Host, don't worry! The Empress Dowager was just momentarily angered; she's perfectly fine now! She's already smashed up the small Buddhist hall in the Cining Palace, hired geishas to perform, and is happily enjoying the fruits offered as tribute from below.
Haha, Guagua, the Empress Dowager really knows how to enjoy life!
Host, the Empress Dowager, has struggled her whole life, and now that her son has finally become emperor, she should enjoy herself to the fullest.
Empress Dowager: No matter how difficult life was before, it's better now.
What's wrong with me watching a song and dance performance?
Even if I were to keep a male concubine now, nobody would care!
Shen Mingzhu: Good, good, good! Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, is so majestic and powerful.
Empress Lin: Mother, Mother's mind has been liberated.
Emperor Jingyuan: ...
Cough cough cough...
Mother, your son will ensure you enjoy your later years in peace.
Prince An: How could Empress Dowager have such thoughts?
Oh, actually, it's not impossible!
All the officials: We heard nothing, we heard nothing!
Prince: Imperial grandmother...
Guagua, do you think, besides the Empress Dowager, which other matriarch in Shengjing City lives such a comfortable life?
Host, quite a few! For example, the Lin family, the Zhou family, the Ye family... In fact, most of the matriarchs of wealthy families live very comfortably. They're quite old, have seen all sorts of storms, and are very insightful!
Really? Guagua, I feel like my grandma is just so-so!
Sigh... Host, that's an exception! But your father has already discussed it with your grandmother. After your eldest brother takes the palace examination and the family holds a banquet, the second branch of the family will be separated.
Oh, does Second Uncle know?
I know a little bit, but Wang said she would try her best to get him as much money and land as possible.
Oh, I wonder what my dad was thinking?
Shen Changyuan: What was I thinking?
I definitely don't want to give anything!
However, considering his elderly mother's advanced age, he would still give Shen Changshan a sum of money, and his future development would depend on himself!
All the officials in the court: Every family has its own troubles.
Host, don't worry, your father knows what he's doing and has already planned everything out! He won't suffer any losses.
[That's good! ! ! ]
Host, I have some fresh news for you.
[explain. ]
Host, don't be so serious!
[Speak quickly!]
Host, just now, your second uncle and aunt secretly met with Shen Jiaojiao and successfully reunited as family!
[oh? ]
All the officials and civil and military officials turned to look at Yan Yunxuan.
As the concubine of the Second Prince Yan Yunxuan, did Shen Jiaojiao do this with his permission?
He actually wants to win over the Marquis's mansion.
That's impossible!
The eldest daughter of the Marquis's family, Shen Mingzhu, has been betrothed to Crown Prince Yan Beichen. With the display of her extraordinary abilities, she is extremely favoured not only in the Marquis's family but also throughout the entire capital.
Suddenly, everyone overlooked a problem.
The lag in information delivery.
Could it be that the Second Prince is actually...?
The entire court felt they had discovered a major secret.
Minister of Rites Su Qingshan felt helpless, a deep sense of powerlessness spreading through his body.
He has been contemplating whether or not to retire and return to his hometown.
Is retiring and returning to one's hometown even useful?
Thinking of his daughter, Consort Li, in the harem, then looking at his grandson, Yan Yunxuan, and finally at his eldest son, Su Huaijin, who held considerable military power, it seemed he had no way out.
Once you're in the imperial court, there's no turning back.
At this moment, Shen Mingzhu's inner voice came again.
Guagua, they didn't do anything, did they?
Host, nothing much! Your nominal cousin, Shen Qingyan, just went out on a medical mission with Shen Jiaojiao and Zhou Hanchuan.
Oh, off to do a good deed!
Yes, host. The temperature has dropped recently, and many people have caught colds. They've brewed medicinal soup to relieve the colds and are distributing it in the suburbs.
[ Ohoh! ]
Host, your second sister-in-law is also busy with this! She's even getting medicine for the people based on their health conditions, but of course, there's a daily limit of 50 people, and everyone's scrambling for a spot!
It seems that everyone's free clinics have been very effective recently.
The necessary host was found; the medical consultation was a great success!
Emperor Jingyuan nodded approvingly; Shen Jiaojiao had finally done something good.
Regardless of her initial motives, the people did indeed benefit.
Su Qingshan was very satisfied with Shen Jiaojiao's actions.
They finally managed to salvage some of their reputation.
Excellent!
The Second Prince Yan Yunxuan recently noticed that all the officials in the court were acting mysteriously, especially his Uncle An, who always seemed to exude an eerie aura.
Of course, there's also Shen Mingzhu. She's been hiding in the back row, quite pleased with herself, not knowing why his father summoned her to court.
And then there's the Crown Prince, who was also dissatisfied with Shen Mingzhu before, but now he's clinging to her very much.
He heard he also gifted Shen Mingzhu many rare antiques, including a pure white Akhal-Teke horse...
Oh my, Shen Mingzhu is living a good life now.
That's really surprising.
Host, host, Monk Liaowu is truly formidable; no wonder he's a notorious corrupt official!
Guagua, what's wrong?
Is Abbot Liaowu still causing trouble even in prison?
Host, of course! At first, Liao Wu felt hopeless about his life, but after seeing the prison overflowing with monks from Shengjing and the surrounding areas, he's now inciting everyone to rebel!
The entire court: ...
That's not honest enough!
Crown Prince Yan Beichen: You're being too good to him!
I should have given him a severe beating first!
Prince An: Good, good, good! Finally, I've found a legitimate opportunity to deal with Wu Liao!
You old bald monk, you've really run into trouble!
"Fellow masters, where there is oppression, there is resistance. We have been wronged!"
"We are completely innocent! We demand to see the Emperor!"
"We refuse to accept this!"
"We refuse to accept this!"
"Amitabha Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, the sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore!"
"We want to see His Majesty! We are innocent!!!"
...
A deafening sound echoed throughout the prison...
The officials in the prison saw this and exclaimed, "Oh dear, there's trouble here!"
These officials, who were used to working in the imperial prison, were least afraid of causing trouble.
Without hesitation, he brandished his whip and swung it at them.
Upon seeing this, Abbot Liaowu quickly retreated to the back.
That would surely tear the skin and flesh apart!
There's no food, no water, and no medicine in the prison; a fever could easily kill you.
"Oh, so now you know how to hide?"
"What were you doing before?"
"Pah!!!"