In the end, Shen Mingzhu had to be carried onto the carriage.
Father Shen took a sip of tea as he watched Shen Mingzhu, who was still not fully awake even after entering the carriage.
"Mingzhu, wake up quickly!"
Shen Mingzhu opened her eyes and glanced at Shen Changyuan, murmuring softly,
"Dad, let me sleep a little longer. Wake me when we arrive!"
With that, she immediately closed her eyes again.
Shen Changyuan called out a couple more times, but seeing no sign of Shen Mingzhu waking up, he simply closed his own eyes to rest as well.
He had slept too late the previous night and hadn't gotten much rest.
Last night, not only had Shen Changyuan slept very little, but nearly all the officials of the Great Yan Dynasty—including the Emperor, the Empress, and the imperial consorts—had struggled to sleep.
Soon, they arrived at the palace gates!
"Mingzhu, wake up quickly! We're here—time to get off the carriage!"
The moment the Shen family's carriage arrived, it immediately drew the attention of everyone present.
Especially the faction of the Second Prince, Yan Yunxuan, who kept their distance, afraid of being implicated.
Su Huaiyuan, on the other hand, was delighted. Seeing Shen Mingzhu was like discovering a treasure.
Soon, they would be working together at the Hanlin Academy!
He greatly admired the talents of the young lady from the Shen family.
The thought of being able to share gossip with her made him quite happy.
"Shen Shangshu~"
"Grand Scholar Su~ I'll be counting on your guidance!"
"Don't mention it, we're all colleagues"
Su Huaiyuan smiled warmly at Shen Mingzhu, looking as friendly as a suspicious uncle!
At least, that's how Shen Mingzhu saw him.
In the eyes of the other officials, Grand Scholar Su was polite, humble, and caring toward his subordinates—a fine colleague indeed.
Soon, all the officials were about to enter the court hall.
Shen Mingzhu followed her father. Due to her low rank, Shen Changyuan had her stand near the entrance.
"Mingzhu, stand here properly. Remember, don't let your mind wander. Focus on the court session."
Shen Mingzhu responded listlessly with a soft murmur.
"Got it, Dad. You work hard and do your best to share the Emperor's burdens."
Shen Changyuan: …
He glanced around helplessly and took his place in the front rows.
[Sigh… How can the gap between people be so huge? I have to stand by the door, while my father gets to stand in the front row!]
Shen Changyuan looked up at the sky in despair.
His earlier advice had clearly gone to waste!
Other officials covered their mouths and chuckled softly.
Soon, the Jingyuan Emperor arrived!
Thus began the first official court session.
While the other officials engaged in heated discussions, Shen Mingzhu, standing at the back, dozed off and began dreaming of meeting the Duke of Zhou.
"Pffrt"
A loud, foul-smelling fart jolted Shen Mingzhu awake.
Yuck
Instantly, Shen Mingzhu's scream echoed throughout the hall.
[Who has so little public decency to set off a stink bomb in the court hall!]
[It reeks! I'm about to throw up!]
[Gua Gua, quickly find out which shameless official has no face! How disgusting! I almost threw up yesterday's meal!]
Everyone else affected by the stink bomb also wanted to identify the culprit!
A certain official: ……………… Social death achieved!
The Jingyuan Emperor also pricked up his ears, displeased at the thought that one of his most trusted officials would openly release such a foul odor in court.
Even the discussions in the court grew quieter.
Everyone perked up their ears, eager to find out who the uncouth official was.
At that moment, Shen Changyuan was furious!
All the warnings he and his wife had given about being cautious in speech and conduct had been completely forgotten!
[Host, it's General of Chariots and Cavalry, Tian Xuezhou. His family has been eating too many radishes lately, so the stink bomb output has increased!]
In an instant, all the officials' eyes turned toward Tian Xuezhou.
Tian Xuezhou: "My lifelong reputation is ruined in a single day!"
He almost wanted to cover his face and find a crack in the ground to crawl into!
[Gua Gua, he's a second-rank official, yet he eats radishes at home every day?]
The System said with slight sympathy,
[Host, General Tian's family is extremely poor! Though his official robe looks clean and neat, it's actually the only presentable clothing he owns! Besides this robe, all his clothes from inside out, top to bottom are patched layer upon layer – including his underwear and socks!]
Shen Mingzhu was shocked and looked at Tian Xuezhou with some sympathy,
[Gua Gua, as a second-rank official eating radishes daily, could he have some bad habits that made him so poor?]
[He's so poor! He's so poor]
The Jingyuan Emperor watched General Tian, whose face was flushed red with embarrassment, especially noticing how some civil officials were looking at him with disdain.
Military generals are indeed uncouth!
The four princes at the front all looked at the General of Chariots and Cavalry with pity, but it didn't matter – after court dismissal, they would help him out. After all, as a second-rank military general commanding the Western Suburbs camp troops, he held real military power.
[Host, don't mock him! He became this poor because of your grandfather!]
Everyone was immediately even more astonished upon hearing this!
[What happened? Aren't my grandfather, uncle, and two brothers in the Northern Territory?]
[Sigh… Host, your grandfather is very poor! The Northern Territory is bitterly cold, and the military provisions, medicine, and clothing allocated by the court are never sufficient. General Tian was originally Deputy General under your grandfather General Xie. General Xie once saved his life on the battlefield, so he knows the actual situation in the Northern Territory well. Except for daily living expenses, he spends all his salary buying medicine, food, and clothing to send to the Northern Territory. That's why he's so poor!]
Shen Mingzhu immediately felt deep respect. Sorry, General Tian, this junior spoke too loudly earlier!
The Jingyuan Emperor's frown deepened as he listened.
Although provisions for garrison troops across various regions weren't abundant, they shouldn't be this scarce?
What exactly was happening?
[Gua Gua, is the emperor's provision short by this much?]
[Host, your grandfather General Xie treats his soldiers like his own children. Some disabled soldiers who retired from the battlefield have no means to make a living, so General Xie always subsidizes them with his own salary, giving them food and other supplies. He especially supports the orphaned children of fallen soldiers.]
[General Tian does the same – most supplies he sends go to the orphans of sacrificed soldiers!]
[Gua Gua, my grandfather is so great! General Tian is remarkable too!]
All military generals: General Xie deserves our respect!
We should learn from General Tian!
Jingyuan Emperor: So that's how it is.
After hearing this, the System continued.
[That's why, Host, the Northern Territory is now impregnable! With your grandfather General Xie there, the Hu people don't dare cause trouble!]
[Hehe My grandfather is truly amazing!]
[By the way Gua Gua, you just said the court provisions for my grandfather are insufficient – why? Does the court not trust my grandfather?]
The Jingyuan Emperor's eyes widened in shock.
Shen Changyuan: My life is over!
Just as Shen Changyuan was about to step forward and kneel to beg for punishment, Minister Su immediately grabbed his arms and whispered, "Let's hear more first."
[Host, what are you thinking! Do you think the Jingyuan Emperor doesn't want the country to be prosperous and strong, with contented people?]
"Even the landlord's household has no surplus grain! So every year, your grandmother Lady Wu had to withdraw large sums from the trading company to support the Northern Territory, otherwise they would have starved long ago!"
"Gua Gua, my grandmother is also so wonderful!"
System: …Watch me roll my eyes sky-high.
"Host, every great general has their own grain supply channels. Otherwise, they couldn't survive on just the limited provisions distributed by the imperial court."
At this moment, the Jingyuan Emperor's face couldn't hide his embarrassment.
"Ahem, ahem…"
"Gua Gua, doesn't the Great Yan Dynasty have sweet potatoes? Sweet potatoes yield dozens of dan per mu, and the key is they're easy to grow, easy to store, easy to fill stomachs, and most importantly—delicious!"
Instantly, everyone in the grand hall stared wide-eyed!