RWNEFE -Chapter 536 I Am Showing Consideration for the Eunuch’s Age

“My lord, the Princess has already retired to rest.”

Shen Congwen had just reached the moon gate when he was stopped.

“It’s only noon—why has the Princess gone to rest already? Is she unwell?” Shen Congwen glanced toward the window.

The old maid replied, “These days the Princess hasn’t been sleeping well. She suffers from nightmares day after day and can only manage short naps during the daytime.”

“So serious? Should we summon an imperial physician?” Leaving other things aside, with the Shen family’s current status, they could summon as many imperial physicians as they wished.

The maid kept a straight face. “There’s no need. The Princess said it’s only a minor matter and must not disturb His Majesty.”

Shen Congwen grew a little annoyed. “She’s ill—it’s not as if she chose to be sick. If His Majesty knew, would she really resent it?”

After hearing this, the maid’s expression softened.

“My lord also knows that ever since giving birth, the Princess’s health has declined day by day. She also suffered greatly in Dongchuan, and her body has never fully recovered. She says nothing only because she doesn’t want you or the children to worry.”

Shen Congwen felt deeply ashamed. He looked at the door for a long moment, a determined expression flashing in his eyes.

“Princess, he has left,” the maid immediately reported after Shen Congwen departed.

Zhou Xinrou had lit heavy incense, and the room was filled with drifting smoke.

“That she can steady the court officials is indeed some ability,” Zhou Xinrou said.

The maid replied, “Before the enthronement ceremony there was bloodshed everywhere. I fear it’s only military suppression—the officials submit outwardly but not in their hearts.”

A trace of scorn appeared in Zhou Xinrou’s eyes. “What man could tolerate a woman firmly occupying the throne? She’s daydreaming.”

The maid added, “This old servant has followed your instructions. Before the extermination, I replaced two imperial grandsons.”

A cold sharpness surfaced in Zhou Xinrou’s eyes. “The descendant of that Violent Prince is no longer of use. Deal with him.”

“Yes,” the maid answered.

…

Wei Dongzhu reported, “Your Majesty, the bloodlines of the four princes’ families have all been verified; nothing was overlooked. The legitimate grandson of Prince Ping, whom the former Empress intended to adopt, has been compared with the portrait in the imperial genealogy and confirmed to be the same person.”

Shen Lanxi was examining a newly fired glass cup.

“Tired?” She poured a cup of tea into the glass and pushed it toward Wei Dongzhu.

“Not tired. Compared to the battlefield, this is much easier,” Wei Dongzhu said, taking a sip.

A flicker passed through Shen Lanxi’s eyes. “At the enthronement ceremony, I did not confer a title upon you. I wanted to ask your opinion first.”

Wei Dongzhu was not dissatisfied. He was already a general and held a noble title; he had only temporarily handed over military command and could not currently lead troops.

Since he would remain in the capital in the future, opportunities to command armies would likely be few.

There are gains and losses—he had long come to terms with it.

“As long as you don’t overthink it,” Shen Lanxi said.

Wei Dongzhu smiled. “Why would I? What I hope for is peace in the realm.” Who enjoys fighting wars every day?

Shen Lanxi took out memorials from Shu and Qianzhou.

“Both regions have already surrendered. I’ve sent people to reorganize the armies, but I’m not satisfied with the local officials there.”

Wei Dongzhu was pleased that Shen Lanxi was discussing state affairs with him.

“Many officials from the recent imperial examinations still haven’t been assigned posts.”

Shen Lanxi shook her head. “I want to send more seasoned people. Those who have just begun their careers should first be posted to peaceful areas to gain experience for a year or two.”

Wei Dongzhu immediately thought of Dongchuan.

“We can select talent from Dongchuan. The northwest as well—those two places are our foundation.”

Shen Lanxi nodded. “We’ll transfer capable officials from lower posts, send them to Shu and Qianzhou for two years of experience, and then we’ll have a reason to bring them into the capital.”

Wei Dongzhu had never considered bringing them into the capital before. Hearing her arrangement, he suddenly felt enlightened.

…

Wang Bao stared at the glass cup left on the table, his heart beating faster.

There had been four glass cups; three had been given to General Wei. What concerned him was not favor or disfavor, but the glass itself.

He still remembered that when the late emperor was alive, he often played with glass orbs. Sometimes he trusted those “objects from beyond the heavens” so much that he even refused to take medicine.

And just now, His Majesty had said they would be produced in large quantities—heavens above…

“Your Majesty, the late emperor passed away not long ago… If large quantities of glass appear on the market… it will be hard to explain the matter of presenting treasures in the past…”

Who would have thought that those golden-shimmering divine objects from beyond the heavens were actually man-made?

If that was true, then the thick thousand-year ginseng His Majesty had once presented, the five-hundred-year lingzhi as large as a parasol, the meter-long century-old cordyceps… were they all fake too?

Wang Bao’s face was full of distress and inner conflict. Did he know too many secrets?

“Have you forgotten, Eunuch? I am now the emperor. The one before was merely the late emperor.”

Wang Bao slapped himself. “Look at this foolish mouth of mine! I’ll punish myself with a few slaps at once!”

Two days later, the capital gazette still carried on its front page the news of Shen Lanxi personally working in the fields to experience the people’s hardships. Beneath that was the announcement that the Ministry of Works had developed a method for firing glass and had already begun mass production—merchants were urged to purchase quickly.

The common people scratched their heads.

Glass… was it the same priceless glass they were thinking of?

A glass cup cost only one tael of silver—were they selling cabbages?

After Shen Lanxi’s enthronement, both officials and commoners turned their attention to the production and price of glass.

A month after ascending the throne, Shen Lanxi finally had time to catch her breath and rest a little.

“Your Majesty, a memorial has arrived from the Shen residence,” Wang Bao said, holding the document.

Shen Lanxi rested with her eyes closed. “Read it.”

Wang Bao opened it. “It’s from Lord Shen Congwen, saying that the Princess is ill.”

“That’s all?”

After checking again, Wang Bao said, “That’s all.”

“Then send several imperial physicians. Mother’s illness is an old one—she worries too much. Sending physicians to talk with her will suffice.”

Over the past month, fifty or sixty people in the palace had been replaced; her mother must surely have had agents among them.

“Will Your Majesty not go to see her?”

Shen Lanxi smiled helplessly. “How would you have me go? In the past three days combined, I have slept less than three hours.”

Wang Bao was so frightened that he immediately knelt.

“This old servant had no intention of overstepping! I am old and muddle-headed—I deserve death for speaking too much!”

Shen Lanxi opened her eyes and looked at Wang Bao, who kept slapping himself. Her gaze was deep and unreadable.

“If Eunuch Wang hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten that you have already reached your fated years. It is my fault—I only thought of your loyalty and did not consider your age.”

Cold sweat instantly covered Wang Bao’s body.

“Shu is a good place for retirement. It so happens I also have matters there that I need you to handle for me,” Shen Lanxi said.

After hearing this, Wang Bao quietly let out a breath.

“This old servant is willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty without hesitation!”

Shen Lanxi replied, “You jest. In my heart, I regard you as family. I do not wish for you to die.”

“You have spent most of your life confined within palace walls. I cannot bear it. I would rather you go, while you still can, to see the famous mountains and great rivers beyond, to see how vast the world is—rather than looking up and seeing only the patch of sky above the palace.”

Wang Bao understood. The tension left his body. Pressing his forehead to the floor, he respectfully accepted the decree.