"Come, I had them prepare a whole table of your favorite dishes. Let's eat first."
Madam Shen pulled Shen Yuxi into the residence.
Minister Shen and the other two shook their heads and followed helplessly.
In the Shen family, their little sister was always at the top of the food chain.
Not only were Shen Shiyan and Shen Tinglan not jealous, they also helped take care of Shen Yuxi.
Their little sister was sweet and adorable. They could hardly dote on her enough, so why would they compete with her for affection?
"Eat more meat."
Shen Yuxi's mouth was stuffed full, her cheeks bulging like a little hamster's.
Madam Shen and the others were entirely occupied with putting food on her plate.
Their gazes were filled with indulgent affection as they looked at Shen Yuxi.
"Miss, you're finally back!"
Overcome with excitement, Liuying threw herself forward, her eyes swimming with tears, ready for a reunion hug that would move heaven and earth.
As though she had expected it, Shen Yuxi lightly stepped aside.
Liuying lunged at empty air and nearly fell flat on her face.
"Miss..."
Sniffling, she said, "Please take me wherever you go from now on, won't you? I've been worried to death all these days you were in Qingzhou."
Without her there to attend to her, how would her young lady know how to look after herself?
She had been born into the household and had served at her young lady's side since childhood.
Wherever her young lady went, she went. They had never been apart.
"Good Liuying, don't cry, don't cry. I'll take you wherever I go from now on."
Shen Yuxi gently stroked Liuying's head and said softly, "The trip to Qingzhou was dangerous. The fewer people who went, the better. Besides, I went there on serious business, not for fun."
"As long as I'm with you, Miss, I'm not afraid to climb mountains of blades or plunge into seas of fire." Liuying's eyes were red.
"Yes, yes, Liuying is the best."
That evening, after washing up, she lay in bed, surrounded by familiar furnishings and a familiar atmosphere.
At last, it all felt real to Shen Yuxi.
She closed her eyes and slowly let out a breath.
Phew-
A golden nest or a silver nest was no match for one's own little doghouse.
Then she thought of Eunuch Yang's visit to the Shen residence.
Shen Yuxi grabbed the brocade quilt and kneaded it fiercely a couple of times, her cheeks puffing out like an angry pufferfish.
[That slave driver of an emperor! I worked so hard coming back from Qingzhou after catching a hugely corrupt official for him. Does he think I had it easy?]
[It's bad enough he won't give me time off, but he's actually demanding I attend court on time tomorrow.]
[Damn capita... no, damn imperial rule!]
[Host, look on the bright side!]
The system said cheerfully, [You've rendered such a great service this time. The emperor is sure to reward your contributions. Why worry about not getting time off?]
[Sigh...]
Life was hard; the beast of burden sighed.
"Achoo-"
Still awake late at night, Emperor Xuanzhao was working hard at reviewing memorials when he sneezed without warning.
Alarmed, Eunuch Yang hurriedly had the windows shut tight and ordered the palace servants to bring a bowl of ginger soup.
"Your Majesty, the night is late and the dew is heavy. Though the weather has warmed up, you must still take care of your health. It's getting late. Shall I help you retire?"
"No need."
Emperor Xuanzhao rubbed his nose unconcernedly.
Then, as something occurred to him, he suddenly chuckled.
"Perhaps Shen Yuxi is cursing me behind my back."
It hardly took a guess. He had specifically sent Eunuch Yang to the Shen residence to remind the girl to attend court on time tomorrow.
There was no way that girl Shen Yuxi would be happy about it.
Eunuch Yang knew Emperor Xuanzhao well enough to know that he would never be angry with Lord Little Shen.
He said with a smile, "Lord Little Shen is innocent and lively. At most, she might grumble about you a little. She would never dare curse you."
Lord Little Shen cherished that little life of hers very much.
"Then you don't know that girl well enough."
Emperor Xuanzhao looked up at the sky outside. It was nearly midnight.
Then he looked at the memorials, only half of which he had reviewed.
An inexplicable fit of willfulness rose in his heart.
Hmph. ╭(╯^╰)╮
I'm not reviewing any more.
He swept his sleeve and rose. "Send all these memorials to the fourth prince's residence..."
"Never mind."
Thinking of how troublesome it would be to send the memorials out of the palace, Emperor Xuanzhao changed his mind.
"Remember to stop my fourth son after court tomorrow."
"Oh, and the crown prince too."
Emperor Xuanzhao was not one to make himself suffer.
Better for everyone to toil than for him to toil alone.
What were sons for? If he did not put them to use now, when would he?
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Eunuch Yang silently grumbled: The crown prince will obediently comply, but the fourth prince might not.
The fourth prince was not the heir apparent. By the rules, he was not qualified to handle affairs of state on the sovereign's behalf.
In previous years, the fourth prince had been away fighting wars and expanding the Mo Kingdom's territory, with no opportunity to involve himself in court affairs.
Intimidated by the fourth prince and the invincible Mo Family Army, the neighboring countries had maintained a superficial peace with the Mo Kingdom.
Only now had the fourth prince returned and decided to settle down in the capital.
Yet the emperor had begun granting the fourth prince authority, whether deliberately or otherwise. Unfortunately, the fourth prince's mind was nowhere near the court.
Sigh...
Eunuch Yang looked toward Emperor Xuanzhao, who lay in bed, stroking the paired-love jade pendant with lingering attachment.
The paired-love jade pendant was a memento left by the late empress.
The emperor had moved all the late empress's possessions to the Palace of Heavenly Purity. At least half the ornaments there had come from her chambers.
The officials said nothing openly, but which of them did not privately try to fathom the emperor's thoughts?
Everyone was guessing who would eventually receive the throne.
Clearly, the emperor doted most on the fourth prince, yet he had reserved the position of crown prince for the eldest prince.
An emperor's heart was a needle at the bottom of the sea. Though His Majesty remained in good health, the undercurrents of imperial succession had never ceased.
Each sovereign brought his own ministers.
One wrong step, and the entire game would be lost.
Terrified of joining the wrong faction and betting on the wrong man, the ministers could only keep trying to fathom the emperor's heart and prepare before the rains came.
Only Eunuch Yang, an old servant who had spent years at the emperor's side, could glimpse some of his thoughts.
The crown prince had always been nothing but a target the emperor had erected to protect the fourth prince.
The emperor wanted only the son born to him and the woman he loved most to ascend the throne and become the most exalted person in the world.
Had the fourth prince not spent those years away campaigning, how could the position of heir apparent have fallen to the eldest prince?
With both the court and the harem eyeing the position of heir apparent, the emperor had been forced to appoint a crown prince for the time being, both to keep the court stable and to protect the fourth prince.
In the years around the late empress's death, the relationship between the fourth prince and the emperor had sunk to the freezing point.
Still a youth, the fourth prince had lost heart and resolutely left for the military camp despite the emperor's attempts to stop him.
Without relying on his status or position, he had founded the Mo Family Army through his own abilities and won the wholehearted respect of the generals under his command.
That same year, the Zhou Kingdom had launched a massive invasion. The Mo Kingdom had retreated defeat after defeat, losing several cities.
The fourth prince had merely left behind the casual words, "The Zhou Kingdom will be taken," before leading the Mo Family Army to the front.
The emperor had been heartbroken, worried, and anxious, yet he could do nothing about the fourth prince, the only child the late empress had left him.
In the end, the fourth prince had lived up to everyone's hopes, winning his first battle beautifully and leaving the Zhou Kingdom powerless to resist.
Seeing the situation turn against him, the Zhou Kingdom's emperor had submitted a document of surrender, willingly offering his allegiance to the Mo Kingdom.
But the fourth prince had given the Zhou Kingdom's emperor no chance to beg for mercy. He had attacked in one sweep, lifted the emperor's head on his sword, and hung it upon the city wall.
It had baked in the sun for seven days and seven nights.
That battle had not only displayed the Mo Kingdom's might but also made the name Mo Xuanchen famous throughout the kingdoms.
At the mention of him, people could not help thinking of that youth, decisive in slaughter and ruthless in his actions.
Though he still possessed a trace of youthful immaturity, he had already revealed an edge sharp enough to cleave heaven and earth, quietly planting seeds of fear in their hearts.