In front of outsiders, Shen Du maintained a cold expression, giving the young emperor no face whatsoever. Eunuch De had not even announced the end of the court session before Shen Du had already left the hall. Although the court officials felt dissatisfied in their hearts, none dared to speak out in front of Shen Du; otherwise, the next Official Liu would be among them.
Therefore, they could only impeach Shen Du to the young emperor after Shen Du had departed. Xie Min sat high above on the throne, his gaze cold, deep down seemingly mocking these timid and cowardly officials who spoke of loyalty on the surface while each harboring their own secret calculations.
Inside the Imperial Study, the eunuchs had long since prepared a brazier placed beside the couch, with black fur laid out upon it. The little eunuch by Shen Du’s side properly arranged the cloak before leaving the study.
[You could have just killed him directly.] The system sounded somewhat perplexed, its tone icy cold, since in the original text Official Liu’s ultimate fate was death, whereas now Shen Du had merely forced this man to retire due to old age and return to his hometown.
Hearing this, Shen Du sat upon the couch and picked up a teacup, seeing that the tea inside was clear: [But the mission is only to cultivate His Majesty into an enlightened monarch.]
For a moment, the system did not know what to say, ending up falling completely silent.
Shen Du put down the teacup. The sleepiness that had been blown away by the cold wind earlier surged back due to the warmth radiating from the brazier. Shen Du propped his head with his hand, his consciousness growing heavy.
It was unclear how much time had passed when the door of the Imperial Study was pushed open. The young emperor stood at the doorway and then cast his gaze upon Shen Du, who was resting on the couch.
Eunuch De wanted to step forward and wake Shen Du, but Xie Min intercepted him with a gesture of his hand, and then waved for Eunuch De to withdraw.
The door of the Imperial Study closed once more. Xie Min walked forward with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling downward onto Shen Du’s face. He looked at features that were familiar yet carried a sense of strangeness, his gaze boldly tracing from Shen Du’s browline downward until it finally lingered on his neck.
The skin exposed against the purple court robes was fair, and the neck visible in the air was slender. It seemed as though with just a gentle squeeze, the person before him would never wake up again, nor would he be able to exploit and threaten him the way he did in the previous life.
Xie Min’s fingertips lightly touched Shen Du’s cheek; the touch was soft and carried a trace of warmth, making it impossible to associate him with the ice-cold demeanor Shen Du wore when awake. Pressing his fingertip down harder, Xie Min’s gaze darkened before he abruptly withdrew his hand.
When Shen Du opened his eyes, Xie Min was sitting properly beside him eating the pastries on the table, looking entirely like an obedient child waiting for Shen Du to wake up and not daring to disturb him.
Shen Du rubbed his temples, feeling his head somewhat heavy. After taking a moment to recover, he softly spoke, “Why didn’t you wake me?”
Afterward, Shen Du glanced at the pastry in Xie Min’s hand, his brow furrowing slightly. “Have dinner served. Next time, Your Majesty doesn’t need to wait for me to wake up, or you can just wake me directly.”
Hearing Shen Du speak, Xie Min gave a shy smile, and then, as if thinking of something, softly asked, “Teacher, today Official Liu…”
This was the first time since Shen Du became the imperial tutor that he had dismissed an official in front of everyone.
“Official Liu is suspected of corruption. Letting him retire to his hometown is already the utmost benevolence on my part. Your Majesty, being soft-hearted is a major taboo.” Having said this, thinking that Xie Min was merely feeling soft-hearted, Shen Du reached out and patted Xie Min’s shoulder to comfort him.
Hearing these words, Xie Min couldn’t help but find it amusing in his heart. The term “being soft-hearted” was probably much more fitting for this Shen Du himself, right?
“Understood. Teacher, please rest assured; I have memorized it.”
It was precisely this obedient attitude that made Shen Du feel uneasy. Such a well-behaved child, placed in the court, was merely like a sheep entering a wolf pack, becoming an object of covetousness for those ministers.
Furthermore, he was just a child. If he were deceived by others, he would likely meet the tragic end described in the book.
After the meal, Eunuch De had people bring in the memorial documents that Shen Du had sent into the palace early. These were all screened by Shen Du before being delivered, specifically to let Xie Min study the art of governance thoroughly among them.
Xie Min flipped through the memorials, reviewing them one by one, while Shen Du sat beside him eating desserts, offering guidance from time to time.
When Shen Du felt it was about enough, he concluded the day’s lessons and left the Imperial Study.
Shen Du did not know that after he departed, a person kneeling before Xie Min appeared within the Imperial Study.
“Do not let Liu Pingchang live to reach his hometown.” Looking at the memorials and finding them somewhat tedious, Xie Min closed them, tossed them onto the desk, and the person before him acknowledged the order with a direct nod before withdrawing.
Once the Imperial Study returned to tranquility, Xie Min’s cold voice sounded once more.
“Shen Du, who on earth are you?”
After only a day or two, Xie Min was certain that Shen Du no longer was the Shen Du of his past life.
The Shen Du of his past life had been hypocritical, wearing a mask as he fooled him around in circles. At that time, Xie Min had truly believed his teacher had his best interests at heart, sending his people to desperate ends one by one.
What a pity. Xie Min had thought he would get to kill that hypocritical person all over again.
He wondered if this Shen Du was still the same as the previous one.
If that were the case.
At this thought, the smile at the corner of Xie Min’s lips instantly flattened, his expression turning cold as he pondered how he should deal with someone who betrayed him.
Shen Du did not take a sedan chair upon leaving; instead, he walked out of the palace. Just as he exited the palace path, Shen Du spotted the palace maids and eunuchs standing not far away.
The leading palace maid looked somewhat different, wearing attire that appeared more luxurious than ordinary maids, and her gaze upon Shen Du carried no respect whatsoever, but rather a sense of high-and-mightiness.
“Lord Shen, the Empress Dowager requests your presence.”
According to protocol, external officials could not enter the inner palace, but since the inner palace currently only housed the Empress Dowager and a few imperial concubines, Shen Du could not refuse if the Empress Dowager summoned him.
Thus, Shen Du, who should have been leaving the imperial palace, ultimately entered the Empress Dowager’s quarters.
[You are unwilling to stain your hands with blood, but they will force you to choose a side. In the ancient imperial court, unless you distance yourself from the capital, it is either kill or be killed.] The system offered what could be considered a kind reminder.
From the incident with Liu Pingchang, the system roughly understood what Shen Du was thinking.
Yet in an era like this, especially given Shen Du’s special status as the imperial tutor, countless people would approach him regardless of circumstances.
The officials of the outer court and the Empress Dowager of the inner palace.
If Shen Du delayed taking a stand, both sides would eventually become his enemies.
This was the conclusion the system reached after rigorous calculation, and it certainly did not want the meticulously chosen mission runner to die over such a simple piece of common sense.
Shen Du was not unaware of what the system had stated. Led into the Empress Dowager’s palace, a maid served Shen Du a cup of tea before announcing she would go invite the Empress Dowager. Yet Shen Du finished his entire cup of tea, and the Empress Dowager still had not appeared.
Shen Du understood clearly in his heart that the Empress Dowager intended to give him a show of force.
As the imperial tutor of the outer court, even the emperor had to grant him three steps of courtesy, but for the Empress Dowager to disrespect Shen Du in this manner meant she had calculated that Shen Du would not dare to anger her.
Just as the maid behind Shen Du intended to pour him another cup of tea, the maid supported the Empress Dowager as she leisurely emerged from behind the curtains, walking over to take her seat at the head of the room. Seeing Shen Du sitting motionless without the slightest intention of showing respect, the maid furrowed her brows, preparing to angrily reprimand him.
However, she saw Shen Du set down his teacup. The crisp sound caused the Empress Dowager to raise her eyes toward Shen Du, though she held no regard for him—he was merely a sixteen-year-old youth.
The late emperor must have been muddle-headed to actually entrust both the outer court and the emperor to a sixteen-year-old boy.
“Shen Du, this Empress remembers that you are of the Shen clan lineage, having previously held no official rank. I cannot fathom why the late emperor personally appointed you as imperial tutor.”
The woman on the high seat was opulent and noble. Although the passage of time had left traces on her face, it had not eroded the ambition within her heart.
Hearing no reply from Shen Du as he continued leisurely tasting his tea, even the Empress Dowager felt her expression turn slightly awkward.
The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point.
“If the Empress Dowager summoned your subject here, surely it wasn’t just to discuss such matters?” Shen Du had no intention of exchanging pleasantries, meeting the gaze of the noble woman above head-on without a shred of fear.
The maid beside the Empress Dowager rebuked, “Audacious! How dare you show such disrespect to the Empress Dowager!”
The Empress Dowager did not stop her, instead watching Shen Du like this, only to see Shen Du brush away non-existent dust from his court robes. “The Empress Dowager hasn’t spoken yet, but you have quite the audacity.”
The maid wanted to say more, but a wave of the Empress Dowager’s hand stopped her. A smile hung on the woman’s face as she stood up, walked down, and spoke softly.
“His Majesty is still young, and within the palace, only this Empress and Lord Shen can protect him. I merely hope Lord Shen can consult with me on all matters; if so, I am sure the late emperor could rest in peace.”
Shen Du caught the underlying meaning of the Empress Dowager’s words.
She wanted to use his hands to interfere in state affairs—was she treating both him and the emperor as puppets?
Absurd.
“Empress Dowager, the inner palace must not interfere in politics.”
Shen Du directly pointed out the Empress Dowager’s intentions, stood up, walked straight past the Empress Dowager toward the hall doors, and said in a clear voice, “I hear the Empress Dowager has been exchanging frequent letters with Prince Lin’an recently. I hope the Empress Dowager will take care of herself.”
Catching wind of her private affairs out of nowhere, the Empress Dowager flew into a rage, casually grabbing the teacup Shen Du had just used and hurling it directly at him.
“You are lawless!”
The teacup struck Shen Du’s back. Shen Du suppressed a muffled groan and left the Empress Dowager’s palace directly without looking back. Outside the palace gates, the junior eunuch who should have escorted Shen Du away had been blocked outside.
Seeing Shen Du emerge, the junior eunuch hurried forward. Spotting the water stain on the back of Shen Du’s cloak with his sharp eyes, he raised a hand to steady Shen Du.
Only to have Shen Du wave his hand and stop him.
[Do you plan to endure this?] The system asked in puzzlement, noting that Shen Du showed no intention of taking action.
Hearing these words, Shen Du paused his steps. Endure?
If he showed any sign of weakness before the Empress Dowager, he couldn’t even be sure how he would die.
In the original story, this Empress Dowager had almost become someone ruling behind a curtain.
If Shen Du truly endured this, he likely wouldn’t retain an ounce of status in the outer court.
Inside the palace, after the Empress Dowager settled back onto her high seat, she waved her hand to have people clean up the mess before her. Standing behind the Empress Dowager, her close maid smiled softly and said, “Even if he is the imperial tutor personally appointed by the late emperor, he wouldn’t dare to openly oppose Her Ladyship.”
“You cannot enter! This is the Empress Dowager’s sleeping chambers!”
“By order of Lord Shen, hearing that a palace maid has committed insubordination, we are here to discipline her on her behalf. Do you dare to block us?” The sound of a blade leaving its scabbard rang out with a sharp clang.
The Empress Dowager’s previously relaxed expression inside the palace instantly turned icy.
Without needing anyone outside to report, she already knew what was happening.
Shen Du said nothing on the surface, but turned around and summoned men from the Imperial City Guard. On the surface, he claimed her maid committed insubordination, but in reality, this was a direct slap to her face.
Shen Du was telling her that he, Shen Du, did not fear the title of Empress Dowager at all; if he wished, he could even pull her down from her position. After all, such a covert matter as the Empress Dowager’s correspondence with Prince Lin’an was already known to Shen Du.
Presumably, the Empress Dowager’s other moves were also seen crystal clear by Shen Du.
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath. Commander Kang entered from outside, wearing a smile as he offered a perfunctory bow to the Empress Dowager, and then ordered his men to drag the Empress Dowager’s maid away.
“Empress Dowager, this person committed insubordination. Lord Shen instructed that she be given a small punishment. Rest assured, this subordinate knows his boundaries.”
Commander Kang waved his hand and left after speaking, without glancing at the Empress Dowager’s complexion. The maid called out, pleading for the Empress Dowager to save her, but she didn’t expect Commander Kang’s subordinates to be fully prepared, directly muffling her mouth.
Preventing any sound from escaping.
“Good, a very good Shen Du.” The Empress Dowager sat on her high seat throughout, watching everything. Under the intimidating pressure of the Imperial City Guard, even she dared not make any moves.
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath, closed her eyes tightly, her artificial nail-guards piercing into her skin. The pain helped her regain her composure and calm down, her intense gaze fixed on the doorway. The maids and eunuchs outside were all under control until Commander Kang departed, after which everyone finally dared to stir.
The Empress Dowager’s trusted personal maid entered the hall, looking at the Empress Dowager with cautious concern, “Your Ladyship, should this maid go find His Majesty?”
At least His Majesty still called the Empress Dowager mother concubine.
Surely he wouldn’t actually let the Empress Dowager be humiliated like this?
The Empress Dowager lightly raised a hand adorned with nail-guards. “Do you think anyone in the imperial palace would bypass the emperor to directly mobilize the Imperial City Guard? The fact that he dared to mobilize the emperor’s direct Imperial City Guard instead of sending men from the Front Palace Guard is enough to show that he… is threatening me.”
The Empress Dowager couldn’t help feeling a pang of pain in her chest.
Such immense power held by Shen Du, the Imperial City Guard.
Even she, the Empress Dowager, had no way to mobilize them.
Yet Shen Du could mobilize them effortlessly, and even took away a maid who showed disrespect to him right from under her nose.
However, the Empress Dowager could only swallow her bitter grievances. After all these years, she never expected to be outmaneuvered by a sixteen-year-old boy. No wonder the late emperor had been so at ease entrusting the young emperor to Shen Du.
It was she who had underestimated Shen Du from the very beginning.
The late emperor truly lived up to his name; even in death, he still guarded against her and her son.
Clearly, her son was the legitimate heir born of the primary empress!