Host, of course you're amazing! You already have your own bookstore. When you introduce movable type printing, papermaking, primers, and popular storybooks, you'll wow the entire capital!
Doesn't that sound amazing?
Guagua, you seem to be doing quite well.
Hehe~~~
Happy.
Shen Mingzhu happily accepted the reward and then quietly stepped back from her position.
At this moment, Shen Changyuan, as a father, also felt proud.
Regardless, Mingzhu performed quite well.
Since Emperor Jingyuan has bestowed a reward, it is an honour.
Shen Mingzhu, in a great mood, popped a piece of candied fruit into her mouth, smiling as she looked around, delighted.
Seeing Shen Mingzhu's happy expression, Crown Prince Yan Beichen couldn't help but turn around and look at her several times.
His little crown princess is so cute! Her mouth is so chubby, I don't know what she ate again. It makes you want to pinch it.
Guagua, what's going on? Why is the main hall so quiet?
The sudden silence made Shen Mingzhu feel a little uneasy.
Normally, the officials and civil servants of the court are quite attentive to and discuss national affairs.
Upon hearing Shen Mingzhu's thoughts, the matter of the upcoming imperial examination was quickly brought up and discussed by the civil and military officials.
Emperor Jingyuan was relieved to see that Shen Mingzhu did not mention the soup sent by Consort Shu.
Host, look, a new topic has emerged, hasn't it?
Indeed, the additional imperial examinations are about to begin; selecting talent for the Great Yan Dynasty certainly requires serious attention.
Hearing Shen Mingzhu's heartfelt words, all the civil and military officials couldn't help but nod in agreement.
Indeed, this imperial examination was given great importance by everyone from Emperor Jingyuan down to the officials.
After all, Emperor Jingyuan had confiscated the property of several families and punished or demoted many officials during this period, which was precisely the time when talent was needed.
It is both an opportunity and a challenge.
The inner palace, Ganquan Palace.
Princess Chaoyang's tears flowed like a broken string of pearls, unstoppable no matter what she did.
"Shut up."
"Mother Consort~~~"
"Didn't you see? Chen Lang has lost a lot of weight. The prison is no place for a human being. Mother, could you please talk to Father and ask him to let Prince Consort return to the Princess's residence first?"
"Mother, I truly love my husband!"
Consort Shu looked at her daughter's tear-streaked face and couldn't help but say,
"Chaoyang, calm down! We don't even know what Liang Muchen did wrong. Taking rash action will only backfire."
"Mother Consort~~~"
"Chaoyang, your husband has another woman. Can you accept that?"
"Mother, I can accept it. Besides, Prince Consort is a man, too. It's normal for him to have a maidservant. I don't mind."
"Oh... my silly Chaoyang."
Consort Shu looked at her daughter with a face full of affection.
"I understand, I will try to talk to your father."
"Thank you, Mother."
Chaoyang finally felt much relieved.
Her mother and father have a very harmonious relationship. If the mother intervenes, the prince consort should be fine.
She wouldn't be like her sister Chang Le; she would protect her husband, her lover.
Host, Consort Shu has started preparing the soup!!!
Shen Mingzhu glanced at Emperor Jingyuan on the high seat.
Guagua, so fast!
"That's for sure; Emperor Jingyuan will be able to drink it at noon!"
Emperor Jingyuan's lips twitched.
So, you can't let this matter of Consort Shu sending soup go, can you?
Shen Mingzhu: We haven't finished talking yet.
Curious...
He will definitely punish Prince Consort Liang severely.
Chaoyang is such a loser. Will she die without a man?
You came to the palace so early in the morning. Have you figured out the cause and effect of the matter?
His daughters are all so innocent.
He recalled holding the tiny bundle when his daughters were born, wishing them to be the happiest little princesses in the world.
Contrary to expectations, neither of the two princesses found happiness.
He entrusted them to the wrong people!
The series of events prompted him to reflect on his actions.
Guagua, is Consort Shu's soup really that effective?
Emperor Jingyuan closed his eyes again.
Why...
Despite giving her so many gifts, it still couldn't shut her up.
Looking at his father's expression, Crown Prince Yan Beichen knew that Consort Shu's soup was no ordinary soup.
What secrets does the soup hold?
Host, that's right! Emperor Jingyuan loves to drink it, and once he's had the soup, he'll grant any request that isn't too unreasonable.
Oh, I see.
Yes, yes, host, haven't you noticed? Among the imperial heirs in the harem, Consort Shu has both a son and a daughter, making a perfect family!
All the officials nodded.
Guagua, Empress Lin is Emperor Jingyuan's true love and the one he actually married, so why does she only have one child, the Crown Prince?
Logically speaking, given the limited contraceptive methods in ancient times, how could a beloved wife possibly have only one child?
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingyuan felt a deep sorrow in his heart.
This matter will forever remain a source of pain for him and Rou'er.
Crown Prince Yan Beichen: Yes, he has seen how well his father has treated his mother over the years. Although his father has several favoured concubines in the harem, none of them can surpass his mother. This is why his status as the Crown Prince is as solid as a rock.
Logically speaking, the Queen should have had more than one legitimate child.
What happened?
The entire court was also very puzzled.
What exactly happened?
Prince An: Brother, is there any little secret you can't tell your younger brother?
Your little brother will help you solve this!!!
Host, how naive you are! Do you know why I advised you to give Crown Prince Yan Beichen the infertility drug? This is one of the reasons!
Shen Changyuan's forehead started sweating again!
My little darling, I told you to stop thinking so much, but you've started again!
My head, hang in there!!!
Crown Prince Yan Beichen: What does this have to do with me?
That's a matter for Father and Mother!
Could it be that Father is a womanizer, which is why Mother is unwilling to bear him children?
Still...
Crown Prince Yan Beichen looked up at Emperor Jingyuan. Could there be some hidden story he didn't know about?
Emperor Jingyuan: Can you please stop talking?
Stop talking!
Shen Mingzhu: I didn't want to say it either, but Guagua wouldn't let me!
Guagua: I'm not taking the blame for this!
"Lord miss Shen."
Shen Mingzhu was named again.
This time, she reacted quickly and stepped forward immediately.
"His Majesty."
Guagua, what's wrong with Emperor Jingyuan today? Why is he calling me again! My knees and legs are so tired and sore, I don't want to go to court!
That old emperor is so annoying! Can't he just finish what he's saying all at once?!
Prince An covered his mouth and chuckled.
Hehe~~~
My brother was scolded by his future daughter-in-law, and he couldn't even talk back!
I have never been scolded by my daughters-in-law; they treat me so well!
Shen Changyuan turned his head and glared fiercely at Shen Mingzhu.
This living ancestor.
He had made up his mind. No matter what, he had to get something from this daughter to save his life. Otherwise, if things continued like this, he felt that he would be "played" to death in the imperial palace sooner or later.
After the grand court assembly ends, he will also attend the smaller court assembly.
Last time, because Shen Mingzhu criticized the emperor as a foolish ruler, he had to kneel during the small court assembly until the end.
Family, who understands the pain in my heart?
Just because he doesn't say it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
The entire court: Lord Shen, fly bravely! Take responsibility if anything happens!
Emperor Jingyuan glanced at the civil and military officials below him and sighed slightly.
He took a deep look at his beloved Crown Prince Yan Beichen and slowly spoke.
"Minister Shen, you and the Crown Prince were in charge of organizing a poetry gathering to select talents for the Great Yan. What results have you achieved?"
[The harvest? Hehe~~~ I harvested a shop, a manor, a hilltop, a huge pile of grain and cloth, plus lots and lots of small change.]
[Guagua, why did Emperor Jingyuan suddenly ask this? He wouldn't be trying to take a share of my little bit of money, would he? It's all mine!]
This time, all the officials in the court were secretly laughing.
The story of Shen Mingzhu's battle against the talented Xiao and the young master Wang is still widely circulated in Shengjing.
Now, Shen Mingzhu's shops, as well as the shops of the Shen and Wu families, all have signs that read: "Young Miss Shen's Shops."
From food to daily necessities, everything received unprecedented popularity.
Now everyone knows that Miss Shen from the Marquis of Changping's mansion is a talented lady and a little rich girl!
I heard that Wang Family Bookstore has now been renamed Mingzhu Bookstore. With the imperial examinations approaching, every student who comes to Beijing will definitely make a trip there!
This has become a sacred hall in the hearts of students.
Why, if you ask?
Because there is a piece of calligraphy hanging in the Mingzhu Bookstore, which was personally written by His Highness the Crown Prince.
To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations!
Which student wouldn't want to go and see?
Isn't this what all scholars in the world aspire to?
Just then, the system's voice came through.
Host, no way! No matter what, the Emperor's private treasury still holds many rare treasures. He probably just wants to know about the current situation of the students who have come to the capital to take the imperial examinations.
Shen Mingzhu nodded.
Looking up again, Shen Mingzhu spoke seriously.
"Your Majesty, Xiao Yanzhi, Zhao Deren, Leng Lujie from Jinling, Wang Chuanzong, the son of the Langya Wang family, and He Caizi from Suzhou in Jiangnan are all quite learned."
Emperor Jingyuan nodded and then dismissed her.
Guagua, Emperor Jingyuan is dismissing me already? He only had one question?.
Yes, host, he only asked you one question.
Guagua, I'm speechless! This emperor is so capricious. If it weren't for his personality, Empress Lin wouldn't have been harmed by those villains!
Alas... Such a lovely little princess has been killed!
Clang! clang! clang!...
This heartfelt statement resonated deeply with the entire court, leaving them reeling.
Especially Crown Prince Yan Beichen, whose mother also had another child and he wasn't aware.
She was harmed!
Prince An: Didn't my brother like the Empress the most?
How could she have been harmed?
What happened?
My brother was heartbroken!
Waaaaah... I didn't even know that I hadn't gone to comfort my brother.
I'm not a good younger brother!
Emperor Jingyuan closed his eyes in anguish.
Alas... Host, this is also a perpetual pain in the hearts of Emperor Jingyuan and Empress Lin. That's why Emperor Jingyuan cherishes the Crown Prince so much; he and his true love only have this one child left.
The only child of the Queen: There's absolutely nothing he can do to undo the past!
Guagua, does this mean Empress Lin will never be able to have children again?
Yes, even the Crown Prince was raised safely by Emperor Jingyuan's personal care. You don't actually think he grew up happily in the harem, do you?
Crown Prince Yan Beichen: I grew up happily!
My childhood was still quite joyful.
He has a loving grandmother, a gentle and lovely mother, and a kind but dignified father.
Emperor Jingyuan: I must protect Rou'er's only child.
...
Host, do you see? This is the downside of having too many women in your backyard.
Okay, then, who was the one who harmed Empress Lin? Was she killed?
Of course, her entire family was executed! The only exception was herself; isn't that interesting?
Ah! Did she spring out of a crack in the rock?
At this point, everyone realized that this was a conspiracy.
But back then, no matter how hard Emperor Jingyuan investigated, he couldn't find out what grudge that young concubine had against the Empress.
After Empress Lin suffered a miscarriage, she hanged herself, quick and decisive, as if she had completed her mission and had no reason to live.
Perhaps he can find the answer today.
Guagua, what exactly happened? Could Emperor Jingyuan have failed to find the real culprit?
Host, you are right!
The officials and civil servants all bowed their heads. Was this something they could possibly hear about the secrets of the royal family?
Guagua, what exactly happened?
Sigh... Host, actually, back then, no one in the entire harem wanted Empress Lin to have any more children. One prince was already the limit! If Emperor Jingyuan hadn't insisted that Empress Lin give birth to a prince before allowing other concubines to become pregnant, Empress Lin might not have had any offspring at all
[Huh? How so?]
The main problem is that Emperor Jingyuan's favouritism is too obvious. He only holds the Crown Prince, only speaks gently to the Crown Prince, and only in front of the Crown Prince does he act like a father! He carries Little Beichen on his back every day, letting Little Beichen ride a big horse. If the other women in the harem saw this, how could they possibly allow Empress Lin to give birth again?!
One Yan Beichen is enough, but if another one comes along, how will the rest of the harem survive?
This was a decision made in unison by the entire harem!
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingyuan clenched his fists.
As the emperor, can't he even hold his own son?
As his first son and the legitimate son of the Empress, it's understandable that he would show him some favouritism. Is it really necessary for them to do this?
Imperial concubines: Absolutely!
Crown Prince Yan Beichen: How come he doesn't remember his father carrying him on his back and letting him ride a big horse?
Emperor Jingyuan: What a heartless person!
Guagua, do you mean that the entire harem was involved in the Empress's miscarriage?
Yes, host, that was the most united effort ever made by Emperor Jingyuan's harem!
Empress Lin: Thank you, everyone.
From this day forward, I will hate all of you!
Host, however, it was Consort Shu, who contributed the most; that little concubine only dealt the final blow to Empress Lin.
Guagua, how did it get involved with Consort Shu?
Host, it is about the soup Emperor Jingyuan normally drinks!
Emperor Jingyuan felt a chill run down his spine.
What exactly is wrong with Consort Shu's soup?
Isn't it just a regular nourishing soup?
Guagua, what's the secret behind Consort Shu's soup?
Host, you don't understand, do you? Consort Shu is well-versed in pharmacology. The soup she gives Emperor Jingyuan is naturally a tonic, but while it's tonic, it also has other effects. For example, the soup Emperor Jingyuan is currently drinking might affect the activity of his dragon essence. Plus, Emperor Jingyuan is getting old, so he probably won't have any more children!.