Especially Shen Changyuan, the Minister of Revenue—his eyes instantly lit up!
He felt the entire family’s lives were saved!
If the Great Yan Dynasty had a crop like sweet potatoes, wouldn’t everyone have enough to eat?!
Do you believe in light?
If Shen Mingzhu had looked up at everyone, she would likely have seen the entire court of civil and military officials glowing like Ultraman, their eyes filled with light!
What Shen Changyuan could imagine, the Jingyuan Emperor and the entire court could also envision.
At this moment, Second Prince Yan Yunxuan felt as if he had lost tens of billions!
That infatuated fool Shen Mingzhu actually knew about such a miraculous thing as sweet potatoes.
If he could obtain it, wouldn’t ascending to a high position be just around the corner?!
Thinking of Shen Mingzhu’s obsession with him, he could easily manipulate her with just a flick of his finger.
What he didn’t know was that this Mingzhu was not the same as the previous one!
Seeing the fervent gaze of the Jingyuan Emperor above, Shen Changyuan glanced at Shen Mingzhu, silently contemplating how to have her present the sweet potatoes to the emperor.
[Gua Gua, don’t you think the hall is unusually quiet?]
With a single glance from the Jingyuan Emperor, Royal Censor Wang immediately stepped forward.
"Your Majesty, I accuse General of Chariots and Cavalry Tian of misconduct in the court, bringing disgrace to propriety."
Tian Xuezhou: Damn that Wang Qianhe! Does he have no shame?!
Upon hearing this, the Jingyuan Emperor declared,
"General of Chariots and Cavalry Tian Xuezhou, for misconduct in the court, is penalized with one month’s salary deduction."
Shen Mingzhu, [Ahhh! General Tian’s salary has been deducted! How will his family get by this month? They’ll run out of food! Madam Tian will have to stay up late embroidering handkerchiefs again!]
[Host, don’t worry. When the time comes, have your beautiful mother visit and bring some rice, flour, oil, vegetables, fruits, and so on. After all, General Tian is Madam Shen’s elder.]
[Yeah, that’s the only way, Gua Gua.]
Many officials looked at General Tian and nodded repeatedly.
Especially the military generals—their gazes toward General Tian had noticeably changed.
General Tian was worthy of their admiration.
[By the way, Host, how are you going to produce the sweet potatoes? You can’t just conjure them out of thin air, right?]
Shen Mingzhu pondered, trying to come up with a particularly plausible excuse to present the sweet potatoes and sweet potato seedlings.
[Gua Gua, my family is a Marquis Estate. We should have fertile fields, manors, and shops, right?]
Hearing this, the System immediately replied proudly,
[Host, you’re underestimating the Changping Marquis Manor! We have thousands of acres of fertile land, countless manors and shops. When General Xie married off his daughter back then, the dowry stretched for ten li, making everyone envious.
Of course, most of this dowry was prepared by your maternal grandmother!
Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, your maternal grandmother, née Wu, was the daughter of a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan. Yet General Xie deeply respected her. Without her support, the Zhenbei Army wouldn’t have lasted until now!]
[So my maternal grandparents achieved success together!]
[Yes, yes, yes! You’re absolutely right, Host!]
Recalling the past, when Grand General of Zhenbei Xie Yan sought to marry Wu Baozhu, the daughter of a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan, he broke the hearts of many noble ladies in the capital.
But only the Zhenbei Army knew how much tangible benefit they had gained from following the General.
General Xie was a man who valued substance!
Moreover, he and Wu Baozhu were deeply in love, raising three sons and a daughter, making others envious.
Life, after all, is built through one’s own efforts.
Thanks to General Xie’s backing, the Jiangnan Wu Clan’s business had flourished over the years, with wealth pouring in steadily.
Of course, the Wu family had also greatly supported the Xie Family Army, donating money, grain, and supplies, contributing significantly every year.
【Ahhh, my maternal grandparents had an arranged marriage that blossomed into love—they're a divinely crafted immortal couple made for each other~】
Jingyuan Emperor: "…"
This emperor only wants to obtain divine objects like sweet potatoes; he has no interest in hearing about your grandparents' immortal romance!
…………
Shen Mingzhu had been standing all morning and felt somewhat tired. Unconsciously, she retreated to lean against a nearby pillar for rest.
【Gua Gua, when will court session end? I'm truly exhausted and hungry!】
【Host, endure a little longer. Can't you see the ministers haven't finished discussing state affairs yet!】
Shen Mingzhu: So arduous—I don't want to attend court anymore!
This is even more miserable than modern-day 996 work culture!
Manchao Wenwu, hearing Shen Mingzhu's complaints, all cooperatively accelerated their discussions.
Shen Changyuan had grown numb to Shen Mingzhu by now. This reckless child actually went to lean against a pillar behind the main hall—who knows whether to call her adept at comfort or audaciously bold!
【Ahhh, when will court dismiss so we can clock out? I still need to attend roll call at the Hanlin Academy, then make a trip to the market to retrieve the sweet potatoes and sweet potato seedlings! After retrieving them, it'll take more time for my beautiful mother to plant them on the estate!】
【It's already August—somewhat late, but the temperature remains favorable. Should be able to plant one season.】
The moment Jingyuan Emperor heard about fetching the sweet potatoes, he immediately shot a look at Wang Defu.
Instantly, the entire hall echoed with Grand Eunuch Wang Defu's shrill voice:
"Those with matters to report, speak now; if none, court is dismissed!"
In a flash, due to Shen Mingzhu's inner thoughts, today's morning court session concluded!
Of course, after the grand assembly ended, Jingyuan Emperor, the Prime Minister, the Six Ministries, and other important ministers still had a minor assembly. Shen Mingzhu wasn't qualified to attend and could only slink back to her current post at the Hanlin Academy.
She still had to attend roll call!
Just like modern fingerprint or facial recognition clock-ins.
Jingyuan Emperor actually valued Shen Mingzhu quite highly—the Hanlin Academy Compiler position, a sixth-rank official post, was one typically granted only to the Number One Scholar of each imperial examination.
Grand Scholar Su Huaiyuan was quite considerate, having prepared a small room next to his office for her, allowing him to communicate with Compiler Shen whenever needed.
After roll call, Shen Mingzhu directly had Shaoyao move all her daily necessities and snacks from the carriage into her room.
Which could also be called her ancient-era office.
As soon as she finished spreading the bedding, Shen Mingzhu lay down directly and fell asleep!
Su Huaiyuan: "…"
Weren't you supposed to go find the sweet potatoes?!
Instead, you're sleeping the day away!
Shaoyao gave an apologetic smile to the various officials, then stationed herself directly outside Shen Mingzhu's door.
Originally, the emperor's unprecedented appointment of a Hanlin Academy Compiler had dropped like a bomb in the academy, sparking intense curiosity.
Everyone planned to properly acquaint themselves today, but lo and behold—she ignored everyone and went straight to sleep.
An elderly man with a white beard pulled Su Huaiyuan aside and whispered:
"Grand Scholar Su, what's the situation? This is our Hanlin Academy Compiler? It's far too frivolous!"
Su Huaiyuan wagged his index finger side to side:
"Wait until Compiler Shen wakes up—then you'll understand His Majesty's intention."
At this moment, Shen Mingzhu remained unaware she had become the Hanlin Academy's "hot topic."
She was currently dreaming of feasting on a full Manchu-Han imperial banquet!
She even smiled in her dream.
When Shen Mingzhu finally woke up, one Hanlin Academy colleague couldn't resist asking:
"Compiler Shen, may I ask what you specialize in?"
Shen Mingzhu looked at the green-robed man before her, rubbed her eyes, and said,
"I excel at eating, drinking, having fun, and sleeping."
The green-robed man: …
All Hanlin Academy colleagues: …
Her response was so carefree!
Utterly disregarding the reactions of those around her!
Su Huaiyuan: … Truly worthy of being the Crown Princess chosen by His Majesty.