it?"
Shen Yu wondered, what was there to regret?
The next day, Shen Yu got up, clutching his sore waist. "...That was a mistake."
Chapter 174
Chapter 174
So sorry for the dy! I have been preparing for weeks for my final requirement of my OJT and I passed! I can finally resume my updates!
Shen Yu''s words were not a joke. Except for the morning court sessions, the two of them practically spent all their time together. Shang Junlin naturally knew this, but as he watched Shen Yu''s innocent appearance, he increasingly felt that he couldn''t escape from this matter.
Shen Yu never concealed his disgust towards King Yue. Shang Junlin had noticed this long ago. He had suspected that there was some hidden reason behind it that he didn''t know about. Later, he realized that with Shen Yu''s personality, even without any hidden reasons, King Yue''s past actions were enough to provoke his disgust.
"Regardless of who did this, I must thank them properly," Shang Junlin remarked.
"Maybe it was King Yue''s actions that angered the public, prompting them to attack him spontaneously. If you ask me, King Yue is quite strange. He did those things indeed, but now hecks the courage to admit it," Shen Yu remarked disdainfully, unable to tolerate such self-righteous individuals.
"Some people are just like that. When I was in the pce before, he brought other Kings to bully me. After bullying me, he would criticize me, saying that it was my fault for attracting such bullying. He always likes to present himself as clean and innocent. If it weren''t for the sudden turn of events, even in the case of rebellion, he would have disguised himself as someone upholding justice," Shang Junlin said, showing his deep understanding of King Yue''s psychology.
Shen Yu wasn''t surprised because in their past lives, it was indeed like this all the me was pushed onto Shang Junlin, while King Yue remained spotless.
"What Your Majesty said is true. This incident will probably make him ufortable for quite some time," Shang Junlin added.
Their spections were not wrong. King Yue remained unconscious for a whole day before waking up. Tan-xiangshengstood by his bedside, his expression grave.
"What happened exactly? Why did he suddenly faint?" King Yue''s chest tightened as he recalled the events leading up to his copse, and he closed his eyes in difort.
Tan-xiangsheng certainly wasn''t clueless. After King Yue fainted, he ordered a thorough interrogation of everyone who had contact with King Yue that day. The results of the interrogation left him baffled.
Was it really possible for someone to faint from anger over mere rumors?
Tan-xiangsheng couldn''t wrap his head around it.
He attempted to find other possibilities, but after a thorough investigation, the conclusion was exactly what he had hoped not to believe.
"The physician said you suffered from an emotional outburst. What could have upset you so much?" Tan-xiangsheng made a final attempt to understand.
After a moment of silence, King Yue slowly sat up with the help of his attendants. Hisplexion was poor, and his eyes showedplex emotions.
"Tan-xiangsheng, have you heard the rumors about me circting outside?" With this question, all spections were confirmed.
Tan-xiangshengcouldn''t believe it. "So you fainted from a few harmless words?!"
"Do you think those words are harmless?" King Yue clenched his fists. "Tan-xiangsheng, have you heard about what''s being said outside? Is it more outrageous than these rumors?"
"It''s just some disgruntled individuals venting their frustration. Why take it seriously?" Tan-xiangsheng didn''t know how to describe his feelings at that moment. However, considering that they still needed King Yue for future matters, he began to console him with aplex mix of emotions.
"Can''t it be stopped?" King Yue lowered his head, his expression unreadable.
"I''ve already ordered a halt to the rumors in Hanzhou. As for other ces, we can''t control them for now. You don''t need to worry. Once our ns seed, who would dare to speak ill of you?" Tan-xiangsheng reassured.
"I understand."
After a few days of recuperation, King Yue''s health gradually recovered. Tan-xiangsheng issued a decree forbidding anyone from mentioning these matters in front of King Yue.
However, words can never bepletely suppressed. The more they tried to stop open discussion, the faster rumors spread in private. What was initially known by only a few people soon becamemon knowledge among the people of Hanzhou.
The dissatisfaction among the people towards King Yue continued to grow.
When the Beimo Emperor received the documents sent by Da Huan, he became furious. That night, he summoned the court ministers to discuss the matter in the pce.
"What does he mean by this?!" The Beimo Emperor mmed his hand on the table, causing it to shake.
The ministers exchanged nces, still unaware of what had happened.
"See for yourselves." Suppressing his anger, the Beimo Emperor instructed a servant to read out the documents sent by Da Huan.
As the servant read aloud, the expressions on the ministers'' faces gradually changed.
Embarrassment, anger... a variety of emotions intertwined, making for a dramatic scene.
"The Emperor of Da Huan has gone too far!" A senior minister''s face turned red with anger. "He''s demanding that we give up all our hoarded resources!"
Coincidentally, what Da Huan demanded from Beimo happened to be the maximum they could offer.
"Da Huan''s appetite is insatiable. Who does he think he is to demand this?!"
"In addition to various resources, there are also pastures. Linyuan is one of the richestnds in Beimo. He says he wants it, but why should weply?!"
The hall erupted into chaos.
The Beimo Emperor rubbed his temples wearily and reprimanded, "Shut up! Do you think the emperor of Da Huan can hear you speaking ill of him here? Instead of wasting time on these matters, think about how we should deal with this situation."
"Why did Da Huan suddenly start demandingpensation? Weren''t they always too proud to bother with such things?" Otherwise, they wouldn''t have just sent a surrender letter.
"Who knows the reason? The current Emperor of Da Huan holds a grudge against us in Beimo. Shortly after ascending the throne, he ignored the former emperor''s decrees and attacked us vigorously. Now that he has firmly secured the throne, most likely these demands are his idea."
"Are we supposed to just obediently give up our possessions?"
From the Emperor to themon people, no one was willing to relinquish these things willingly.
Unlike Da Huan, which had abundantnd and resources, Beimo relied on nomadic lifestyles and lived off thend. They frequently raided Da Huan for its territory.
Knowing that the people of Beimo wouldn''t willingly give up these things, the Subei Army had been pressuring them. After fighting for so long, they couldn''te away empty-handed.
It was expected that the people of Beimo wouldn''t cooperate.
"What does Your Majesty n to do?" Shen Yu picked up the documents from Beimo and quickly scanned through them. "Now they''re crying for sympathy. Where were they before?"
The Emperor of Beimo, inspired by who knows what,unched into a dramaticment, iming that his country was also suffering from the severe drought affecting Da Huan, and that they were marching south because they had no other choice and wanted to seek a way out for their people, and so on.
Shen Yu couldn''t help but find it amusing. It seemed Da Huan wasn''t easy to deal with, so they resorted to ying on emotions. Unfortunately for them, Shang Junlin wasn''t the kind of person who would easily soften up when he shouldn''t.
"If they can''t do it, then they can wait for the Subei Army toe knocking on their door," Shang Junlin''s tone was icy. "iming to seek a way out for their people is not a justification for invading our Da Huan."
"If they truly cared about their people, they could have let them be citizens of our Da Huan. That way, Da Huan would have protected them from hunger. Wouldn''t you agree, Your Majesty?" Shen Yu lowered his eyes.
"Ah Yu is absolutely right. Since they are not citizens of our Da Huan, why should Da Huan be expected to sympathize with them?"
The court''s intentions were clear, and Subei was pleased with this attitude from the court. They had been harboring resentment towards Beimo for a long time, and if they let it slide this time, they would be unhappy.
With instructions from the court, the Subei Army prepared for action.
"Beimo should wise up, or we''ll tear down their stronghold!"
"The people of Beimo have no shame. They''re the ones who wanted to fight, but when they lose, they refuse to ept it and start crying. When they were bullying our Da Huan, did they show any sympathy? Now they want us to sympathize with them. Where was their sympathy for us back then?"
"Exactly."
"Keep a close eye on them. Don''t let the people of Beimo make any moves."
"Yes!"
The negotiations with Beimo were still handled by Fang Jiayi. The people of Beimo were already afraid of this woman. When they saw her, they couldn''t help but feel intimidated.
"Unfortunately, Da Huan cannot ept your demands," Fang Jiayi said calmly as she took her seat. "Actions have consequences, and since you in Beimo took the first step, now that you''ve lost, you must abide by Da Huan''s rules."
Throughout the conversation, Fang Jiayi controlled the narrative. She spoke clearly and logically, leaving no room for rebuttal. Instead, she could easily find ws in the arguments of the other side, leaving them speechless.
The officials from Beimo who came to negotiate wore defeated expressions. By now, everyone in Beimo knew that you should never deal with the female official from Subei. If you couldn''t avoid it, you might as well just admit defeat.
They needed to prepare themselves mentally beforehand to avoid falling into despair after the negotiations.
With Fang Jiayi taking charge, the result was inevitable. The people of Beimo, unwilling as they were, had no choice but toply with Da Huan''s demands under the watchful eyes of the Subei Army.
"They want a little more time," A few dayster, thetest developments reached the pce. After reading through it, Shang Junlin said, "They im they can''t gather so muchpensation at once, so they''ll deliver it to Da Huan altogether after the spring arrives."
"Beimo surrendered so quickly?" Shen Yu was surprised.
"They also made an unusual request," Shang Junlin said with a hint of amusement. "They hope the court will recall Fang Jiayi back to the capital and not leave her in Subei."
"It seems that Beimo has surrendered quickly this time. Miss Fang must have contributed a lot," Shen Yu remarked. He had heard of Fang Jiayi''s prowess in battle, and in the political circles of Beimo, she had be a terrifying figure.
Shang Junlin nodded. "I have to admit, she has saved us a lot of trouble."
Shen Yu smiled. "A meritorious subject. Your Majesty should reward her properly."
"Of course," Shang Junlin replied. "Ah Yu, have I not always been fair in rewarding and punishing?"
"In my heart, Your Majesty is undoubtedly the best ruler."
With the Beimo situation temporarily resolved, they imed they couldn''t gather so muchpensation immediately. Da Huan couldn''t press them, but it was still better to secure some assets, such as the grasnd Shang Junlin had been eyeing for a while.
"It''s an act of kindness on Your Majesty''s part to give them more time. But for something like a grasnd that already exists, they shouldn''t need more time, should they?" Shen Yu''s slender fingers traced over the documents, pausing at a certain point.
Shang Junlin covered his hand with his own. "Ah Yu is absolutely right. They im their people are suffering from hunger, don''t they? Once I take over, I will solve these problems for them."
Chapter 175
Chapter 175
Hey! This is a make-up chapter for the absences I made ToT.
Anyways. This is a bit shameful but I am trying to raise at least $30 to fund my misceneous fees in school. Im not forcing anyone but feel free to donate any amount if you want. Link is on my profile page. Im so sorry for this shameless plea. Of course, every donation has an extra chapter just for you :)
Thepensation list was notpiled casually; it was meticulously prepared by the Minister of Revenue based on the losses suffered by Da Huan due to Beimo,bined with the specific situation of Beimo. It was carefully calibrated to inflict enough pain on Beimo without pushing them beyond their limits.
As for Beimo''s im that they needed time to prepare, both Shen Yu and Shang Junlin knew it was just an excuse. They had no intention of rushing Beimo and simply pretended not to know.
When the news reached Beimo, the Beimo Emperor was almost breathless with anger. How could Da Huan have the audacity to im that seizing theirnd was for their own good???
Clutching his chest, the Beimo Emperor felt dizzy.
"Your Majesty!" A servant hurried over to support him. "Your Majesty, are you alright? Someone, call the imperial physician!"
Leaning on the servant''s shoulder, the Beimo Emperor gritted his teeth and said, "Summon the ministers for a meeting!"
"But, Your Majesty, your health..."
"Just do as I say!" the emperor snapped. "I just need to rest for a while. Hurry!"
The servant dared not dy and quickly went outside to summon the ministers.
The ministers were brought to the pce without any idea of what had happened, and before they could even begin to wonder, they were stunned by the sudden news.
Da Huan demanded that they immediately hand over the pasture.
Da Huan''s intentions were clear: while otherpensations could be dyed for a period of time, the pasture and horses must be handed over to Da Huan immediately. Wasn''t it said that the people were starving and unable to eat before they attacked Subei? Well, Da Huan''s move could also help relieve some pressure for them.
The documents were filled with Da Huan''s ims that they were doing it for the good of Beimo and that they should not fail to appreciate it. It was no wonder the Beimo Emperor almost spat blood upon seeing them.
"Da Huan is simply too much!" one minister fumed with anger.
"Are we really going to give up that piece ofnd?" another minister fretted.
Yet others harbored resentment towards the Beimo Emperor for his vehement advocacy of attacking Da Huan in the first ce, leading to the cmity they faced today.
"Your Majesty, how about considering what I proposed before?" At this moment, a newly promoted minister stepped forward.
"What?" the Beimo Emperor looked puzzled.
"The cooperation with King Yue of Da Huan. I believe it''s feasible."
"Cooperate with a person from Da Huan? At a time when we can barely take care of ourselves, we''re supposed to help that so-called King Yue fight the Emperor of Da Huan?"
This matter had been brought up in the court before, and many ministers were still hesitant. They had been frightened by the relentless advance of the Subei Army and dared not oppose it. Although the Beimo Emperor had been persuaded before, there were still several ministers who disagreed.
Now, the old issue was brought up again, and there were still many ministers who did not agree.
Seeing that another argument was about to erupt, the Beimo Emperor hurriedly spoke up, "Alright, alright, let''s save this matter forter discussion. For now, let''s focus on the issue ofpensation. In a few days, someone wille to take over the forest. Do we really need to give it away directly?"
The court fell silent, with ministers exchanging nces but none daring to speak.
By bringing the discussion to this point, it was clear that Da Huan had left no room for negotiation.
"Which official is negotiating with us this time? Can we ask for a few more days of leniency?"
"What''s the use of dying? We''ll still have to hand over the forest in the end."
"Dying might bring about a turning point."
Originally, this was Beimo''s intention as wellto dy for as long as possible, ideally until Da Huan forgot about the matter entirely.
"Do you know which official Da Huan has entrusted with the negotiation this time?"
"As long as it''s not that official from Subei, it doesn''t matter who it is."
Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed when, two dayster, news arrived about the negotiator.
"Who is it?" asked the Beimo Emperor during the court session.
"In response to Your Majesty, it is Lady Fang from Subei. Emperor Da Huan stated that she has frequent dealings with Beimo and is familiar with both sides..."
The Beimo Emperor closed his eyes briefly. Now things were even worse. There was hardly any room left for negotiation, and even getting to keep a portion of thend would be considered fortunate.
Da Huan had really outdone himself!
At that moment, the atmosphere in the court turned extremely cold.
Zhuang-daren and Zhu-daren, who had been well-fed and well-treated in the pce, attempted to escape and failed. As a result, they were thrown into the dungeon by Shang Junlin. Regardless of whether they were truly different or not, once caught, there was no reason to let them go unpunished.
Moreover, since this individual seemed to know something about Shen Yu''s background, Shang Junlin was even less likely to release him.
Feng Pingqi was executed after being questioned behind closed doors, and the Feng family was implicated. All participants were executed, and from then on, the Feng family disappearedpletely from the capital.
As for the person who was captured alongside them, after it was confirmed that nothing useful could be extracted from his mouth, Shang Junlin dealt with him directly. Since he had attempted to harm Shen Yu, Shang Junlin chose a less merciful method of execution.
Shen Yu learned about these events after they had already taken ce.
"On the day the Feng family was executed, many people went to watch the punishment. The attendants I bought reported that the people of the capital felt relieved."
Shen Yu plucked a leaf from the "Jun Ling" nt and examined it, then said, "Everyone knows what he did. When corrupt officials receive the punishment they deserve, it is only natural for people to feel relieved. Tell Ye-daren to publish more articles punishing corrupt officials recently."
"I understand," Mu Xi increasingly admired her young master. It seemed that he could see through everyone''s hearts without any effort, predicting their behavior urately regardless of their performance.
"Come and take a look at this flower. Does it look a little wilted to you?" Shen Yu frowned slightly as he observed the "Jun Ling" nt beside him.
Since it came into his possession, the "Jun Ling" nt had always been in good condition. However, in the past two days, for some reason, it had started to wilt. Shen Yu had called on a pce expert in horticulture to inspect it, but even they couldn''t make sense of it.
Mu Xi looked down and hesitated. "Could it be because it''s cold?"
There had been a heavy snowfall recently, causing the temperature to drop significantly.
"First, move it into my pce and let it rest for a couple of days. If it doesn''t improve, ask the court physician when hees next time to check my pulse."
Shen Yu wandered around the flower room, which had grown more than twice its original size since Shang Junlin asionally gifted him flowers and nts. There were all kinds of flower species in the flower room, from valuable ones worth a fortune tomon ones that ordinary people could raise. Shen Yu treated them all equally and arranged them ording to their habits, resulting in each nt thriving.
Mu Xi held the flower and followed Shen Yu back to the pce.
Shen Yu ced the "Jun Ling" back in its original spot, washed his hands clean, and went to the small study.
In this pce, his traces were bing more and more prominent.
When Shang Junlin returned, the first thing he noticed was the potted flower in the bedroom. The pce attendants hurriedly exined, "His Excellency said this flower looked a little wilted, so it''s ced here to see how it fares in a couple of days."
Shang Junlin nodded. "And where is His Excellency?"
"In the small study, Your Majesty."
Without further dy, Shang Junlin headed straight to the small study.
Shen Yu was examining a map of Da Huan. Shang Junlin often worked on documents and maps in this area, and this map was also left by him.
"What are you doing, Ah Yu?"
"Your Majesty is back?" Shen Yu looked up. "I''m examining the terrain near Hanzhou."
King Yue had been holed up in Hanzhou, showing no signs of movement. Shen Yu was somewhat concerned. He spected that King Yue was probably waiting for someone. Given the current military strength of King Yue, it was practically impossible for him to achieve anything significant. King Yue wouldn''t willingly throw his life away, and neither would those behind him.
"Your Majesty, look here. The mountains stretch endlessly. If King Yue has any tricks up his sleeve, he''s likely to enter Hanzhou from this direction." Shen Yu pointed to the position west of Hanzhou.
"In addition to the army surrounding Hanzhou, I''ve also sent people to lurk in the shadows. As Ah Yu mentioned, this area has rugged terrain, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. If those people are really hiding in the mountains, it would indeed be quite challenging to engage them in battle."
"How many people does King Yue have now?"
"About a hundred thousand."
These forces entered Hanzhou before the court could react. After the court sent people over, various forces that had appeared sporadically seemed to disappear suddenly and never reappeared.
King Yue was waiting, and so was Shang Junlin.
"Exactly how much did thete Emperor leave behind for King Yue?" Shen Yu couldn''t understand. After all, Shang Junlin was his own biological son, born to thete Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Even after the Empress Dowager''s incident, thete Emperor didn''t remarry, so it wasn''t possible for him to have no emotions at all.
Beforeing into contact with him, Shen Yu didn''t feel much, but the more he learned about Shang Junlin''s past, the more strange it seemed. For example, thete Emperor''s hostility and malice towards Shang Junlin.
"To be honest, I''m not sure. Thete Emperor was unpredictable in his actions. I used to think he favored the Sixth Prince the most, but when the Sixth Prince got into trouble back then, he still acted as if nothing had happened, indulging in pleasures. Even when the mother of the Sixth Prince came to plead, she was kicked away by him. Who would have thought that the descendants of the once prominent Sixth Prince would fall so quickly."
Shang Junlin walked behind Shen Yu, his arms propping up on Shen Yu''s sides. His aura enveloped Shen Yu, who looked up at him.
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Shang Junlin''s lips, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. He truly harbored no fondness for thete Emperor.
Shen Yu''s lips moved, but what he eventually said was, "Would Your Majesty like to sit down?"
After speaking, he shifted aside, making room for Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin sat down and casually pulled Shen Yu into hisp. "Does Ah Yu want to sit on myp?"
Before Shen Yu could react, Shang Junlin had already lifted him onto hisp.
Shen Yu, ustomed to being held by him, instinctively found afortable position.
"I didn''t spend much time in the capital before, and I didn''t have much interaction with thete Emperor. Those who had frequent contact with him in the past either got killed by other princes or by me. There were few left, and we couldn''t glean much from them. I suspect that even King Yue himself doesn''t know exactly what thete Emperor left for him."
Shang Junlin picked up a strand of Shen Yu''s hair and toyed with it in his hand. "Thete Emperor was always wary of his sons. As they grew stronger, the Emperor grew older. Perhaps there was a little bit of affection when they were young, but as the princes grew up, how much of that thin affection could withstand the test?"
"Will Your Majesty be like that in the future?" Shen Yu knew he shouldn''t ask this question, but at this moment, he wanted to ask, so he did.
"I won''t even have my own children, how could I be like thete Emperor? Unless..." Shang Junlin''s hand rested on Shen Yu''s abdomen. "Ah Yu can bear a child for me."
"Do you think I''m capable of that?" Shen Yu raised an eyebrow.
"If I try harder, maybe." Shang Junlin replied seriously.
Shen Yu was speechless. "I think Your Majesty just wants to try the process."
Shang Junlin chuckled and bit his earlobe. "How would you know if you don''t try?"
Author''s note:
Giving birth to children and all that is just talk, His Majesty just wants to experience the process!!!
Chapter 176
Chapter 176
Thank you so much Yuki for the kind donation huhu This chapter is for you <3
Shen Yu nudged him with his elbow. "Your Majesty should think about something more practical. No matter how hard you try, this kind of thing won''te true."
Shang Junlin grabbed his hand, holding his wrist tightly. "I know."
Shen Yu struggled a bit but couldn''t break free from the man''s restraint. Fortunately, he let go on his own. "How''s the situation in Beimo now?"
"Beimo has been reluctant topensate. After hearing that Fang Jiayi was the negotiator, several officials feigned illness one after another. The Emperor of Beimo threw a fit in the court, and forcibly selected a few people."
"The ones selected must have looked very unhappy."
"Of course. The day after the matter was settled, they openly criticized those officials who feigned illness in the court, even the Beimo Emperor wasn''t spared."
Shen Yu could understand their thoughts. Fang Jiayi was too formidable in battles, and this kind of task was clearly not a good job. No matter how it was handled, they would only bear the me. Moreover, they would also suffer inner torment. Not many people would be willing to take it.
Although there were officials who put their personal interests aside for the sake of their positions, they were few and far between. Obviously, those officials in Beimo did not belong to this category.
Upon hearing the news in Subei, He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing, Fang Jiayi, and others gathered together, and someone couldn''t help but burst intoughter.
"Beimo really thinks that we, under Da Huan, are easy to bully. Let''s see how they''ll fare this time. We might as well strip them of ayer of skin."
They were all newly appointed officials sent to Subei, mostly young and ambitious. In Subei, they had countless opportunities to make a name for themselves. They were willing to do anything that would make the people of Beimo unhappy.
"Official Fang is truly remarkable. I must confess, I had some reservations about her at first and couldn''t understand why His Majesty made an exception to allow a woman to enter the court as an official. Now I realize how narrow-minded I was in the past. Here''s to you, Official Fang." With these words, the man raised his ss and drank it all in one gulp.
"Actually, I also..." One after another, many people apologized for their past prejudices.
"What I did was indeed unconventional, so it''s understandable that you couldn''tprehend it at first," Fang Jiayi said with a smile as she finished her drink. "It''s my honor to work with all of you."
"Please don''t say that, Official Fang. Regardless of how you put it, it should be our honor," another person interjected.
The atmosphere at the table became even more lively, and Jiang Huaiqing also clinked sses with He Chengyu.
The negotiation was scheduled to take ce before the New Year. The Da Huan court intended toplete the negotiation before the New Year so that the people of Linyuan could have a good New Year.
Linyuan was inhabited by many people who were pure-blooded Beimo natives. There had been several rounds of arguments within the court about whether to ept these people. Some believed that since they were not of their kind, their hearts must be different, and there was no need to bother with them. After upying Linyuan, these people should be ves. Another faction argued that since they belonged to Da Huan now, they should be treated as Da Huan citizens, and there should be no excessive punishment.
Both sides held firm to their positions, and the debate became intense.
However, this matter would not affect the acquisition of Linyuan from the hands of the Beimo people.
With everything prepared, Fang Jiayi changed into her official robe and, apanied by her entourage, headed to the negotiation site with the Beimo officials.
As expected, the negotiation went smoothly this time.
The people ofBeimo did try to y some tricks, but with the Subei Army watching closely, they dared not make any moves. On the negotiating table, Fang Jiayi was like a fish in water, pushing the Beimo officials back step by step.
When the negotiation ended, the officials from Da Huan were in high spirits, while Fang Jiayi showed signs of wanting more. On the other hand, the Beimo officials had pale faces and looked defeated.
On the spot, Fang Jiayi made the officials from Beimo sign the agreement. From that day on, Linyuan belonged to Da Huan!
Jiang Huaiqing went to Linyuan with the Subei Army. Before the official appointment of officials by the court, this piece ofnd would be temporarily managed by the officials from Subei.
Many of the people who originally lived in Linyuan had left, and those who stayed were mostly ordinary herders and abandoned ves.
Among these ves, some were originally from Da Huan. After Jiang Huaiqing''s team arrived, the first thing they did was to identify the Da Huan people among them. After verifying their identities, those who were willing to return to Da Huan were sent back. Those who were unwilling to leave could continue to stay in Linyuan and work.
Shang Junlin did not hide his intentions. Soon after, Linyuan would be a dedicated horse ranch for Da Huan. When Jiang Huaiqing and others went over, they needed to deal with potential issues in Linyuan in advance.
"Congrattions, Your Majesty, on achieving your goal," Shen Yu said, putting down the documents handed over from Subei and leaning back, supporting himself on the table.
"There are still many issues to address in the future. Jiang Huaiqing is meticulous, and he has considered many problems in Linyuan," Shang Junlinmented while reviewing the documents.
"What about the Beimo people who remain in Linyuan? Your Majesty, what are your ns for them?" Shen Yu asked.
"We will observe for a while. If they remain loyal, I don''t mind them living in Linyuan," Shang Junlin replied.
"Linyuan is close to Subei," Shen Yu mused with lowered eyes. "Is there a precedent for intermarriage between the two sides?"
"There is indeed," Shang Junlin replied, intrigued by Shen Yu''s line of questioning. "Why do you bring this up?"
"The nobles are constantly debating the fate of these people, fearing various problems that may arise. Ultimately, it''s all because these people identify as Beimo. But what if, one day, they sincerely recognize themselves as part of Da Huan?" Shen Yu proposed.
Taming people cannot rely solely on violence; it requires breaking down the barriers in their hearts. They need to be bound to Da Huan, where their fortunes rise and fall with theirs. Only when their interests arepletely aligned can they truly prevent certain situations from urring.
Shen Yu slowly articted his thoughts: "Your Majesty can encourage them to intermarry with Da Huan citizens, encourage them to speak the Da Huannguage in their daily lives, and send Da Huan schrs to educate their children. As this generation ages and the next generation, raised with Da Huan values, grows up, will they still recognize themselves as Beimo?"
Shang Junlin pondered Shen Yu''s words. "Over several generations, they willpletely discard their Beimo identity and truly integrate into Da Huan."
"Exactly. This method may take some time, but it''s gentler than any other approach," Shen Yu concluded.
The court had resolved the issue that had been causing arguments for several days, and as the New Year approached, there was still no movement from the King Yue''s side. In the Subei army, generals who were preparing to report back to the capital were getting ready to depart.
Among them was Gu Huai.
They should have set off earlier, but they had been dyed for some time dealing with matters in Beimo. By the time they were ready to depart, it was alreadyte, and time was somewhat pressing.
Apanying Gu Huai on his return was the officer who had befriended him, now serving as his deputy.
"I''ve never been to the capital even though I''ve been around for so long. General, is the capital really as prosperous as they say?" the deputy couldn''t help but ask as they traveled.
"It''s very bustling. You''ll see for yourself when we arrive," replied Gu Huai, but as they drew closer to the capital, his emotions became increasingly difficult to calm.
After the war with Beimo ended, he wrote a long letter to Physician Gu, exining some of the reasons for his enlistment and detailing what had happened in Subei.
When he had left initially, it had seemed like he was leaving without a word, and although he had sent a letterter, Gu Huai still worried that Physician Gu would be angry.
The capital was lively, filled with shops and stalls selling items for the uing New Year.
Every street was crowded with people, bustling with activity.
After news of the negotiations with Beimo reached the capital, it became a hot topic among the people.
"Have you seen the recent reports? Those people from Beimo really think we''re easy to bully. They keep dying, saying they can''t gather enough supplies. I bet they just want to avoid paying up."
"Maybe they''re hoping that if they dy long enough, we''ll forget about it."
"But no matter how nice they talk, we won''t be fooled. What''s rightfully ours, why should we give it up?"
"That Subei official, Lady Fang, is really something. After so many encounters, those Beimo people must have shivered at the mention of her name."
"Hahaha, they''re getting a taste of their own medicine! Official Fang''s actions really resonate with the people!"
"We don''t need to show mercy to our enemies."
"I heard a rumor. Did you know that the people of Beimo wrote a letter to our Emperor, asking him to recall Lady Fang back to the capital and not leave her in Subei? They can''t bear it anymore, hahaha."
"Is that true?"
"My cousin works at Duan-daren''s mansion, and the informationes from there. Can it be fake?"
As Physician Gu walked through the streets, he heard various discussions. When it came to Beimo, many people talked about the battles Gu Huai had participated in. The Gu Huai they described didn''t seem quite like the person who had spent several years with him. He always felt a sense of unreality.
Physician Gu stopped at a small stall, which was filled withnterns of various styles. In the past, Gu Huai had been busy with these preparations, but this year, with Gu Huai absent, the house had been quiet.
"Would you like to buy a pair, sir? Although my stall is small, thenterns I sell are of top quality," the vendor said enthusiastically.
After pausing for a moment, Physician Gu bought a pair under the vendor''s warm rmendation.
Families were all preparing for the uing New Year, and even the pce began to decorate.
Without needing instructions from the Emperor or Shen Yu, Meng-gonggong had already arranged for the pce to be well decorated.
In Yu Zhang Pce, Shen Yu leaned on a soft couch, watching the eunuchs bustling in and out.
"Young Master, take a look and see if there''s anything that needs changing," Mu Xi brought in a hot drink and ced it beside Shen Yu.
"What is this?" Shen Yu asked, looking at the cup.
"It''s a newly developed milk pudding from the small kitchen, made with fresh fruits and milk. Young Master, please try it and see if you like it," Mu Xi exined.
ustomed to the asional new dishes from the small kitchen, Shen Yu took a sip. Thebination of milk and fresh fruits blended perfectly, with a sweet but not cloying taste, just to Shen Yu''s liking.
After finishing the milk pudding, Shen Yu stood up and looked around. "You''ve arranged everything quite well. There''s nothing that needs to be changed."
As he spoke, Shang Junlin, who had finished morning court, walked in.
"Something happened in court today regarding the Zhenbei Marquis. Would you like to hear about it?" Shang Junlin untied his cloak and tossed it into Meng-gonggong''s arms.
"What happened with the Zhenbei Marquis?" In this lifetime, Shen Yu hadn''t paid much attention to his family. Initially, he had people outside keep an eye on Zhenbei Marquis'' estate and report to him from time to time, butter he simply handed the matter over to Mu Xi. If nothing important happened, he couldn''t be bothered to deal with it.
"Today, the Zhenbei Marquis requested the Crown Prince to be recognized in court," Shang Junlin''s voice was slightly solemn.
"The Crown Prince? Besides me and Shen Qingran, does the Zhenbei Marquis have other children?"
Im getting confuse as to who is this crown prince ;-;
Chapter 177
Chapter 177
Another bonus chapter for another donator and for Yuki, too <3
If Shen Yu''s memory served him correctly, there should only be him and Shen Qingran in the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate. Or could it be that in this lifetime, Shen Qingran had lost his utility value, and the Zhenbei Marquis had brought out another child?
Given the Zhenbei Marquis''s temperament, it wasn''t impossible.
But if the Zhenbei Marquis''s mansion suddenly had another heir, Mu Xi shouldn''t have failed to mention it to him at all.
"No, it''s not," Shang Junlin gently stroked Shen Yu''s cheek. "The Zhenbei Marquis wants to recognize you."
"Me?" Shen Yu was even more surprised now. "But I''ve entered the pce. Why would he want to recognize me as the heir? Surely he doesn''t think that I can inherit the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate after entering the pce, does he?"
Forget about his current status being unable to inherit, even if he could, Shen Yu wouldn''t care for it. His previous desire for this position was only because it was rightfully his. Instead of being upied by others, he would rather firmly grasp it in his own hands.
"He said that you are the only legitimate son of the estate, and in both sentiment and reason, this position should rightfully be yours."
Not only Shang Junlinbut also the courtiers who heard the Zhenbei Marquis''s words during the morning court session showed various expressions of surprise on their faces. They couldn''t understand why the Zhenbei Marquis suddenly brought this up.
If he really wanted to recognize his legitimate son as the heir, why didn''t he mention it in the more than ten years before Shen Yu entered the pce? Instead, he only brought it up after Shen Yu entered the pce and gained the emperor''s favor. Many people looked at the Zhenbei Marquis with suspicion.
Didn''t the Zhenbei Marquis feel it? How could he not feel the tant scrutiny? Even the gaze of Shang Junlin upon him was as sharp as needles.
"Is the Zhenbei Marquis joking with me at this time?" Anyone could sense the hidden anger beneath Shang Junlin''s calm tone.
The Zhenbei Marquis hurriedly knelt down. "I dare not, it''s just that this position should have been his. In the past, I was blinded and neglected Shen Yu due to my infatuation with my concubine and her son. I want to take this opportunity to make amends for my past mistakes."
Shang Junlin looked down at him from a high position, neither agreeing nor rejecting. Before the Zhenbei Marquis could say anything more, Shang Junlin interrupted him, "Now that Ah Yu is my esteemed spouse, the Zhenbei Marquis''s estate is just a thing of the past for him. Regardless of whether you suddenly had this thought genuinely or insincerely, this matter should never be mentioned again in the future."
Directly rejected?!
The courtiers were even more puzzled by everything that was happening right in front of them.
After the morning court session, a group of ministers who were on good terms gathered together and couldn''t resist discussing the events of the court session.
"What was the Zhenbei Marquis thinking? Bringing up the matter of establishing a crown prince at this time?"
"If he truly intended to establish his legitimate son, he would have done so long ago. His original inclination was towards that illegitimate son with twisted elbows. Could it be that he''s having regrets now?"
"What good would regrets do now? He has already sent people into the pce. It''s even more unrealistic to expect the Emperor to release them now. Besides, even if the Noble Monarch is favored, let alone an unfavored concubine, there''s absolutely no justification for such an action."
"Yeah, given the Emperor''s favor towards the Noble Monarch, it''s just a matter of a crown princeAhh, i get it now. Its like a crown princess thingy when you are to be conferred an official title as the wife of a monarch and offered a high position as the possible empress/queen. Got me confused there for a second. position. The Noble Monarch probably doesn''t care. If he truly cared about these matters, he wouldn''t have entered the pce in the first ce."
No one couldprehend the sudden actions of the Zhenbei Marquis, not even the officials who were close to him.
"I didn''t agree to it. Ah Yu can only be tied to me in the future," Shang Junlin dered as he held Shen Yu and sat them down on the soft couch.
"Even if the Emperor agrees, I won''t. From the moment I entered the pce, I''ve had no connection with the Zhenbei Marquis''s household."
But Shen Yu couldn''t help but be curious about why the Zhenbei Marquis would take such action.
"Has anything happened at the Zhenbei Marquis''s household recently?" Shen Yu pondered, unable to think of any other reasons.
"No, except for some minor disturbances, everything has been business as usual at the Zhenbei Marquis''s household," Shang Junlin replied, dismissing any possibilities.
Since there were no recent disturbances at the Zhenbei Marquis''s household, why would the Marquis suddenly propose making him the crown prince?
Actually, the Zhenbei Marquis wasn''t entirely mistaken. The crown prince position originally belonged to Shen Yu. If it weren''t for the Zhenbei Marquis favoring Shen Qingran and her son, he would have long been the legitimate heir of the Zhenbei Marquis''s household.
A few dayster, news arrived from the Zhenbei Marquis''s household that the Marquis was considering a marriage proposal for Shen Qingran.
Shen Qingran was about the same age as Shen Yu, indeed at the age suitable for marriage. First, they wanted to establish Shen Yu as the crown prince, then they wanted to arrange a marriage for Shen Qingran. Was there any connection between the two?
"Which families did the Zhenbei Marquis consider for Shen Qingran?" Shen Yu asked, running his fingers along the edge of the cup.
"It''s the daughter of a branch of the Duan family," Shang Junlin shared the information obtained from the Hidden Dragon Guards. "There''s also daughters from the Yi and Chen families."
Without exception, they were all girls from prominent families in the capital. Perhaps what the Zhenbei Marquis valued wasn''t the girls themselves but the influence they represented.
Marriage alliances.
This kind of thing wasmon among noble families. Shen Yu wasn''t surprised that the Zhenbei Marquis chose this path, but the question was, why Shen Qingran?
"Are they all willing to marry Shen Qingran?" Shen Yu inquired.
"Although he''s a bastard, he''s the only possible heir to the Marquis''s household. Plus, with you as his legitimate older brother, it''s normal for these people to be interested," Shang Junlin exined.
What Shang Junlin said was true. Not everyone knew about the conflicts between Shen Yu and the Marquis''s household. From an outsider''s perspective, although Shen Yu wasn''t particrly close to the Marquis''s household, it wasn''t to the extent of a life-or-death feud. Whatever happened in between, it couldn''t change the fact that he was the legitimate heir of the Marquis''s household.
Even fewer people knew about the conflicts between Shen Qingran and Shen Yu. Before entering the pce, Shen Yu lived a secluded life in the capital, and Shen Qingran wasn''t foolish enough to go around telling people how he had bullied his legitimate older brother in the Marquis''s estate.
Marquis''s estate.
After many days, the Zhenbei Marquis stepped into Shen Qingran''s courtyard once again. After being confined for some time, Shen Qingran had be much more obedient. Two months ago, the Marquis had lifted his house arrest, allowing him to move freely within the household but not outside.
Shen Qingran also understood that his father had no sentimental attachment to him. When he was useful, his father could treat him well in every possible way, but when he was no longer useful, he could be kicked away without any hesitation or consideration.
"Why has Fathere?" Having faced many setbacks, Shen Qingran had learned to disguise his emotions.
"You''re of marriageable age now. I''ve looked into a few girls for you. Choose one for yourself," the Marquis said, gesturing for the servant following him to ce a list on the table.
Shen Qingran barely managed to maintain hisposure. "Is Father here just for this matter?"
"Your older brother has been in the pce for a year now. It''s time for you to marry. After getting married, you should bear children for the household as soon as possible," the Marquis''s implication was clear.
Shen Qingran looked puzzled. "Father knows that I prefer men."
The Marquis impatiently waved his hand. "I''m only asking you to marry a proper wife. There''s only you in the household now. Once you have children, you can like whoever you want."
"You''re right," Shen Qingran nced at the list on the table. "Your son will choose carefully."
"They''re all girls from good families. Take your time to choose. I want to send a reply to the girl''s family soon," the Marquis said before leaving.
After the Marquis left, Shen Qingran sat down at the table and slowly opened the list. The Marquis hadn''t lied to him; the girls listed had respectable family backgrounds. Calcting carefully, marrying any of these girls would be a considerable climb for Shen Qingran.
News from the Marquis''s household reached the pce, and Mu Xi, knowing that Shen Yu had been particrly interested in recent events at the Marquis''s household, informed Shen Yu as soon as she received the news.
Shen Yu instructed them to continue monitoring.
In Hanzhou, there was no festive atmosphere due to the arrival of King Yue''s entourage.
King Yue currently resides in the Cheng family''s main residence. The Cheng family only realized their predicament after the King''s arrival. While some were discontent, they found themselves with no choice but to follow King Yue.
Given the tense situation outside, King Yue had little festive spirit. Rather than that, he hoped Tan-xiangsheng''s people would arrive soon. He truly didn''t want to remain trapped here any longer.
"Tan-xiangsheng, how much longer do we have to wait for the reinforcements you mentioned?"
"They''ve arrived. They''re in the western mountains of Hanzhou. We must wait for the right moment to strike, coordinating both inside and outside forces to break free."
Upon hearing this, King Yue felt relieved. "What about my people? Did Tan-xiangsheng''s contacts reach them?"
ording to Tan-xiangsheng, the dyed arrival of reinforcements was due to diverting to gather the King''s supporters left in his fiefdom.
"Don''t worry, Your Highness. They are on their way."
King Yue knew his actions would bring trouble. Before being absolutely certain, he was cautious not to let the court suspect anything wrong. It conveniently served their purposes at this time.
The court didn''t know the specifics of his growing influence over the years. Those people were well-hidden, and even if the court sent people to Yuezhou, they wouldn''t be able to find them quickly.
Tan-xiangsheng took a sip of tea handed to him by a maid. "There''s one more thing. My people have received a special cooperation invitation. Are you interested, Your Highness?"
"Oh?" King Yue raised an eyebrow.
"It''s from Beimo. They say a prominent figure is willing to help Your Highness."
"Beimo? Weren''t they just defeated by Subei?"
Tan-xiangsheng teased, "Yes and no. Your Highness will know soon enough."
King Yue had no choice. If he wanted to confront Shang Junlin, the forces at his disposal were insufficient. He didn''t have time to ponder why these people were willing to help him; he just wanted to change the current situation quickly.
He didn''t want to be constantly overshadowed by Shang Junlin. One day, Shang Junlin would definitely be his defeated subordinate! He would return all the humiliations he suffered a hundredfold!
"Young master, our people sent word back from Hanzhou that King Yue seems to have ties with two different factions." At noon, Mu Xi brought in warm water.
Shen Yu washed his hands and wiped them with a cloth. "I see. Keep an eye on them, and try to find out where the factions they''re associated with are located."
"I understand," Mu Xi said as she handed the water basin to a pce maid to take away. She continued, "The Zhenbei Marquis has sent another invitation to the young master. Would you like to see him?"
Since Shen Yu entered the pce, the Marquis had been sending invitations regrly, three times a month without fail. Except for a few asions, Shen Yu pretended not to see them, much to the Marquis''s frustration. However, this time, for some reason, invitations had beening consecutively for several days. The messenger said the Marquis had an important matter to discuss with the young master and hoped he would agree to meet.
Shen Yu was curious about what the Zhenbei Marquis wanted to do. After a moment of thought, he said, "Yes."
Shen Yu could summon the Marquis directly to the pce. Before meeting him, he informed Shang Junlin and suggested that he apany him.
Shen Yu felt that if Shang Junlin were there, the Marquis wouldn''t say many things.
"Does Your Majesty want to take shelter for a while? I''m quite interested to know what the Zhenbei Marquis wants to say to me."
"Am I that unbearable?" Shang Junlin pinched Shen Yu''s cheek.
Shen Yu swatted his hand away. "Your Majesty knows that''s not what I meant."
"In that case, Ah Yu, give me a kiss, and I''ll agree to anything you want."
Shen Yu gave him a sidelong nce and pecked him on the cheek. Shang Junlin wasn''t entirely satisfied, but Shen Yu pushed him into the inner room.
"You''ve got your kiss. Please wait here, Your Majesty."
When the Zhenbei Marquis arrived, he only saw Shen Yu seated in the main seat.
"What does the Marquis want to tell me?"
"I petitioned for you to be granted the title of Crown Prince, but the Emperor rejected it," the Marquis got straight to the point, sensing Shen Yu''s indifferent tone.
"Is the Marquis here just for this matter?" Shen Yu''s tone was casual, indicating he didn''t care much about it.
The Marquis was taken aback and took a while before responding, "I''ve selected a well-bred wife for Shen Qingran. Once their first child is born, I n to have it adopted under your name, so it can inherit the Marquisate in the future."
Shen Yu couldn''t help butugh mockingly. "Doesn''t the Marquis think his ns are too idealistic?"
Trantor''s note:
I get it now lol. Thats why I got confused about this whole ''crown prince'' thing. It means, in this context, Shen Yu should be bestowed the Crown Prince position since he is the wife of the Emperor. Think of it as being the crown princess where she will be the empress/queen because he married the crown prince/emperor/king. Well technically, Shen Yu is STILL a concubine no matter his highest official title because he is not crowned to take the position of the empress which is the highest position a wife could get. That''s why the Zhenbei Marquis wants to push to have Shen Yu be crowned as the empress-on-waiting so that he can coattail ride his son''s position and take advantage of it. Disgusting father urghh.
Chapter 178
Chapter 178
I already achieved my goal! Thank you so much for donating This chapter is dedicated to the donator <3
If you still want to support me, you can do so by sponsoring me a coffee! /serafintrantions
"Thinking that you can tie mepletely to the Marquis''s estate by having a child? Do you truly believe I''m that naive? Moreover, considering my current status, if the child is adopted under my name, wouldn''t he also be the Emperor''s child?"
"I merely seek to rectify past mistakes. The sessor must be from the legitimate line. I have only two sons in my lifetime, yet you entered the pce..."
Shen Yu cut him off impatiently, "Weren''t you eager to establish Shen Qingran as the heir before? Now, making him your legitimate heir is just as logical."
"How can it be the same?" The Marquis grew somewhat anxious. "You are the only legitimate heir of the estate, the rightful sessor."
"So, the Marquis also acknowledges that I''m the rightful heir," Shen Yu mocked with a slight smirk. "But when Aunt and her son were in power, you didn''t seem to share the same sentiment. I thought, in your mind, the legitimacy of the heir didn''t matter."
"I understand you hold resentment for past events..."
"I dare not. If the Marquis came solely for this matter, I advise against it. Don''t harm another girl from someone else''s family. No matter your schemes, I won''t consent to this adoption."
Being firmly rejected by Shen Yu, the Marquis felt embarrassed. "I understand you dislike Shen Qingran. When the child is born, I will ensure Shen Qingran never appears before you again, and the child will never know his biological father."
"Let me make something clear. I have no desire to continue my bloodline, let alone have an unnecessary child. My current status is Noble Monarch. Have you considered what that entails? It means my child will also be the Emperor''s child. Why would you assume the royalty would wee another child with no blood rtion to them?"
"You don''t want a legitimate heir; you want an heir who can benefit from my rtionship with the Emperor!" Shen Yu''s gaze pierced into the Marquis, searching for any hint of ulterior motives.
The Marquis blushed as his inner thoughts were pinpointed. Indeed, he had such intentions. He was unwilling to let the power of the Marquisate - The territory held by a marquis or margrave.
fall into others'' hands. The only eligible sessors he could consider were Shen Yu and Shen Qingran. He initially intended to designate Shen Yu as the heir and then find a way to adopt a child for him, so that the child could inherit the estate in the future. However, since the Emperor refused to agree, he had to skip this step and proceed directly to the next.
Designating Shen Qingran as the legitimate heir was no longer within his consideration. Leaving aside the fact that Shen Qingran''s status as a bastard son rendered him unable to inherit, even if he could, the Marquis was unwilling to hand over the Marquisate to him.
What he desired was for his property to thrive, rather than bing a bargaining chip for someone else.
"This is also for your own good. Throughout history, monarchs often show fickleness. Despite your current favor, can you guarantee that five or ten years from now, the Emperor will treat you as he does today? Besides the Emperor''s favor, you also need someone to rely on..."
"This is between the Emperor and me; there''s no need for the Marquis''s concern."
The Marquis regarded Shen Yu with the eyes of someone addressing an ignorant child. "As the rightful heir, you should also consider yourself. The Marquisate should rightfully be inherited by you..."
"Since the Marquis also acknowledges that the Marquisate should be inherited by me, why did I receive no indication of this before entering the pce?" Shen Yu interrupted him again.
The Marquis was left speechless, for at that time, his mind was filled with thoughts of how to bestow the heir position upon Shen Qingran.
"If I were to say I regret it, would you believe me?"
"Yes, why wouldn''t I? After entering the pce, the Marquis should have seen what kind of person Shen Qingran truly is. Do you not feel that sooner orter, the Marquisate would be doomed in his hands? At such a moment, you remembered the eldest son you once abandoned. Inparison, the advantages of the legitimate heir be even more evident..."
Regret is the mostmon and yet most futile emotion.
"I understand that it''s toote for regrets now, but today''s matter cannot be disregarded just because you don''t wish it. The sessor of the Zhenbei Marquisate muste from the legitimate line."
ording to thews of Da Huan, regardless of whether Shen Yu enters the pce or not, Shen Qingran is not qualified to inherit the Marquisate. The Marquis only has one legitimate son in Shen Yu. If Shen Yu cannot inherit, then the sessor must be selected from Shen Yu''s next generation. In a sense, what the Marquis said was true.
"Marquis, still vigorous in your old age, having another legitimate son is not an issue at all. I mentioned before entering the pce that the Emperor could bestow a marriage, wouldn''t it be better to have your own legitimate child rather than going through the trouble of adopting one for me?"
Shen Yu''s tone dripped with undisguised sarcasm, leaving the Marquis red-faced and flustered. He had anticipated Shen Yu''s refusal, but he never expected Shen Yu to be so sharp in his rebuke.
When did this situation start?
The Marquis hesitated for a moment.
"Is this how you speak to your father?" The expression on the Marquis''s face shifted several times.
"Am I not speaking the truth? If you want someone to inherit the estate, it would be much better to have your own legitimate son, saving the trouble of adopting and then passing on to me." Shen Yu''s lips curved in a smile, devoid of any humor in his eyes.
"You..." The Marquis''s words got stuck in his throat.
From behind the screen, Shang Junlin emerged, his tone neither friendly nor angry. "I was unaware that the Marquis was still considering adopting a child for the Noble Monarch."
"I...I dare not." The Marquis suddenly knelt down, his back breaking into a sweat.
He didn''t know when Shang Junlin had arrived, nor how much he had heard just now, but he understood that from this moment on, his scheme was doomed to fail.
"Even if you are the Noble Monarch''s father, I do not wish for you to meddle in his and my private affairs, understand?"
"I understand. I have overstepped my bounds. I beg Your Majesty''s forgiveness!" The Marquis pressed his forehead to the ground, feeling as if his heart were being squeezed tightly, his breath bing uneven under intense pressure.
Under the heavy pressure, he couldn''t even lift his head to look at Shang Junlin''s expression.
"I have said before, since the Noble Monarch entered the pce, he belongs to me. He has no rtionship with your Zhenbei Marquisate. He will not be the heir to the Marquisate, nor will he inherit your title. This time, considering your rtionship with him as his father, I will overlook your attempt to sow discord between the Noble Monarch and me. But I do not wish to see a second urrence of such actions."
"Yes, yes, I will never dare again."
"Get out."
The Marquis dared not stay a moment longer and promptly left.
"Why is His Majesty angrier than I am?" Shen Yu gently smoothed away the furrow between Shang Junlin''s brows, feeling the tension from the incident with the Zhenbei Marquis fading rapidly.
Shang Junlin held Shen Yu silently in his embrace, his warmth soothing to Shen Yu''s unease. After a while, Shang Junlin whispered, "I will never change how I treat you, Ah Yu."
The following day, during court, Shang Junlin swiftly stripped the Zhenbei Marquis of his title. The courtiers were puzzled, butter rumors circted that the Emperor''s action was in response to the Zhenbei Marquis''s displeasure towards Shen Yu.
The words uttered by the Zhenbei Marquis that day had reached Shang Junlin''s ears, and this dismissal served as a warning to him. The Zhenbei Marquis had thought he still had a chance for aeback, but he failed to realize that Shen Yu had already nned the estate''s fate, awaiting only the final act to unfold.
As time passed, Gu Huai and his men drew closer to the capital from the north.
"Report, General. There are signs of an unidentified force ahead."
Gu Huai reined in his horse to a halt. "Send someone to investigate."
While in the north, Gu Huai had received intelligence regarding Hanzhou, knowing that besides Hanzhou, unidentified forces might emerge elsewhere. Apanying him back were five thousand soldiers. Should they encounter rebel forces en route, they were prepared to deal with them directly.
The scout returned swiftly. "Preliminary assessment suggests two thousand individuals are ahead, heading towards Hanzhou."
"General, what''s our next move?"
Gu Huai pondered for a moment. "First, ascertain their identity. If they are affiliated with King Yue, deal with them on the spot."
"Yes, sir!"
Handling these two thousand individuals took some time. Since encountering the first group of King Yue''s men, they had encountered simr groups one after another.
Beneath the moon''s glow, Gu Huai wiped his sword clean.
His aide took a sip of water. "At this rate, we may not make it to the capital on time. Could the court be displeased with us for lingering outside with the troops?"
The aide''s concern was not unfounded. Although five thousand soldiers was not a significant number, it was still substantial. The court had granted them ample time, and had it not been for dealing with King Yue''s men, they wouldn''t have faced such dys.
"No need to worry."
Gu Huai, dispatched as a member of the Hidden Dragon Guards to Subei, had a well-established means ofmunication with hisrades. Upon encountering the first group suspected to be affiliated with King Yue, he promptly ryed the information to the Hidden Dragon Guards, and by now, the message should have reached the capital.
Unfortunately, their ns for this year''s New Year''s celebrations with his brother seemed impossible.
"Gu Huai encountered King Yue''s men," Shang Junlin stated, closing the secret missive and setting it down on the table.
"Was it on his return journey from Subei?" Shen Yu inquired.
"Yes, and it''s not just one group. He suspects there are numerous factions headed toward Hanzhou from various directions."
With the enemy detected, there was no time to waste. Shang Junlin instructed reinforcements to swiftly aid Gu Huai, hoping to eliminate any threats along the way.
As they progressed, Gu Huai''s forces grew, and the rebel factions he encountered multiplied.
A crash interrupted their discussionsa vase shattered as it hit the ground, creating a loud noise.
"We can''t afford to wait any longer. Our covert operatives have been exposed," Tan-xiangsheng said, his expression tense.
"In addition to the hundred thousand troops stationed in Hanzhou, how many more forces are present outside? Can they assist us in breaking through the encirclement?" King Yue''s tone softened slightly after venting his frustration.
"We currently have eighty thousand avable, but the remainder won''t arrive in time," Tan-xiangsheng exined. He had initially nned to wait for all reinforcements before taking action, but unforeseen circumstances had elerated their timetable.
The snowfall intensified.
As snowkes drifted down like feathers, patrolling soldiers sensed something amiss and sounded the rm.
After days of closure, the gates of Hanzhou swung open, and the walls were lined with archers.
"Release the arrows"
The sh of swords and spears reverberated throughout.
The urgent news was dispatched to the capital.
"It appears Gu Huai''s actions disrupted their ns," Shen Yu remarked, recliningzily beside Shang Junlin.
"Gu Huai has once again distinguished himself. I''ve directed him to lead his troops directly to Hanzhou. Given the timing, they should arrive within days."
King Yue stood atop the city wall, watching as the mes below spread. A slow smile crept across his lips. Victory was within reach.
Meanwhile, the Da Huan army stationed in Hanzhou had not anticipated the presence of King Yue''s forces outside their walls and were caught off guard.
Author''s Note: Sorry for the dy in updates. Dealing with some tough menstrual cramps. I''ll try to post another chapterter, but if it''s not up by midnight, there might only be one update today. Apologies!
Trantor''s thoughts:
What a shameless bastard SY''s father is.
And when will this arsehole King Yue die already. He makes me want to travel in the novel and assassinate him myself grr
Chapter 179
Chapter 179
Uhmm... I almost forgot to update. Been busy with processing my requirements for graduation lol. And I stayed upte for The Tortured Poets Department release XD. Anyways, here''s your chapter.
If anyone is willing to sponsor me a kofi, /serafintrantions
Hanzhouunched its attack without any warning. If the army stationed outside hadn''t been prepared to respond at a moment''s notice, they would have been in serious trouble.
The two sides were evenly matched, and the situation remained in a stalemate until another force, whose origin was unknown, joined the fray and attacked the Da Huan army from behind.
Caught between two enemies, they found themselves at a disadvantage.
The appearance of the first unknown force seemed to trigger something, and in the days that followed, more unexpected armies appeared one after another.
The court estimated that King Yue had around one hundred thousand soldiers, and the attacking forces were prepared based on this number. However, now the situation has changed drastically. Suddenly, arge number of troops loyal to King Yue emerged, seemingly increasing their numbers to one hundred and fifty or even two hundred thousand. Da Huan''s forces were struggling to keep up.
"General, this can''t go on like this. We need to report to the court immediately."
"We''ve already sent the report. The court has dispatched reinforcements, but it will take some time for them to arrive. In the meantime, we must hold our ground!"
"Yes!"
War is never child''s y, and the territory of Hanzhou on the battlefield was almostpletely destroyed.
The sounds of roars and cries echoed endlessly.
The snow was cold, the blood was hot.
Countless fell, countless rose again, behind them were thousands of people, they must use themselves to build the strongest wall.
The news reached the court in no time, causing a huge uproar.
"Weren''t there only a hundred thousand men? Where did the extra hundred thousande from?"
"Send reinforcements from the surrounding areas quickly, we must not let King Yue seed!"
Countless orders were issued and executed at the fastest speed. At this moment, everyone stood on the same battle line.
On the road, Gu Huai received a secret order from the Hidden Dragon Guards, along with a tiger token, which could mobilize troops along the way. It was now in Gu Huai''s hands, handed over by Shang Junlin.
When he left Subei, Gu Huai brought five thousand troops, but now he held no less than a hundred thousand.
Shang Junlin instructed him to change course to Hanzhou. Few people in the court knew about it. On the surface, Shang Junlin also sent other generals to lead troops to reinforce.
The sudden outbreak of war disrupted the lively atmosphere of the New Year. For a while, the entire capital became tense.
Enough garrisons had to be kept there to prevent any trouble in the capital. The number of troops that could be sent out was limited. Compared to directly mobilizing troops from the capital, Shang Junlin preferred to mobilize them from near Hanzhou.
During this time, Shang Junlin was very busy. His time in the Yu Zhang Pce was greatly reduced, either discussing matters in the court or in the study.
"Aren''t you worried, Young Master?" Mu Xi vaguely understood some of the enmity between his young master and King Yue. Now that King Yue had rebelled, not to mention the ministers, even the pce residents were somewhat uneasy.
As for Shen Yu, he remained unchanged, dealing with things as he always did, showing no difference from before.
"There''s nothing to worry about; I trust His Majesty," Shen Yu said, fiddling with the branches of the "Jun Ling" nt without lifting his head.
After a few days in the bed chamber, the "Jun Ling" nt regained its vitality. However, it began to wilt again after a couple of days back in the flower room. Shen Yu had no choice but to bring it back to the bedchamber for care.
"The matters you ordered to be investigated have been looked into. There''s some progress now. It seems that King Yue has a connection with Beimo. As for the other side, we haven''t found out yet."
"Indeed, it''s no surprise that King Yue would establish a connection with Beimo. Are there Beimo people among the troopsing to Hanzhou?"
"Not at the moment. The message from there is that the negotiations have not yet concluded."
"For Da Huan, this is good news."
Beimo is currently preupied and has no time to help King Yue cause trouble. It all started with the Beimo Emperor wanting to send troops to help King Yue. However, other members of the royal family disagreed. Unable to persuade the Emperor, they contacted ministers who opposed the idea and killed the Emperor. Now, Beimo is in turmoil, fighting for the throne, and cannot afford to meddle in the affairs of Da Huan.
The masterminds behind the scenes didn''t expect such a turn of events. Their people finally managed to convince the former Beimo Emperor to send troops, but they were killed in turn. Consequently, they ended up in prison, and their ns were ruined.
King Yue and Tan-xiangsheng were still waiting for a response from Beimo. Unfortunately, no matter how many messages they sent, they received no reply.
Fortunately, they didn''t rely too much on Beimo''s assistance, so theck of response didn''t affect them much.
After waiting anxiously for a long time, King Yue finally weed his subordinates, and his confidants also arrived.
"Atst, we meet, Your Highness."
In the study, the confidants bowed to King Yue.
"Please rise, all of you." King Yue first congratted them warmly before inquiring about the situation in Yuezhou.
"Fortunately, Your Highness sent someone just in time. If it had been anyter, we would have been trapped in Yuezhou. The officials sent by the court were exceptionally difficult to deal with. If it weren''t for Min-daren and Tang-xiangsheng, we wouldn''t have been able to leave."
"And where are they?" King Yue had a faint idea in his mind, but he held onto a fraction of hope, hoping he was wrong.
"They stayed in Yuezhou to ensure our safe departure."
Staying behind at this time would likely result in more harm than good.
The study fell into a long silence, and a few people''s eyes became slightly red.
After a long while, King Yue spoke hoarsely, "I will remember the kindness of the two gentlemen Someday, I will avenge both of them!"
It was time again for Physician Gu to diagnose Shen Yu''s pulse.
Shen Yu''s recovery was going well, and his condition had improved a lotpared to before. He needed fewer medicines, and although his condition couldn''t be cured permanently, Shen Yu was already satisfied with the results.
After taking his pulse, Physician Gu adjusted the prescription slightly. "Take the new medicine every other day. In a while, Your Excellency can stop taking medication."
Nothing made Shen Yu happier than hearing these words. After his rebirth, he had been drinking medicine for almost a year straight, and he felt like he was marinating in it.
"Thank you, Physician Gu. Mu Xi, bring the small box I prepared earlier and give it to Physician Gu."
Mu Xi nodded and soon returned with a small box.
"This is a token of appreciation for Physician Gu''s care over the past year. Physician Gu, please ept it."
"I can''t ept it. Your Majesty and Your Excellency have already rewarded me generously, and it''s my duty to take care of you. Your Excellency doesn''t need to do this."
In the end, Physician Gu epted the gift from Shen Yu.
Thinking about the strange behavior of the "Jun Ling" nt recently, Shen Yu mentioned it to Physician Gu.
"I haven''t encountered this situation before... I''ll go back and see if I can find out the reason."
When Shang Junlin returned, it was already dark. Shen Yu was writing something under themp, and he stopped the pce attendant''s announcement, walking over slowly.
Shen Yu looked up when he heard footsteps. "Your Majesty is back."
"What are you doing, Ah Yu?" Coming closer, Shang Junlin realized that Shen Yu had been writing his name repeatedly on the paper in front of him, and he paused for a moment.
Shen Yu lowered his head, his face turning red as he looked at the paper filled with the three characters "Shang Junlin."
He had actually been lost in thought and unconsciously wrote so many names of Shang Junlin. Now he was caught by the person himself...
Shen Yu panicked and tried to cover up the "evidence."
But his hand was grabbed by the man.
Shang Junlin snatched the paper from Shen Yu''s hand and set it aside to dry. The ink on the paper was still wet because of Shen Yu''s earlier movements.
"I..."
Before he could say another word, Shen Yu''s eyes widened suddenly.
A warm sensation enveloped his lips.
The man''s kiss was fierce and urgent, carrying an overwhelming dominance as if he wanted to devour him whole.
His teeth grazed against the softness of Shen Yu''s lips, causing a sharp pain and a faint taste of blood to spread. Before the blood could drip, it was swallowed by the man''s tongue.
Tasting the blood, the man''s actions eased slightly.
Shen Yu''s waist was tightly held, the man''s other hand behind his head, leaving Shen Yu unable to escape. He was forced to tilt his head back, enduring the man''s deepening kiss.
His vision seemed to explode into a burst of white, all senses focused on his lips. He felt his lips being ground and the pain from the bite fading away, reced by another sensation.
After what seemed like an eternity, Shen Yu was finally released. His vision darkened, and he had to rely on the man''s strength to stand.
Resting his forehead against the man''s shoulder, Shen Yu breathed slowly.
The man''s breathing was slightly heavier than usual. One of his hands encircled Shen Yu''s waist, while the other, which was originally behind Shen Yu''s head, moved to his face, gently caressing his skin.
"That paper, give it to me."
"What does Your Majesty want with it?" Shen Yu just wanted to destroy the evidence.
Naturally, he wanted to collect it.
Shang Junlin didn''t answer, tilting his head to kiss Shen Yu''s forehead. "Can I have it?"
The man''s voice was low and maic, Shen Yu''s favorite tone. In a daze, Shen Yu agreed.
Following the order, Meng-gonggong carefully put away the paper on the table.
When Shen Yu came to his senses, the paper was gone.
Shang Junlin quickly changed the subject to divert Shen Yu''s attention. "There''s news from Beimo. The Beimo Emperor is dead."
"Was he killed?" Shen Yu''s attention shifted as expected, no longer concerned about where the paper with Shang Junlin''s name had gone.
The Beimo Emperor wasn''told, nor was he ill. His death in this turbulent time most likely meant he was murdered.
"Yes, now several eligible members of the royal family are fighting for the throne. I want to stir up this mess even more."
"The turmoil in Beimo is a great opportunity. If we can eliminate King Yue as soon as possible, Your Majesty might even gain control of Beimo."
Civil unrest is extremely draining on a nation''s resources. Beimo has just experienced a failed invasion war, needs to payrge reparations to Da Huan, and hasn''t had time to recover before facing internal strife.
It would be a waste not to take advantage of this opportunity.
The situation with King Yue should also be resolved now.
In Hanzhou, with twice the military strength, the bnce of victory gradually shifted towards King Yue''s side.
The brief victory restored King Yue''s confidence. His mental state seemed almost the same as before he was thrown into the dark dungeon, except now he was even more ruthless in his actions.
"Today is the final battle. We will break through the empire''s blockade and begin a new journey!"
King Yue looked at the neatly arranged soldiers below with great ambition. His dream, his wish, was about toe true!
"Charge!"
Everything went as King Yue had nned. The Da Huan army was outnumbered and outmaneuvered, unable topete with them. With attacks from both inside and outside, the government''s troops sent to aid the city were retreating steadily.
King Yue stood on the city wall, surrounded by his men. Originally, he didn''t need to be there, but he wanted to witness the moment when the empire''s troops were defeated with his own eyes.
It was almost there.
The smile on King Yue''s lips grew wider and wider.
Suddenly, his smile froze.
He saw, in the distance, thousands of troops galloping towards them.
He turned to look at Tan-xiangsheng, whose expression had be unusually grim, his voice trembling slightly, "Are those the reinforcementsing for us?"
Trantor''sment:
Did not expect the plot twist there
Chapter 180
Chapter 180
aopps. Look, whos missing? ME! Anyways. I have finished processing my graduation requirements and academic responsibilities. Now is freetime and so.....
Tan-xiangsheng''s expression said it all.
It was as if King Yue was thrown high into the sky and then plunged into a bottomless abyss. A cold feeling rose from the depths of his heart and spread throughout his body.
The blood that had been boiling just moments ago instantly turned cold.
King Yue refused to ept the reality before him. Just when he thought he saw the dawn, someone mmed the window shut and told him it was all fake.
No one could ept this.
King Yue unconsciously tightened his grip on Tan-xiangsheng''s shoulder. Tan-xiangsheng felt the pain and forcefully shook off his hand. "First, let them retreat. Close the city gates, quickly!"
It wasn''t that they wanted to retreat, but the overwhelming army forced them to retreat and seek another way out.
King Yue gritted his teeth hard. He wasn''t willing to give up just like that.
"We cannot retreat. If we get trapped in the city again, we will have no chance at all. We must fight a quick battle and break through the encirclement as fast as possible."
Tan-xiangsheng thought for a moment and agreed with King Yue. They couldn''t stay trapped in Hanzhou; otherwise, they would likely be besieged to death here. Now was their only chance.
As they spoke, the people below also realized something was wrong.
"Is someoneing?"
"Our people? Or... the imperial forces?"
This same question was circting not only among King Yue''s troops but also among the soldiers sent by the court.
At the start of the battle, although they knew King Yue had a backup n, they didn''t expect his forces to be this overwhelming. The general had already sent a plea for help to the court. They had held on until now, fighting with every ounce of strength, just to stall King Yue until reinforcements arrived.
Fighting for so long against an enemy with far superior numbers, they were on the brink of copse. If the court didn''t send help soon, King Yue might very well break through the encirclement today.
"General, we''ve detected signs of arge force moving not far from here."
The man addressed as the general abruptly grabbed the sword at his side. "Are they our people or His Highness King Yue''s?"
As his words fell, everyone around him held their breath. Many times before, after hearing simr reports, King Yue''s forces had grown stronger. From being able to crush the enemy to being evenly matched, to being overpowered, it had taken less than a month.
They hoped desperately for a different answer this time.
"General, this time it''s the imperial army!" The young soldier couldn''t hide his excitement.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
They looked at the general, but he didn''t show any sign of rxation. His brow was deeply furrowed.
"General?"
"Don''t let your guard down. Confirm their identity carefully."
"Yes, sir!"
The general''s words brought them back to their senses. They remembered what had happened not long ago when King Yue''s men disguised themselves as the imperial army to approach them. If not for the general''s timely reaction, they might have already fallen to the enemy''s des.
Gu Huai led his men closer, and the crowd saw the high-raised banner¡ªit was the symbol of Da Huan.
"The Emperor''s reinforcements have arrived!"
Gu Huai''s arrivalpletely turned the tide of the battle.
The enemy copsed like a mountain falling, and the dark clouds that had hung over Hanzhou finally dispersed that day.
Before the New Year, the court received news that the rebel had been executed.
King Yue, trying to flee under the cover of his confidants, was quickly pursued and captured by Gu Huai''s men before they could get far.
In this battle, Gu Huai once again rendered great service.
As one of the mainmanders, Gu Huai rode at the front when returning to the capital.
The citizens of the capital lined the streets to wee them. They had already learned from the public reports that King Yue had been defeated. King Yue, Tan-xiangsheng, and others were confined in prison carts, attracting countless rotten eggs and leaves.
King Yue stared nkly at everything before him. Having barely escaped the capital, he was now returning in the most humiliating manner. The contrast was too great for him to bear, and he didn''t know what expression to show.
A rotten egg hit his head with a "bang," breaking and releasing a nauseating stench.
At first, King Yue would frown in displeasure, but now, facing all this, he no longer showed any extra expression.
Along the way, all he heard were voices of contempt towards him.
The soldiers responsible for escorting King Yue and the others back to the capital were the five thousand troops Gu Huai had brought from Subei. The initial troops sent by the court to Hanzhou remained there temporarily to handle follow-up matters.
When a meritorious official returns to the capital, the court sends special officials to greet them. If the merit is significant enough, the Emperor might personally go to greet them.
This time, having achieved major victories twice and capturing King Yue, the court had to show great respect to Gu Huai both emotionally and rationally.
On the day Gu Huai and his men returned, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin donned in clothes and left the pce.
In the teahouses and restaurants, everyone was discussing King Yue. This time, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin did not choose Yingxing House but opted for another teahouse. They reserved a private room on the second floor by the window, allowing them to observe the activities outside.
They chose a location that Gu Huai and his men would inevitably pass by when entering the capital.
Shen Yu poured tea for himself and pushed a cup towards Shang Junlin. "The tea here is quite good, Your Majesty. Please try it."
This teahouse had been rmended by Jiang Huaiqing in his letters. For a long period, Shang Junlin had been too busy with state affairs to leave the pce. Today, finding some free time, he epted Shen Yu''s invitation to go out together.
Shang Junlin took a sip of the tea. "I still prefer Ah Yu''s tea-making skills."
Shen Yu had many talents, and tea-making was one he had practiced in both his lifetimes. In his previous life, alone, he enjoyed making tea for himself. In this life, with Shang Junlin, he made tea for him as well.
Having be ustomed to Shen Yu''s tea, Shang Junlin found it hard to ept tea made by anyone else.
Shen Yu nced at the sky; there was still time. He called for the attendant to bring the tea set.
"I was just speaking casually. Ah Yu need not trouble himself," Shang Junlin said, hastily pressing Shen Yu''s hand.
"It''s no trouble. I actually prefer drinking tea I''ve made myself," Shen Yu replied sincerely. He genuinely enjoyed making tea for himself, a habit he continued even in the pce.
Seeing Shen Yu''s interest, Shang Junlin had Meng-gonggong select several fine tea sets and send them to Yuzhang Pce.
Shen Yu''s movements were fluid and graceful, his light blue robe swaying with his actions. His eyes were focused intently on the white porcin tea cup in his hand.
Shang Junlin''s gaze was fixed on Shen Yu, unable to look away.
Worried that Shen Yu might be hungry, Shang Junlin ordered an assortment of snacks, all of which were sweet, as Shen Yu preferred.
Shang Junlin took a piece of pastry and held it to Shen Yu''s lips. Shen Yu took a bite, and the faint aroma of tea spread in his mouth. He was surprised. "Is there tea in this pastry?"
It had the fragrance of tea but without the bitterness, instead, it tasted sweet, leaving a lingering vor.
"A special method is used to retain the tea''s aroma in the pastry while filtering out the bitterness. It¡¯s a famous specialty dessert here," Shang Junlin exined.
As the sun gradually set, more and more people gathered on the street. Shen Yu and Shang Junlin''s chosen spot provided an excellent view, allowing them to see everything below.
"Are they almost here?" Shen Yu put down his teacup and looked outside.
Just as he spoke, the sound of hooves could be heard in the distance. Shen Yu leaned forward, looking in the direction of the sound.
Armored soldiers marched in unison towards them, and the citizens stood to the side of the road, making way for them.
Shen Yu could hear the murmurs and cheers from below, the people rejoicing in Da Huan''s victory and shouting for the brave soldiers.
Shen Yu couldn''t help but smile, then sat back down.
Gu Huai and his men moved quickly and arrived below the teahouse in no time. Shen Yu saw Gu Huai sitting tall on his horse.
Gu Huai now appeared even more resolute than before, his eyes more akin to those in Shen Yu''s memories. Shen Yu couldn''t help but wonder what Gu Huai had experienced in his previous life before they met.
Shen Yu''s gaze lingered on Gu Huai a bit too long. Shang Junlin, displeased, grabbed his chin and noticed the sadness in Shen Yu''s eyes.
"What are you thinking about, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin''s grip tightened, his voice tinged with an edge he hadn''t realized was there.
Shen Yu snapped out of his memories, feeling a slight pain in his chin.
"Your Majesty, you''re hurting me."
Shang Junlin, as if waking from a dream, released Shen Yu''s chin. Unsurprisingly, there were two ring red marks left behind.
"Does it hurt?" The hostility in Shang Junlin''s heart dissipated instantly. He carefully lifted Shen Yu''s chin, gently touching it with his fingertip.
Shen Yu shook his head and caught sight of the disheveled King Yue in the prison cart.
"This time, Your Majesty will deal with King Yue. No one will dare to im that thete emperor had decreed otherwise, right?"
As if sensing something, the person in the prison cart looked up in their direction, then quickly averted his gaze as if burned.
"King Yue''s rebellion is a matter of public record; they won''t dare to interfere."
Having seen what he wanted, Shen Yu felt satisfied.
With the capture of King Yue, Shang Junlin had many tasks to address. After packing some snacks, he and Shen Yu left the teahouse and returned to the pce.
Habits are indeed powerful. Shen Yu, who had spent over a decade ustomed to being alone, had within a year grown used to the presence of another person by his side.
After spending some time with Shen Yu in Yuzhang Pce, Shang Junlin went to meet Gu Huai and the others.
Following a brief period to wash up, Gu Huai needed to enter the pce to see the emperor. Apanying him were several other generals who hade to the capital with him¡ªsome brought from Subei, others incorporated along the way, and some dispatched to Hanzhou.
King Yue and his co-conspirators were imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice''s dungeons.
Given the gravity of King Yue¡¯s rebellion, even the existence of an edict from thete emperor wouldn¡¯t prompt anyone in the court to plead on his behalf.
Rebellion was a grave crime, and no one would risk their lives or their family¡¯s future by interceding. Such a crime would leave a legacy of infamy.
The pce hosted a small weing banquet for Gu Huai and his entourage, attended by the high-ranking ministers. During the banquet, Shang Junlin bestowed rewards on those who had rendered meritorious service.
Gu Huai was promoted to the rank of a second-rank general, a position higher than his previous one.
This time, no one raised any objections.
"Imand you to apprehend the remaining rebels with all possible speed," Shang Junlin ordered, issuing a new task along with the rewards.
"Your servant obeys!" Gu Huai replied.
After receiving his orders, Gu Huai returned to his seat. Throughout the evening, many ministers approached him, attempting to establish connections. They could see from Shang Junlin¡¯s attitude that this newly-promoted general had a promising future.
Given the emperor¡¯s favor, Gu Huai''s prospects were undoubtedly bright. Moreover, he was currently unaffiliated with any of the existing court factions, making this the ideal time for others to win him over to their side.
After the banquet ended, Shang Junlin did not immediately return to Yuzhang Pce but instead went to the imperial study.
The leader of the Hidden Dragon Guard appeared silently in the study.
"I need to know everything about Gu Huai, down to the smallest detail," Shang Junlinmanded.
He could not ignore the expression in Shen Yu''s eyes earlier that day.
Chapter 181
Chapter 181
The long-awaited update~
Shen Yu had no idea what had agitated Shang Junlin, but he was roused from his sleep in the middle of the night.
"Your Majesty..." Shen Yu bit his lip, letting out a muffled groan, "Let go..."
No matter how Shen Yu struggled or pleaded, the man seemed oblivious. Frustrated and angry, Shen Yu seized a moment to kick him.
He was then grabbed and dragged back, and it wasn''t until dawn that they both fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke, his entire body felt like it had been taken apart and put back together poorly. Even lifting a finger was a struggle.
His body was dry, and a cup was ced beside the bed. Shen Yu slowly propped himself up and took a sip from the cup.
It was warm water with honey.
After finishing the drink, his throat felt a bit better. He called out, "Mu Xi."Rustling sounds came from outside, and soon Mu Xi entered with a bowl of hot porridge. "Young Master, you¡¯re awake?"
"What time is it now?"
"It''s noon."
Shen Yu wasn''t surprised by this. Whenever Shang Junlin lost control, he always woke up around this time the next day.
After finishing the porridge, Shen Yu set the bowl aside. "Where is His Majesty?"
"His Majesty is in a meeting with the ministers."
Although King Yue had been captured, the matter was far from over. Both King Yue''s own forces and those loyal to thete emperor needed to be dealt with by Shang Junlin.
The sooner it was resolved, the better.
Unable to get out of bed, Shen Yu asked Mu Xi to bring him a few storybooks to read.
After a while, Shen Yu started feeling ufortable and set the book down. "I¡¯ll take a nap."
Mu Xi tidied up and left the room.
When Shang Junlin returned, the bedchamber was very quiet. The pce attendant moved cautiously, trying not to make any noise, a sign that their master was sleeping.
Shang Junlin removed his cloak and entered the chamber.
It was quiet and slightly dim with the windows shut. Shang Junlin walked straight to the bed and saw Shen Yu sleeping peacefully, his face flushed.
For a moment, Shang Junlin''s heart softenedpletely.
He sat on the edge of the bed and touched Shen Yu''s face, which felt a bit hot. Shang Junlin''s movements paused as he felt Shen Yu''s forehead.
The temperature was indeed higher than normal.
Frowning, Shang Junlin stood up and walked out of the room.
Mu Xi was attending outside when Shang Junlin came out. He knew she was Shen Yu''s trusted pce maid.
"What time did the Noble Monarch wake up today? When did he go back to sleep?"
Mu Xi answered each question.
"Did he show any unusual signs today?"
Mu Xi thought carefully and shook her head.
"What did the Noble Monarch do today?"
"After waking up, he had a bowl of porridge and read a storybook for about half an hour. Then he slept."
Shang Junlin calcted the time and realized Shen Yu had been sleeping for nearly two hours.
"Meng Chang, go and fetch Physician Gu."
Imperial Physician Gu was urgently summoned to Yu Zhang Pce.
Shang Junlin sat by the bed, gently stroking Shen Yu''s hair, his face looking grim.
"No need for formalities. Diagnose the Noble Monarch immediately."
A pale hand emerged from the bed curtains, covered in red marks. Physician Gu nced at it briefly before focusing on taking the pulse.
"The Noble Monarch has symptoms of a slight cold. I will prescribe a medicine, and he should recover in two to three days after taking it."
Physician Gu wrote a prescription, and a pce servant immediately went to fetch the medicine.
Shang Junlin carefully tucked Shen Yu''s arm back under the nket. "Is there anything seriously wrong with the Noble Monarch''s health? How did he catch a cold?"
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. The Noble Monarch''s health is not seriouslypromised. The cold might be due to a slight chill, but it¡¯s nothing serious."
As for why he caught a chill, Imperial Physician Gu did not specte.
Recalling the events ofst night, Shang Junlin felt remorseful. He had checked Shen Yu''s temperature after getting up and found nothing wrong before leaving. But when he returned shortly after, Shen Yu had already developed a fever.
Remembering the glimpse of the red marks he had seen, Physician Gu hesitated but finally spoke up. "Your Majesty, the Noble Monarch''s body cannot endure too much strain. This fever is partly due to the cold, but also..."
He paused appropriately, "If Your Majesty could be more considerate of the Noble Monarch''s health, some restraint would be advisable."
Shang Junlin''s face darkened even more. The pce servants couldn''t help but tremble, not daring to make a sound. Physician Gu knew his words would anger the emperor, but he couldn''t withhold the truth.
In the silence so profound that one could hear a pin drop, a softugh from behind the bed curtains broke through, unusually clear and instantly shattering the suffocating atmosphere.
In his half-asleep state, Shen Yu faintly heard Shang Junlin''s voice, gradually waking up. He happened to overhear the physician Gu''s words and couldn''t help but chuckle.
Shang Junlin, no longer concerned with his annoyance towards Gu, quickly leaned over. "Ah Yu, awake? Is something wrong?"
"A bit thirsty," Shen Yu''s voice was hoarse.
Mu Xi, attending nearby, hurried over with warm water. Shang Junlin supported Shen Yu, letting him lean against him, and ced a cup to his lips.
Feeling utterly weak, Shen Yu didn''t bother lifting his hand and drank all the water with Shang Junlin''s assistance. His throat finally felt some relief.
As the bed curtains were drawn back, Shen Yu saw Physician Gu standing aside. Slowly realizing, he found himself unusually warm.
No wonder he felt ufortable¡ªit turned out he was ill.
Physician Gu had done what was necessary and left with his medicine chest without disturbing them further.
Resting crookedly in Shang Junlin''s embrace, covered with thick nkets, Shen Yu''s face flushed abnormally, his breath warmer than usual.
"Did Your Majesty hear what Physician Gu said just now?" Shen Yu teased lightly. "You should restrain yourself more in the future."
"It''s my fault," Shang Junlin''s tone was subdued. "I shouldn''t have troubled youst night."
If not for him, Shen Yu wouldn''t have suffered this ordeal.
"What happened to Your Majestyst night?" Shen Yu hadn''t forgotten how Shang Junlin, while holding him, repeatedly emphasized in his ear that Shen Yu belonged only to him.
He kept pushing for a response...
Coughing, Shen Yu touched his feverish ear. This time, it wasn''t caused by the fever.
Lost in deep self-me, Shang Junlin didn''t hear Shen Yu''s question.
After waiting for a while without a response, Shen Yu looked up at Shang Junlin.
In those guilt-ridden eyes of the man before him, Shen Yu was momentarily stunned.
He pursed his lips, knowing his own body well enough. If it weren''t for the good care in the pce, falling ill every now and then wouldn''t be unusual at all. Shang Junlin had been overly protective of him¡ªover the past year, aside from a few idents, he had hardly fallen sick. Normal people often caught colds, so he couldn''t entirely me Shang Junlin for his current illness.
His hand under the nket was tightly held by the man, Shen Yu tilted his head and rubbed his cheek against Shang Junlin''s. "What are you thinking, Your Majesty? You didn''t even hear what I said."
The tender touch of warmth and softness pulled Shang Junlin out of his guilt-ridden mood. Just as he was about to say something, Shen Yu silenced him with his lips.
"Your Majesty, don''t say things I don''t want to hear."
Shen Yu''s body temperature was higher than usual. The moment their lips touched, Shang Junlin forgot everything he wanted to say. When Shen Yu pulled back, Shang Junlin couldn''t help but want to chase after him.
Unable to avoid Shen Yu''s gaze and not wanting to avoid it either, Shang Junlin''s long eyshes fluttered like butterfly wings before slowly closing his eyes.
It was a kiss full of tenderness.
After it ended, Shen Yu leaned against Shang Junlin, his breathing slightly heavier.
Shang Junlin touched his forehead. "Even when you''re sick, you still tease me."
Shen Yu nestledfortably in his arms. "Your Majesty still hasn''t said what happened yesterday."
Though Shang Junlin enjoyed that kind of intimacy, he wouldn''tpletely disregard Shen Yu''s feelings. Last night''s Shang Junlin was very different from before. If not for being deeply affected, Shen Yu didn''t think he would have done such a thing.
Shang Junlin hesitated in his movements. "Yesterday during the day, you stared at Gu Huai for a long time. What were you thinking then?"
Shen Yu recalled. When they were in the teahouse, he had seen Gu Huai, resplendent in armor, and memories of the Gu Huai he knew from his past life stirred some emotions within him.
"What does Your Majesty think I was thinking?" Shen Yu turned to face Shang Junlin, locking eyes with him.
Shen Yu''s gaze was as prating as ever, something Shang Junlin always admired about him, especially when those eyes reflected his own.
Shang Junlin''s hand moved down, covering Shen Yu''s eyes. "Ah Yu, you shouldn''t think about anything."
"What is Your Majesty worried about?" Shen Yu understood roughly now¡ªShang Junlin was feeling jealous.
Shen Yu had grown ustomed to Shang Junlin''s jealousy, but he didn''t understand why this time it had such a strong aftermath, even causing a disturbance in the middle of the night.
"Your Majesty, you don''t need to worry about anything. I can assure you that nothing you fear will happen. Besides you, there will never be another person in my heart," Shen Yu''s voice was soft but firm.
Shang Junlin knew he should trust Shen Yu, but he couldn''t help but wonder if Shen Yu, so precious to him, would one day no longer choose to stay with him.
"I know. I will never allow anyone to rece my position," Shang Junlin lowered his finger, lifting Shen Yu''s chin. "Ah Yu will always, forever, only belong to me!"
"So,st night, was it because Your Majesty thought I might fall for Gu Huai?"
Shang Junlin couldn''t deny it. "You''ve always cared about him."
"If that''s the case, then does Your Majesty think I might also like King Yue, Jiang Huaiqing, or Shen Qingran?"
Shang Junlin pursed his lips, remaining silent.
Shen Yu narrowed his eyes, unexpectedly leaning in and biting Shang Junlin''s cheek. "Even if Your Majesty doesn''t trust me, you should trust yourself. Who in this world canpare to Your Majesty? Why would I reject such an excellent person like you and choose someone inferior?"
"I''m not as good as Ah Yu says. I have many shorings..."
Shen Yu bit him again. "I won''t let anyone belittle the person I love, even if it''s Your Majesty himself."
The bite was not gentle, and after releasing his lips, Shen Yu left a mark on the man''s face. Proud of his handiwork, Shen Yu grinned.
The pain on his face was almost negligible, but the tingling sensation in his heart couldn''t be ignored. Shang Junlin tightly embraced the person in his arms, feeling jubnt as if his heart was about to burst out.
Random kisses fell on his face. Shen Yu closed his eyes, allowing Shang Junlin to peck at his face like a puppy. He enjoyed feeling needed by Shang Junlin, making him feel more genuinely alive in this world.
Struggling to reach out from under the nket, Shen Yu hugged Shang Junlin back. Now that this matter was resolved, it was time to "settle ounts" for another matter.
"Aboutst night, Your Majesty, shouldn''t you give me an exnation?"
Shen Yu felt distinctly that when these words fell, Shang Junlin''s body stiffened.
****
Shang Junlin''s fears are very rtable... Everyone, always have faith with your partners andmunicate frequently.
Chapter 182
Chapter 182
This chapter is dedicated to kofi donator, MermaidShashimi~
I dont know how to navigate ko-fi. I would really love to just put advance chapters there so that donators can read them in advance as an advantage -_-
"What exnation does Ah Yu want?" Shang Junlin understood clearly thatst night''s matter was his fault, and Shen Yu fell ill because of it.
"Physician Gu said that Your Majesty needs to restrain yourself, so for the next month, Your Majesty should really exercise restraint. I will have Mu Xi prepare another ce for Your Majesty to sleep, but of course, if Your Majesty prefers to return to your own sleeping quarters, that is also possible."
"Are these the only two options?"
"Your Majesty''s credibility with me has dropped to zero, so these are the only two options."
Shen Yu didn''t want to be disturbed in the middle of the night again and thought it would be better to sleep separately.
However, Shang Junlin was displeased. He didn''t want to be apart from Shen Yu, even if it was just for a day.
"I will not leave Yuzhang Pce." After a moment of silence, Shang Junlin spoke up.Shen Yu guessed that he wouldn''t be willing to leave. Hearing this, he gently freed himself from the man''s embrace andy back down on the bed. "There are many pces in Yuzhang Pce where Your Majesty can choose to move."
Feeling drained, Shen Yu had Mu Xi prepare medicine, drank it, and slept a while longer.
Shang Junliny holding him for half an hour, then got up to handle state affairs in the outer chamber.
In the evening, Shen Yu was summoned by Shang Junlin to dine.
After drinking the medicine and sleeping, Shen Yu felt much better. The fever had subsided. Shang Junlin fetched a thick cloak and wrapped Shen Yu in itpletely.
Dinner wasid out in the outer chamber, and Shang Junlin carried Shen Yu out.
Due to Shen Yu''s health, the dinner was prepared with light vors. The chefs at Yuzhang Pce were skilled, capable of making even simple dishes tantalizing.
The aroma teased Shen Yu''s stomach, which rumbled loudly. He had only eaten a bowl of porridge all day and was famished.
Shang Junlin disyed unparalleled patience in attending to Shen Yu''s needs. As the emperor, he willingly took care of these small matters for Shen Yu.
Shen Yu had grown ustomed to Shang Junlin''s meticulous care. Leaning half against the man''s shoulder, he enjoyed a satisfying meal.
Having slept a lot during the day, Shen Yu felt surprisingly energetic at night. Unable to sleep, he wrapped himself in a thick cloak and leaned on a soft couch, watching Shang Junlin review documents.
With King Yue captured, there were many follow-up matters for Shang Junlin to handle. In contrast, Shen Yu''s life was rtively leisurely.
News of King Yue''s defeat spread throughout Da Huan, and the various regional princes, sensing recent developments, sent numerous gifts to Shen Yu, hoping to gauge the emperor''s sentiments.
Although they had not been involved in King Yue''s rebellion, as fellow regional princes, they couldn''t avoid some degree of connection. Now that King Yue was apprehended, they worried about potential repercussions for themselves.
Shang Junlin had long intended to reform the powers of the regional princes and reduce their control over their fiefs, but now was not an opportune time.
Shen Yu apanied Shang Junlin to inspect the "gifts" sent by the regional princes. Initially delivered to a small estate outside the pce, the items were secretly transported by the Hidden Dragon Guards to the Yuzhang Pce.
Rows of crimson boxes were neatly arranged in the courtyard. XiaoLittle Meng-gonggongwas overseeing the inventory. Upon seeing Shen Yu and Shang Junlin approach, he set aside his work and bowed respectfully.
Xiao Meng-gonggong, was the adopted son of Meng-gonggong. Initially chosen by Shen Yu for his cautious demeanor, he had proven himself reliable. The management of Yuzhang Pce was entrusted to him, sparing Shen Yu from unnecessary worries.
"No need for excessive courtesy. Are all the items here?" Shen Yu asked, observing the courtyard almost overflowing with boxes.
"Part of them has already been moved to the storage room. These are the ones yet to be inventoried," Xiao Meng-gonggonggestured to a young eunuch, who handed over the registry book to Shen Yu. "Your Excellency, please have a look."
Shen Yu took the book. "You may continue with your tasks. The Emperor and I will inspect casually."
Understanding that the two preferred privacy, Xiao Meng-gonggong tactfully withdrew with his attendants to the side, leaving them undisturbed to proceed with their inspection.
Shen Yu nced through the book. "They certainly spared no expense."
Every item sent was exquisite and invaluable.
Shang Junlin casually opened a nearby box, revealing dazzling gemstones that caught Shen Yu''s eye. He picked up a crimson-colored one and examined it in his hand.
"It seems the aid for Subei is of little significance to them," Shang Junlin remarked, his gaze on the gemstone in Shen Yu''s hand.
Shen Yu''s hand, fair and slender, was wless in every aspect. Holding the blood-red gemstone, his skin appeared even more radiant and wless than the gem itself, captivating to behold.
Shang Junlin''s eyes darkened subtly.
Because of the unpleasantness he caused Shen Yust time, Shang Junlin was prevented from getting close to him for a long time. If he hadn''t exerted all his effort, he might not have been allowed into Shen Yu''s sleeping chamber now.
Even once inside, it didn''t make much difference. Shen Yu refused to share the bed, so Shang Junlin had ordered servants to ce a small cot nearby, where he slept at night.
After ying with the gemstone for a while, Shen Yu lost interest and ced it back. "The princes'' tax revenues from their fiefdoms and other earnings all go directly to them. Besides the court''s subsidies, the tributes from below, it''s normal for them to send so many fine goods."
"I know," Shang Junlin opened another box, each filled with priceless treasures. "The court spends a fortune each year to sustain these ambitions."
"Now, these items are back in Your Majesty''s hands, aren''t they?" Shen Yu walked over and took Shang Junlin''s hand.
"You''re right, Ah Yu. Do you like these items?" Shang Junlin asked, gently squeezing Shen Yu''s fingers.
"Of course, I do," Shen Yu smiled softly. "I''ve already had half of Your Majesty''s share sent to your private treasury."
"If you like them, they can all stay with you," Shang Junlin caressed Shen Yu''s hand.
Shen Yu shook his head. "Liking them is one thing. I can''t possibly use all of these. Giving half to Your Majesty is my intention. You''ve given me so much, and I want to do something for you."
Just as he knew Shang Junlin wouldn''tck for these treasures, he gave freely.
"I heard Your Majesty dismissed the Zhenbei Marquis?" Shen Yu mentioned, the news havinge from Mu Xi. That day, the Zhenbei Marquis''s words had struck a nerve with Shang Junlin, and Shen Yu knew he would take action, but he hadn''t expected Shang Junlin to dismiss the man outright.
"He deserved it for trying to drive a wedge between us," Shang Junlin admitted openly.
Shen Yu leaned closer to Shang Junlin, looking up into his eyes. "Why didn''t Your Majesty tell me? Were you afraid I would be angry?"
Shang Junlin gazed steadily at him for a moment, a faint smile ying on his lips. "Would Ah Yu be angry?"
"What does Your Majesty think? However you put it, the Zhenbei Marquis is my biological father. Your Majesty dismissed him so easily..."
Shang Junlin reached up to caress Shen Yu''s cheek. "Ah Yu doesn''t seem angry now."
"Indeed, Your Majesty''s punishment was fair. Though he''s my biological father, what does it matter? If not for the unbreakable blood tie, I''d have cut off that half-blood long ago."
Shang Junlin sighed softly and pulled Shen Yu into his embrace. "From now on, I''ll always be here."
A smile spread across Shen Yu''s eyes as he wrapped his arms around Shang Junlin''s waist. "Your Majesty, don''t forget these promises."
"I won''t forget," Shang Junlin vowed. Never.
This year, the Zhenbei Marquis has had a difficult time. First, his favored illegitimate son was penalized, andter he was dismissed from office due to improper behavior. While others were happily preparing for the New Year, the atmosphere at Zhenbei Marquis''s residence was gloomy and deste.
Stripped of his title, in court, Shang Junlin conspicuously disyed his displeasure towards the Zhenbei Marquis. Many officials who had previously aligned themselves with the Marquis due to his association with Shen Yu began to distance themselves.
What do officials fear the most?
To fall out of favor with those in power.
These officials had initially sought favor with the Marquis due to the Emperor''s favor towards Shen Yu, attempting to gain advantages for themselves. Now that the Emperor has turned against the Zhenbei Marquis, they naturally chose to distance themselves.
From bustling to deserted, it only took a moment.
The Zhenbei Marquis was ordered to reflect at home. Unwilling to ept the current situation, he tried every means to meet Shen Yu. Since the issue originated because of Shen Yu, it should be Shen Yu who resolves it.
Shen Qingran''s engagement ns were also ruined. Those who had agreed to marry into the Zhenbei Marquis''s family did so for the benefits it represented. Now that the Zhenbei Marquis has lost his title and fallen out of favor with both the Emperor and Shang Junlin, they could no longer see the benefits of this marriage alliance.
Having their engagements canceled in session, though done in a tactful manner, infuriated the Zhenbei Marquis. He knew exactly what these people were thinking¡ªthey saw him as having lost power, and this transaction was no longer profitable. Initially, they thought they could have their daughters bear children to be adopted by Shang Junlin, which they assumed was approved by him. Little did they know, he never agreed to it himself, and their hopes were in vain.
Shen Qingran learned about this from the servants and couldn''t help but sneer.
It was clear to Shen Yu that there was resentment towards the Zhenbei Marquis''s residence. The Zhenbei Marquis had delusions of using a child to bind the two sides together¡ªit was simply wishful thinking.
Shen Yu wasn''t someone easily manipted.
"All these engagements have been canceled?" Shen Yu finished painting a red plum blossom and set down his brush.
"Yes, at yourmand, I instructed the servants to deliver the message to these families. They have all chosen not to involve themselves in this affair."
After learning about the dismissal of the Zhenbei Marquis, Shen Yu sent people to visit those families who had sought alliances with the Zhenbei Marquis''s household. These women were only involved because of him, and Shen Yu couldn''t just ignore the situation.
He had done what he needed to do, reminded those who needed to be reminded, and if some still chose to proceed, it was their own decision. Shen Yu wouldn''t inquire further.
"How is the situation at the Zhenbei Marquis''s residence?"
"It''s very calm. The Zhenbei Marquis spends his days discussing matters with his close aides. He rarely leaves the mansion, and the Second Young Master has also kept a low profile recently."
"Does Shen Qingran know about the arrest of King Yue?"
"I... I''m not sure."
"Send someone to find out. If he doesn''t know, inform him of the news."
Shen Yu was quite curious whether in this lifetime, King Yue''s current plight would lead to sparks flying between them like in their past life.
"Yes." Though unsure why Shen Yu insisted on letting Shen Qingran know about this matter, Mu Xi still followed the order.
"Where is His Majesty now?"
Recently, Shang Junlin had been busy non-stop. Sometimes, Shen Yu wouldn''t see him for an entire day, and by the time he went to bed at night, Shang Junlin might still not have returned. When he woke up in the morning, Shang Junlin had already gone to court.
"He should be in the study hall handling affairs."
ncing at the sky, nearing dinner time, Shen Yu had some meals prepared by the small kitchen and took Mu Xi to the study hall.
A few days ago, Meng-gonggong quietlyined to him, saying that His Majesty, when busy, even forgot about lunch and dinner.
Meng-gonggong stood at the door of the study hall and immediately saw Shen Yu walking over. He hurried forward and greeted him, "Why has Your Excellencye?"
"To deliver dinner to His Majesty." Shen Yu walked into the study hall without anyone daring to stop him.
Shang Junlin had once said that Shen Yu could freely enter and leave any ce in the pce.
Shang Junlin was reviewing documents. Upon hearing footsteps, he looked up, "Ah Yu?"
Chapter 183
Chapter 183
I will release 3 chapters today to make up for the week I didnt update. The third chapter is the bonus chapter for kofi donatorst week. So sorry, it got dyed.
Shen Yu scanned the study hall; besides Shang Junlin, there were no other ministers present.
"What are you looking at, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin noticed his movements and asked.
"How can Your Majesty be here all alone, busy like this, without even having dinner?" Shen Yu approached and instructed the pce attendant to ce the brought food on a small table.
"How does Ah Yu know I haven''t had dinner? Did Meng Chang speak too much again?" Shang Junlin stood up and guided Shen Yu to sit beside him.
"Don''t me Meng-gonggong. He''s concerned about your well-being. Even when you''re busy, you still need to take time for meals," Shen Yu replied calmly.
Meng-gonggong stepped forward, opening the food box and presenting the dishes. "Even if Your Majesty punishes me, I will still speak up to His Excellency."
"With Ah Yu backing you up, of course you''d dare say anything," Shang Junlin chuckled, not truly upset.
The aroma of the food filled the air. Shen Yu set aside the documents in front of Shang Junlin. "Your Majesty, please eat first. I''m hungry.""No one should go hungry, especially not Ah Yu," Shang Junlin said, taking Shen Yu''s hand and standing up.
Meng-gonggong quickly instructed the servants to prepare the dining area.
The heating in the study hall was not as efficient as in Yuzhang Pce. After a while, Shen Yu managed to warm himself up. Shang Junlin held his slightly cold hand, instructing Meng-gonggong to stoke the fire.
The dishes wereid out one by one, offering both meat and vegetables, their aroma tantalizing. The sight and smell alone were enough to make one''s mouth water.
"We had the kitchen prepare a special soup. Your Majesty, please have some," Shen Yu poured a bowl of creamy white soup in front of Shang Junlin.
Shang Junlin graciously epted Shen Yu''s gesture. He drank the hot soup, feeling warmth spread from within.
Shang Junlin ate quickly, despite also attending to Shen Yu, and finished before Shen Yu, who preferred to eat slowly. Not rushing, Shen Yu waited patiently until the man had finished.
Rather than attending to paperwork, Shang Junlin waited until Shen Yu was done eating before leading him to the imperial desk.
"Has Your Majesty been busy with King Yue''s affairs recently?" Shen Yu nced at the documents, authored by Xun Chao, detailing the situation in Yuezhou.
King Yue''s uprising had caused a period of turmoil in Yuezhou. Fortunately, Xun Chao''s timely intervention had swiftly quelled the rebellion, minimizing damage.
"King Yue has entrenched himself in Yuezhou for many years, deeply entangled with various factions there. To stabilize Yuezhou, these forces must be dealt with decisively," Xun Chao''s primary task was clear.
"Things have been progressing smoothly. The only concern is that some of King Yue''s supporters have disappeared from Yuezhou," Shen Yu remarked calmly, his finger resting on the edge of the document.
"Yes, I had Gu Huai investigate. One group intercepted on their way out of Yuezhou was heading to join King Yue. Additionally, several other factions remain unounted for," Shang Junlin responded.
Gu Huai had been tasked with a new mission and had been stationed away from the capital for years, dealing with the aftermath of those arrested.
"Your Majesty has already apprehended individuals, but who exactly has been behind King Yue all these years? Was Tan-darenacting under orders as well?" Shen Yu inquired.
Following King Yue''s capture, Shen Yu had learned from Shang Junlin about recent developments. Regardless, Tan-darendidn''t seem to be the true mastermind.
"Yes, the Ministry of Justice has been interrogating Tan-daren, who possesses valuable information. Numerous aplices have been apprehended, yet the true instigator remains elusive," Shang Junlin admitted, rubbing his forehead.
"Is it that they can''t reveal their identity, or..." Shen Yu began, questioning further.
"They can''t locate the true identity of the mastermind. Commands have always been conveyed through ''emissaries,'' individuals dressed in ck with masks obscuring their faces," Shang Junlin replied.
"This person is deeply concealed and highly cautious. With so many people involved, no one has seen their face?" Shen Yu asked.
"No," Shang Junlin confirmed.
"Not revealing their true identity yetmanding such arge force entrusted by thete emperor... It must have been someone highly active during thete emperor''s reign but not well known in the current court. Have Your Majesty investigated any influential ministers trusted by thete emperor?" Shen Yu inquired.
"I have. One seems usible, but he passed away ten years ago," Shang Junlin sighed.
The lead had gone cold.
They still possessed too little information.
Shen Yu in his past life had no inkling of such a force''s existence, let alone who was controlling it. Frustrated by his thoughts, Shen Yu had to temporarily abandon the pursuit.
Gu Huai''s operational capabilities were formidable. With his troops, he moved stealthily across Da Huan''s territories, uprooting hidden forces.
The evidence against King Yue for treason was irrefutable, warranting immediate execution. Considering the uing New Year festivities, Shang Junlin postponed the execution.
The Ministry of Justice''s main prison was distinct from its ndestine counterpart. It housed a variety of prisoners, with King Yue kept isted, undergoing daily interrogations.
Stripped of his titles, surname, and expelled from the imperial family, he was no longer the esteemed prince but a lowly criminal.
Shang Junlin sought information from him, knowing he had no hope of redemption. The interrogators, unscrupulous, tortured King Yue for days.
Covered in blood and bruises, he huddled against the wall, flinching at every sound. His eyes were cloudy, expression haggard, bearing no resemnce to the once proud King Yue.
Every inch of his body ached from the wounds inflicted during interrogation. The executioners cared only to ensure he did not die, ignoring non-lethal injuries.
With infections festering, it would have been worse if not for the winter''s cold.
Moonlight seeped through the window above his head. King Yue lifted his head, gazing dazedly at the moonbeam.
Cold and enchanting, he trembled as he reached out, trying to grasp the moonlight, only to catch air.
The moon hung high in the sky, far beyond his reach.
Covering his face, he let out a hoarse, bitterugh through his fingers.
After an unknown passage of time, the disheveled man against the wall remained motionless.
"Your Majesty, the coronation ceremony is approaching. Would you like to review the proceedings for any adjustments?"
The unfamiliar voice stirred King Yue from his thoughts. He opened his eyes to find himself standing in the magnificent imperial pce, surrounded by countless people who addressed him as "Your Majesty," offering him garments and ornaments fit only for an emperor.
He extended his arms as pce attendants carefully dressed him in the imperial robe symbolizing his royal status.
Inside the grand hall, lit by crimson candles, the surroundings outside were dim and suffocating.
"Your Majesty, Shen-gongzi is here."
Shen-gongzi?
Who was that?
Before he could inquire, a slender young man in a light blue robe walked in.
"Congrattions, Your Majesty, your wish has been fulfilled."
!!!
King Yue widened his eyes suddenly. He recognized the person before him¡ªit was Shen Yu, but different from how he remembered him.
The Shen Yu standing before him appeared slightly older than in his memory, his features fully matured, with an indescribable aura of charm that made him even more captivating.
He was calling him "Your Majesty." Was he referring to himself?
"The auspicious time has arrived, Your Majesty should proceed with the coronation."
Everything that followed seemed unrealistically perfect.
Under the adoration of the crowd, he was crowned emperor, bing the true ruler of Da Huan. Everyone, including Shen Yu, prostrated themselves before him.
Shen Yu seemed to admire him. In his eyes, King Yue saw affectionate sentiments, simr to what he had once seen directed at someone else, but not him.
Subtly, he inquired about the whereabouts of Shang Junlin from those around him. The answer he received was that Shang Junlin had perished in battle a year ago, carrying a legacy of disgrace, an ending King Yue had wished for Shang Junlin.
All his desires had been fulfilled.
Seated on the dragon throne, he looked down upon the ministers groveling at his feet and at Shen Yu by his side, his smile growing broader.
Then he woke up.
The sky was still dark, the moon hidden behind clouds. He was trapped in profound darkness, unable to break free.
For several days thereafter, he would dream the same dream upon falling asleep. The scenes in his dreams became increasingly vivid, so much so that he dreaded waking up.
The contrast between his dream life and his current reality grew stark. King Yue''s spirit became increasingly confused. Eventually, the beauty in his dreams seemed like a cruel mockery of his failures in reality. In his dreams, he seeded, but upon waking, the immense disparity weighed heavily on him.
King Yue''s unusual demeanor did not escape the notice of the officials who kept a watchful eye on him.
Initially dismissive, Shang Junlin instructed them not to execute King Yue until they had obtained results, then promptly forgot about the matter.
In the Imperial Study, the head of the Hidden Dragon Guard knelt respectfully, reporting the information he had gathered.
"So, apart from his encounter with King Yue while infiltrating under disguise, Shen Yu had no contact with Gu Huai?"
"Yes."
Shang Junlin tapped his fingers on the table intermittently. Shen Yu''s behavior didn''t quite add up. Judging from Shen Yu''s demeanor, it seemed unlikely he had no contact with Gu Huai.
Shen Yu exhibited many inexplicable anomalies. Unconcealed, as his rtionship with Shang Junlin grew closer, Shang Junlin increasingly felt that Shen Yu harbored many secrets.
Various thoughts shed through his mind. Shang Junlin closed his eyes. "Let''s put an end to this matter."
He had a premonition that continuing the investigation wouldn''t yield any useful information.
After spending half an hour alone in the Imperial Study, Shang Junlin returned to Yuzhang Pce, his face betraying no hint of anything amiss.
"Your Majesty,e quickly," Shen Yu smiled and beckoned Shang Junlin over. "I''ve written some couplets and blessings. Your Majesty, take them to the Imperial Study to post."
"Good," Shang Junlin smiled as he walked over, picking up a nearby pen. "Ah Yu wrote them, so I''ll write a pair to give to Ah Yu."
Shen Yu had written quite a few, distributing some to the pce attendants, with the leftovers sent to the Empress Dowager, who had once helped Shang Junlin. Shen Yu had a very favorable impression of her.
On the eve of the New Year, the Minister of Justice requested an audience.
"Your Majesty, the prisoner King Yue insists on seeing you."
In recent days, the Ministry of Justice had exhausted every method to extract information, but King Yue had refused to reveal what Shang Junlin wanted to know most.
Ministry of Justice Prison.
King Yue grasped the door of his cell and slowly stood up.
"Shang Junlin, you''ve taken everything from me!" King Yue''s face contorted with madness, his voice hoarse. "Shen Yu was supposed to be mine. You stole him from me! You feel it too, don''t you?"
King Yue looked at the imposing man before him and suddenly burst intoughter:
"The things taken away will eventually return to their rightful owner¡ª¡ª"
Chapter 184
Chapter 184
"You are wrong," observed Shang Junlin, looking down at him with eyes that could freeze a man''s soul, "Ah Yu is a person, not an item to be measured. I respect every choice he makes."
But he would never let go.
Theughter abruptly ceased. King Yue fixed his gaze on Shang Junlin and said evenly, "Do you believe in that statement yourself? Did you summon the Shen family into the pce not because of the burdens they carry?"
Shang Junlin suddenly reached out, grabbed King Yue by the throat, and lifted him up. "Don''t think everyone is as dirty as you perceive. Your beliefs don''t dictate mine. If I truly believed in fate, would I have ascended to this position?"
"Cough, cough." Struggling to breathe, King Yue''s face turned an unnatural shade of red, unable to utter a single word except for coughs.
Shang Junlin frowned and released his grip, causing King Yue to copse to the ground, clutching his throat and coughing violently.
Meng-gonggong carefully handed over a handkerchief as Shang Junlin wiped each of his five fingers, as if cleansing them of contamination.
"You summoned me just to say these things?"
"I met Shen Yu outside the pce. If I hadn''t crossed a line with Shen Qingran, do you think he would have chosen toe to the pce out of spite? If he truly didn''t care about me at all, why would he be so affected by this incident? Why would he abandon such a promising future just to spite me?"Each word from King Yue felt like a dagger piercing Shang Junlin''s heart.
The man''s eyes grew darker, swirling with emotions that defied understanding.
Meng-gonggong, who was close by, keenly felt the oppressive aura emanating from the man. He couldn''t help but sweat nervously. Would King Yue''s words leave a negative impact on His Majesty regarding His Excellency Shen?
Meng-gonggong knew better than anyone how much Shang Junlin cared about Shen Yu. The more someone mattered to him, the less he could tolerate even the slightest betrayal. Especially now that Shang Junlin was an upromising emperor. If he truly believed Shen Yu harbored feelings for King Yue...
Meng-gonggong didn''t dare specte on the potential consequences.
Before leaving, Shang Junlin instructed the guards in the prison to "entertain" King Yue properly. Meng-gonggong followed him cautiously.
He could sense that His Majesty was in a very bad mood.
No matter what was said aloud, perhaps there would always be some resentment lingering in his heart.
Meng-gonggong was about to offer some advice when he heard Shang Junlin mutter in a low voice, "If I were to kill King Yue, would Ah Yu be unhappy?"
Meng-gonggong was taken aback, the words he was about to speak slowly swallowed back. Things seemed to be somewhat different from what he had anticipated.
Shang Junlin said only this one sentence, not expecting any response. On the way back to the pce, he remained silent, leaving everyone to wonder what was on his mind.
Suddenly, Shang Junlin spoke again, "Go to the dark prison."
Meng-gonggong dared not defy him and immediately instructed the carriage to turn.
Arriving at the dark dungeon, Meng-gonggong instinctively followed, but Shang Junlin stopped him. "You stay here. I''ll go in alone."
Meng-gonggong didn''t understand why Shang Junlin would go to the dark prison at this time, but he couldn''t disobey the order and could only stand outside waiting.
Shang Junlin was clearly agitated, pacing anxiously in ce, worried about what might happen.
After what felt like a long time, Shang Junlin emerged with a chilling demeanor.
Meng-gonggong hurried forward, "Your Majesty?"
"Back to the pce."
With that one sentence, it seemed to drain all the energy from the man. On the way back to the pce, they remained silent throughout the journey.
Meng-gonggong had no idea what had transpired in the dark dungeon, but he felt that Shang Junlin,ing out from it, exuded an even colder aura than when he had entered.
The night was dark and windy, with stars twinkling in the sky. The cold wind pierced through to the bone.
The lights were bright in Yuzhang Pce, bustling with activity.
Shen Yu sat on a soft couch, overseeing Mu Xi directing young eunuchs to paste up the couplets and blessings he had written. Skilled pce maids had crafted numerous window decorations and were busy cing them on the windows.
He caught a glimpse of someone outside and stood up, walking out.
"Why doesn''t Your Majestye in?"
It was Shang Junlin standing outside.
Shang Junlin remained in his ck robes, a color seldom seen on him. As Shen Yu drew closer, he could sense the cold emanating from the man''s body.
Shen Yu reached out, taking hold of Shang Junlin''s hand that hung limply at his side, feeling somewhat surprised.
The man''s hand was icy cold.
In Shen Yu''s memory, Shang Junlin''s touch had always been warm. During cold times, he would enclose Shen Yu''s hands in his palms, gently warming them.
"Your Majesty, you''ve been standing outside for quite some time; your hands are cold. Come inside quickly and warm yourself," Shen Yu urged, pulling Shang Junlin''s hand and leading him into the room.
Shang Junlin stood in the shadows, his expression unreadable to Shen Yu. Today, Shang Junlin seemed unusually silent.
Following Shen Yu, Shang Junlin entered the room step by step.
Shen Yu gently pushed Shang Junlin onto the soft couch and instructed Mu Xi to bring hot tea, feeding it to Shang Junlin''s lips. "Your Majesty, drink some to warm yourself."
Shang Junlin stared at Shen Yu without blinking.
Shen Yu moved the cup closer.
With longshes lowered, he drank the water in the cup held by Shen Yu.
Shen Yu turned with the empty cup, intending to ce it on a nearby table, but as his body leaned forward, he felt his sleeve being tugged.
He turned back to see Shang Junlin gripping his sleeve, speaking his first words of the day.
"Don''t leave."
Shen Yu nced at the nearby table and then at the determined man holding onto his sleeve, reluctantly sitting back down.
Mu Xi approached and took the cup from Shen Yu''s hand.
Shen Yu finally realized that something deeply troubled Shang Junlin.
He reached out and cupped Shang Junlin''s face. "Your Majesty, what happened? You seem so distraught."
He knew Shang Junlin had been busytely, but even with all the busyness, he had never seen him like this, almost as if he''d lost his mind.
He looked into Shang Junlin''s eyes, seeing his own reflection in those deep, dark pupils.
Suddenly, Shang Junlin''s hand wrapped around his waist, pulling him tightly into his embrace. "Today, I went to see King Yue."
"Why did Your Majesty go to see him?"
Seeing no unusual tone in Shen Yu''s voice, Shang Junlin''s heart steadied somewhat. In a ce Shen Yu couldn''t see, aplex emotion flickered in his eyes.
"He said some things to me. He said you chose toe to the pce because you were upset with him."
As Shang Junlin spoke these words, he wasn''t sure what he was thinking. Perhaps he wanted to keep this in his heart forever, never to utter it aloud.
Regardless of why Shen Yu entered the pce, as long as he was content now, that was what mattered. Shen Yu''s previous life, Shang Junlin had not been involved and had no right to judge. He thought he could handle it, but at this moment, he realized he couldn''t.
Whether it was before he met Shen Yu or after, Shang Junlin couldn''t help but care about everything that happened to him. He longed for answers yet feared them.
He kept telling himself that it was a past he couldn''t participate in, that he shouldn''t dwell on it. But King Yue''s words were like a festering sore, the more he tried not to care, the more they echoed in his mind.
He asked himself, "Can I really not care?"
The answer was no. He couldn''t. He wouldn''t me Shen Yu for anything, only resent King Yue for deliberately getting close to Shen Yu for a word.
Shen Yu felt a deep unease from Shang Junlin. He wanted to look up at him, but he was held tightly in his arms, unable to move.
Sighing deeply, Shen Yu wrapped his hands around the man''s slender waist. "Your Majesty, what does it matter what King Yue said? He''s now a prisoner below the ranks, knowing he''s powerless to change the past. He said those things only to upset you. When I entered the pce, if you must know, it did have something to do with King Yue, but¡ª"
The man suddenly exerted force with his arm, a sharp pain shot through his waist, and Shen Yu patted his lower back, soothingly saying, "Listen to me first."
The man''s arm rxed a bit, but still imprisoned Shen Yu, not giving him any chance to leave.
Shen Yu continued, "Although it was rted to King Yue, it wasn''t for the reason he mentioned. If it was just to vent anger, I had a thousand ways. Why would I choose the most unpopr route of entering the pce? I entered the pce for you, Your Majesty. From others'' mouths, I had heard much about you. In truth, I really wanted to see what kind of person you truly are. If I hadn''t been confined by the Zhenbei Marquis at his manor, I might have seen you much earlier."
Shen Yu joked, "If I had met you first, how could there be anything with King Yue? Every part of Your Majesty is ingrained in my heart."
The heavy fog of unease in Shang Junlin''s heart dispersed with Shen Yu''s words. He lowered his head and rubbed his face against Shen Yu''s.
"Speaking of King Yue, he truly is a nuisance. He thinks I know nothing, pretending to be like that in front of me. It feels fake; I have no interest in watching his performance. Your Majesty should have investigated the matter between me and King Yue. I have always been indifferent to him. After knowing his true identity, I thought entering the pce was a good way to get rid of him."
Shen Yu wasn''t lying. Before his rebirth, he didn''t know King Yue''s true identity, but that was no longer verifiable. After his rebirth, he didn''t want any entanglements with King Yue, so he chose apletely different path from his previous life.
If King Yue liked Shen Qingran, he would facilitate their rtionship.
"Your Majesty, don''t think too much about what King Yue said. If Your Majesty wants to know about me, you cane directly and ask me."
The closer he got, Shen Yu felt more and more uneasy about Shang Junlin. He didn''t know what was bothering him, but he was willing to do everything he could to put him at ease.
Shang Junlin quietly held the person in his arms. He wished time could stop at this moment forever.
"Will Ah Yu always stay by my side?"
As he spoke, a kiss was imprinted on his forehead.
"If I''m not by Your Majesty''s side, where else can I go?"
Shang Junlin''s arm loosened slightly, and Shen Yu struggled to free himself from the man''s embrace, grabbing his neck and forcing him to lower his head, pressing his forehead against his. "I have to clear my name. I really, really don''t like King Yue. Whether it''s in the past, present, or future, the only person I like is Your Majesty."
After saying that, he kissed the lips that were so close.
"There are some things I wouldn''t do if I didn''t genuinely like them. Perhaps King Yue has told Your Majesty something else, but don''t believe him."
If it was just King Yue, Shang Junlin wouldn''t care so much. What really troubled him was what the person he saw in the dungeon said.
He said that Shen Yu was destined to stand by King Yue''s side, that fate was set and human effort couldn''t change it, even if the process deviated a lot, but they would still end up together.
At that moment, Shang Junlin''s desire to kill King Yue reached its peak.
Shen Yu''s initiative resolved the unease in Shang Junlin''s heart. He hugged Shen Yu, taking control and kissed him fiercely, as if to show his determination.
Chapter 185
Chapter 185
Last chapter for this week. This is for the kofi donator <3
This time, Shen Yu was unusually gentle and proactive, while Shang Junlin''s movements were also slow, to the point where everything became agonizingly slow.
At every step, Shang Junlin would ask Shen Yu about his feelings. Initially, Shen Yu enjoyed it, but after a few times, he felt overwhelmed.
"Don''t bother me, don''t ask me. Do whatever you want!" he finally snapped.
Like a fierce beast released from its cage, a beast was always a beast. No matter how well it pretended to behave, it couldn''t change its nature.
After everything was over, Shen Yuy limp on the soft couch, not even wanting to move a finger.
Looking up at the man tidying the couch, Shen Yu wasn''t surprised to see satisfaction on his face. He squinted slightly, feeling a sense of being deceived.
Grabbing the man''s clothes, he pulled him closer.
"What''s wrong? Ah Yu isn''t feeling well?" Shang Junlin asked, noticing the tension in Shen Yu''s eyes. Shen Yu slowly let go of him. Forget it, he had made his own choice, and he couldn''t me others.Shang Junlin called for hot water and carefully cleaned Shen Yu, then helped him change into clean clothes. The soiled clothes were taken away by pce servants, and the bedding on the soft couch was also reced.
Once cleaned up, Shen Yu was carried to bed by Shang Junlin, who held him gently, asking softly, "Does Ah Yu want to eat?"
Shen Yu silently calcted the time. "No need."
It was already past Shen Yu''s usual bedtime. Hey for a while and found he couldn''t sleep well. He turned to look at Shang Junlin.
"Your Majesty isn''t sleeping either?"
Under the covers, Shang Junlin''s hand circled Shen Yu''s waist. Shen Yu had grown ustomed to sleeping embraced by him and found it ufortable to sleep alone.
Thest time Shang Junlin had angered him, he had been sent to sleep alone on a small couch for a few days. Later, it was because Shen Yu couldn''t bear it and ended the "punishment" early on his own.
"I want to look at Ah Yu more," Shang Junlin said, not at all sleepy. The events of today still lingered like a thorn in his heart, something he couldn''t remove or ignore.
Shen Yu reached out from under the covers and gently covered the man''s eyes. "Go to sleep. Your Majesty''s worries won''te true."
The next day, when Shen Yu woke up, Shang Junlin was absent. Mu Xi helped himb his hair and straighten his clothes. Shen Yu nced at the neatly made soft couch and asked, "Do you know where His Majesty went yesterday?"
"I heard from Meng-gonggong that His Majesty went to see King Yue and also made a visit to the prison the way back."
The prison.
Could it be that the person who proimed "To have Shen''s child is to have the world" was imprisoned there? Was Shang Junlin''s unusual behavior yesterday because of him?
Shang Junlin''s whereabouts wouldn''t be hidden from Shen Yu''s investigation. Shen Yu could roughly deduce where Shang Junlin''s abnormality stemmed from.
What did that person say to Shang Junlin?
Shen Yu was somewhat curious.
In this vast world, there are all sorts of wonders. Shen Yu never thought that the schr was merely a chatan; he must know something. After all, if it weren''t for him ultimately betraying them in his previous life, King Yue might indeed have ascended to that position.
To find out what happened to Shang Junlin, the quickest way was to ask Meng-gonggong, who always followed him. Shen Yu called Mu Xi and asked her to arrange a private meeting with Meng-gonggong.
If anyone else tried to inquire about His Majesty''s whereabouts, Meng-gonggong would certainly not divulge it. However, Shen Yu was different; he was someone His Majesty held dear to his heart. Meng-gonggong hesitated for a moment but eventually found time to meet Shen Yu alone.
"Meng-gonggong, I believe you know why I''ve sought you out. Let''s get straight to the point. What did King Yue say to His Majesty yesterday?"
Meng-gonggong recounted the conversation he had heard in detail, carefully observing Shen Yu''s expression.
Shen Yu''s face revealed nothing. Meng-gonggong had spent considerable time around Shang Junlin and knew Shen Yu was someone who silently achieved great things. He dared to speak because he had observed Shen Yu''s interactions with Shang Junlin and knew Shen Yu was not indifferent to him. Meng-gonggong did not want unnecessary misunderstandings between the two because of what King Yue had said.
"I understand. Thank you, Meng-gonggong," Shen Yu said, cing down the teacup in his hand, its clear sound echoing against the tabletop.
"Your Excellency, if I may speak out of turn, I can see the affection between you and His Majesty. King Yue was clearly provoked, and his words cannot be taken as truth. However, in matters of the heart, it''s difficult for someone in love topletely disregard such things, even if they know they are false. I mention this in hopes that you and His Majesty can always remain in harmony."
Meng-gonggong''s meaning was clear: regardless of whether King Yue''s words were true or false, as long as His Majesty deemed them false, it would suffice. At the same time, he hoped Shen Yu could resolve the rift in His Majesty''s heart sooner rather thanter, for long-term stability.
Having spent enough time in the pce, Meng-gonggong understood the nature of royal minds to some extent and knew that once the seeds of suspicion were nted, they were not easily removed.
He watched Shang Junlin step by step to where he was today, finally finding someone like Shen Yu who cared deeply for him. He did not wish for anyone to disrupt their bond and take Shen Yu away from him.
Shen Yu sensed Meng-gonggong''s support from his demeanor and felt deeply moved. It was good to have someone like Shang Junlin who had someone like Shen Yu, who cared for him wholeheartedly.
"I understand, Meng-gonggong. Rest assured, His Majesty is the one I''ve chosen. I will not allow anyone to sow discord between us, no matter their intentions. As for King Yue, he''s like a grasshopper inte autumn¡ªhow much longer can he keep jumping?"
Shen Yu''s words reassured Meng-gonggong, who had worried about rifying the situation between himself and King Yue. However, Shen Yu''s implicit meaning was clear: he did not regard King Yue highly at all.
Since he didn''t regard King Yue highly, there was no need to worry about the future events King Yue had mentioned.
As for past events, even if they were true, what did it matter? Who hadn''t been foolish in their youth? Besides, Shen Yu still remembered the confidential report from the Hidden Dragon Guard before Shang Junlin entered the pce, stating that Shang Junlin might have looked at King Yue a little more because he bore some resemnce to His Majesty.
Now that His Majesty was within reach and Shang Junlin''s affection for him was deepening day by day, what could King Yue amount to?
After his visit with Shen Yu, Meng-gonggong''s concerns eased somewhat. As long as both masters were willing tomunicate well, no matter what conspiracies others plotted, they were unlikely to seed.
"Young Master, do you think His Majesty might misunderstand you because of what King Yue said?" After hearing Meng-gonggong''s words, Mu Xi couldn''t hide her worry.
"He won''t."
"You mustn''t becent," Mu Xi insisted urgently. "It''s often said that misunderstandings deepen when they''re not promptly resolved, eventually bing irreconcble conflicts."
"Words are just words. I''ve already discussed this matter with His Majesty. He''s astute and won''t misunderstand because of a few words from King Yue."
"Don''t underestimate a few words. The more deeply involved one is, the harder it is to see clearly. Perhaps His Majesty can be discerning in other matters, but when ites to you, it may not be so clear."
"Why is that?"
"Because His Majesty loves you. Those in love always worry, even if they know in their hearts that something is false and unbelievable, it''s hard to truly ignore it," Mu Xi exined earnestly.
"You seem to know a lot, Mu Xi. Could it be that you''ve found someone you like?" Shen Yu raised an eyebrow teasingly. "If that''s true, I''ll arrange a grand wedding for you and ensure you marry in splendor."
"Please don''t tease me, Young Master," Mu Xi blushed, flustered. "I don''t have anyone I like, nor do I n to marry. You promised to let me serve by your side, and I know all this because I''ve read too many books."
Mu Xi stuttered as she confessed about buying books through pce servants, nervously awaiting Shen Yu''s response.
Shen Yu chuckled softly. "Why look at me like that? Your Young Master isn''t so petty as to forbid you from reading books. There''s no rule in the pce against reading books either."
Mu Xi breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn''t afraid of Shen Yu punishing her; she was worried about the rtionship between Shen Yu and His Majesty. As Shen Yu''s servant, she naturally didn''t want her young master to suffer because of a few words from King Yue.
Meanwhile, in Beimo, amidst internal turmoil, Da Huan naturally did not let go of such a good opportunity. Hidden stakes buried in Beimo began to stir, furtherplicating matters.
The Subei Army was also active, taking advantage of the chaos in Beimo to cause trouble among various factions, sometimes disguising themselves as one faction to harass another.
With external threats looming, instead of uniting, Beimo became even more chaotic.
In the study, Shen Yu brought a food box to share a meal with Shang Junlin, as he often did since theirst meeting. If Shang Junlin was busy, Shen Yu would bring food to apany him.
Shang Junlin didn''t mind spending all day with Shen Yu, so he didn''t object. He wished Shen Yu would stay in the study even when ministers visited, wishing he could prepare a couch for him there.
It was almost New Year''s, and normally the court would have settled down by now. This year was different with Beimo issue and the matter involving King Yue, forcing ministers to remain engaged.
After finishing their meal, Shen Yu lingered, noticing documents on the desk regarding Beimo. He picked them up and read through them before asking, "Internal strife will greatly weaken Beimo. Does His Majesty n to take advantage of this?"
"It would be difficult topletely conquer Beimo," Shang Junlin replied as he approached, standing close behind Shen Yu. "But if this internal strife continues, perhaps we can try something."
"How many troops does His Majesty have in Beimo?" Shen Yu inquired, tapping the documents.
"What does Ah Yu intend to do?"
"If we can''t take down Beimo in one fell swoop, we might as well choose a more manageable figure to be the vessel king and then proceed slowly," Shen Yu suggested.
Compared to costly and destructive warfare, a more peaceful approach would be preferable.
Turning around, Shen Yu leaned back slightly with hands braced behind him, meeting Shang Junlin''s eyes. "This is a great opportunity. With the major factions in Beimo currently at odds, it will take them some time to reach a resolution. His Majesty could wait and offer assistance once they''ve exhausted themselves. We could enter under the guise of aid. Those seeking help may be sensible enough to agree to a peace agreement upfront. If not, Da Huan''s troops are already deep within Beimo, making any action much easier than it is now."
Shang Junlin approached until they were nearly touching, their breaths mingling. His voice was husky as he said, "There are moments when even I start to believe Zhu Wang''s words are true."
Author''s note: This is a sweet story without any angst.
Why is there no smut!!!
The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and
continue reading tomorrow, everyone!