Сhарtеr 4: Нis Little Daughter Is Just Тоo Adоrable
Shаngguаn Sui sаt оn thе imрeriаl thrоnе, swinging hеr little feеt while internally rаnting likе crаzу.
[Тhis Маrquis Zhenbеi is nо simрle man—hе’s рraсtically оbsessеd with becoming еmpеror аnd hаs alreаdy secrеtlу mаdе seven оr еight drаgоn robes аt homе!]
[Two уears frоm now, Mаrquis Zhenbei will raisе аn аrmy in rеbеllion. The tуrant еmрeror fаther will evеn be stаbbеd bу a sрy Mаrquis Zhenbei рlаntеd by his side…]
[Although the rebellion will еvеntually be quellеd, Fаther’s health will nеvеr fully recover. His temper will grow increasingly violent, turning him into the widely despised tyrant.]
[The Great Moon Kingdom will gradually fall into misery, with corrupt officials running rampant. How pitiful…]
[My foolish father still hasn’t seen through Marquis Zhenbei’s true colors!]
[Sigh, but even though Marquis Zhenbei fails, ten years later, the male lead Xiao Ziyuan will succeed and establish a new dynasty.]
Hearing this, Shangguan Lin’s heart jolted.
What Suisui said about two years from now—it was actually Marquis Zhenbei rebelling!
He truly never expected that Marquis Zhenbei would dare to plot treason!
Marquis Zhenbei had achieved outstanding military merits, helping him pacify the northwest. He had genuinely trusted Marquis Zhenbei.
He didn’t want to be like the previous dynasty’s emperor, who discarded his tools after use—killing off meritorious officials once they were no longer needed.
Marquis Zhenbei had always been respectful toward him, yet who would have thought…
All that trust and sincerity had been completely wasted on an ungrateful traitor!
“Your humble servant pays respects to the Emperor. May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand times ten thousand years!”
Marquis Zhenbei entered the hall and, as usual, knelt and bowed in greeting.
As he prostrated himself on the ground, he suddenly felt an icy, piercing gaze upon him.
Marquis Zhenbei looked up and met Shangguan Lin’s cold, detached eyes. Instantly, cold sweat broke out on his back.
Why was the Emperor looking at him like that…
Had his rebellious intentions been discovered?
That shouldn’t be possible—he had covered his tracks flawlessly. How could he have been exposed?
It must just be the Emperor having a bad day today.
“Rise.”
Shangguan Lin struggled to restrain his emotions. Now was not the time to alert the enemy.
Upon hearing this, Marquis Zhenbei’s previously tense heart finally relaxed.
He knew it—the Emperor hadn’t noticed anything and was treating him just as before.
Marquis Zhenbei cupped his hands and stated the purpose of his visit today.
“Your Majesty, the military provisions are running low and urgently need replenishment.”
Shangguan Lin did not respond immediately. He wanted to hear Suisui’s thoughts first.
Sure enough, as soon as Marquis Zhenbei finished speaking, Shangguan Sui began internally ranting again.
[What a load of spiral-soaring stinky nonsense! Lying without even batting an eye! Those provisions were clearly embezzled by you yourself!]
[Not only did you embezzle provisions, but you also seized farmland from the common people! You used imperial funds to train Shadow Guards!]
[None of that money ever reached the soldiers!]
If not for her current identity as a three-year-old child, Shangguan Sui would have rushed up and slapped Marquis Zhenbei right then and there.
Such a person was utterly unworthy of being a general!
He neither cared for the people nor for the soldiers under his command—he only cared about himself!
Shangguan Lin’s fingers tightened around his jade bracelet, veins bulging on the back of his hand.
This Marquis Zhenbei truly deserved death!
If not for Suisui, he might not have discovered until two years later that he had been deceived all along!
Shangguan Lin said in a deep voice, “I am aware of the provisions issue, but the national treasury is currently strained. There are no extra funds to allocate to the military for now.”
Marquis Zhenbei was stunned upon hearing this.
Huh? The Emperor had actually refused him?
In the past, hadn’t the Emperor always given him whatever he asked for?
His mind grew muddled, and he began to stammer slightly as he spoke.”Your Majesty… but the army, the soldiers truly cannot wait any longer.”
Shangguan Lin’s gaze was sharp. “Marquis Zhenbei, I recall that a large batch of provisions was just allocated to you not long ago. How could they be used up so quickly?”
“Could it be… that you embezzled them all?”
Upon hearing this, Marquis Zhenbei immediately knelt down.
“I would never dare! I would never dare! I absolutely would not dare!”
[Heh, where do you not dare? You are far too daring!]
[Every time the court allocates provisions, you embezzle half of them! Any soldier who tries to speak the truth is directly killed by you!]
[But the tyrant father is even more impressive, noticing something amiss so quickly!]
Now that he can notice Marquis Zhenbei’s suspicious behavior and stop the losses in time, the story definitely won’t develop as it did in the original book.
After all, before that rebellion, he had always been a wise ruler!
Shangguan Lin’s voice was icy to the bone.
“If the provisions are being used up this quickly, you, as the general, are also at fault. You are fined one year’s salary. Go back and reflect on yourself!”
Marquis Zhenbei opened his mouth in shock.
What?
Not only did he fail to get more provisions, but he was also fined?!
Marquis Zhenbei wanted to say more, but Shangguan Lin cut him off directly.
“Get out! I don’t want to see you!”
Marquis Zhenbei dared not resist in any way and could only slink away like a stray dog.
[Wow! The tyrant father is truly amazing!]
[Looking at it this way, the rebellion two years from now might be avoided!]
[Alright, alright, I won’t call you a tyrant anymore!]
Hearing Shangguan Sui’s inner thoughts, Shangguan Lin’s lips curved slightly.
Great, Suisui finally isn’t calling him a tyrant anymore. He really doesn’t want to be a tyrant.
As long as he can deal with Marquis Zhenbei now, the rebellion two years later won’t happen!
Then he won’t become the tyrant Suisui despises.
As for the rebellion led by Xiao Ziyuan ten years later that Suisui mentioned, he can set it aside for now.
Because…
He still doesn’t know who Xiao Ziyuan is?
But the name does sound somewhat familiar, though he can’t recall it.
Shangguan Lin picked up the teacup on the table and took a relaxed sip.
It seems the decision to bring Suisui to the Imperial Study was right.
She truly is his little lucky star, a precious gift from heaven.
Shangguan Lin turned to look at Shangguan Sui beside him, his gaze gentle.
Shangguan Sui blinked, somewhat confused.
But she still gave Shangguan Lin a sweet smile, the dimples on her cheeks faintly showing.
Seeing Shangguan Sui’s smile, Shangguan Lin’s heart melted.
His little daughter is truly too adorable.
Shangguan Lin picked up a pastry from the table and personally fed it to Shangguan Sui.
“Sui Sui, try this. It’s a new osmanthus cake made by the imperial kitchen. See if you like it?”
Shangguan Sui took a bite, and her eyes immediately lit up as she nodded vigorously.
[Delicious! It’s really delicious! This is the best osmanthus cake I’ve ever had!]
Shangguan Lin’s lips curved, and he was about to feed her another when Eunuch Chen’s voice echoed in the hall.
“Your Majesty, the First Prince requests an audience outside the hall.”
“Let him in.”
Shangguan Lin finished feeding the pastry in his hand.
Only then did he look up, resuming the emperor’s stern and unsmiling demeanor.
Soon, a handsome young man in white robes walked into the hall.
Shangguan Jue’s appearance bore a sixty percent resemblance to Shangguan Lin, with the same sword-like eyebrows, dark eyes, and straight nose.
However, Shangguan Jue’s complexion was paler, his lips lacked color, and he seemed overall quite frail.
Yet his posture remained as upright as a pine or bamboo, noble and aloof.Shangguan Jue entered the hall and knelt to pay his respects.
“Your son pays his respects to the Emperor.”
Shangguan Lin waved his hand. “Rise.”
As soon as Shangguan Jue stood up, a tender, crisp voice suddenly reached his ears.
[Huh~ Is this my eldest imperial brother?]
[He’s so handsome, like the wind blowing through a doorframe—dashing and resounding!]
[Hugging big brother! I love handsome men the most in this lifetime!]
Shangguan Lin, who heard everything: …
How come everyone else gets three lines of praise?
When it comes to him, there’s only one line left. Heartache…
Shangguan Jue, on the other hand, froze in place.
What was that voice?!
Calling him big brother, and the voice so tender.
Could it be…
Shangguan Jue looked up and met a pair of beautiful, large eyes behind the desk.
Is this… the fifth younger sister?