“Running—go!”
The moment Feng Zexuan spoke, the entire field fell into dead silence.
On the ridgeline, the officials stood frozen in place. Their eyes wandered everywhere—some studying their boots intently, others pretending to adjust their belts.
Not a single person moved.
Feng Zexuan raised a brow.
【Oh? So now you’re doing passive resistance?】
【Looks like yesterday’s cane lesson wasn’t painful enough.】
Just as she was about to flare up, someone finally stepped forward.
It was Lin Zhengyan.
He cleared his throat slowly and pointed at his official boots, looking helpless.
“Your Highness, this old minister is not slacking.”
“You see these boots—bronze studs, cloud embroidery, thick soles. They weigh at least three to four catties.”
“Running in these is no different from tying iron weights to your feet.”
He lifted his foot to show them off.
The boots were heavily reinforced, studded with bronze nails and layered embroidery—just looking at them made their weight obvious.
“If I twist my ankle, it would delay future reform efforts. Wouldn’t that be counterproductive?”
Others immediately echoed him.
“Yes, yes! This old body really can’t run anymore!”
“Your Highness, could you be a bit more flexible?”
“Maybe we can just walk instead? Walking is also exercise!”
Then Lu Wenbin did something even more dramatic—he sat down on the ground, took off his boots, and held them up high.
“Your Highness, look! There are three layers of felt inside these boots—at least five catties in total!”
“I can barely walk in them, let alone run!”
One excuse after another erupted like a flood.
Feng Zexuan glanced at the group of sly old foxes.
But she didn’t get angry.
Instead, she smiled.
【Oh ho, quite good at making excuses.】
【But fair point… running in those things really could cause injury.】
【If someone actually breaks a leg or arm, won’t my farm turn into a nursing home?】
She snapped her fingers.
【Heh, you think you’ve found a loophole?】
【Too naïve!】
“Liu San, Liu Si—bring paper and brush.”
Liu San and Liu Si immediately stepped forward with paper and pens.
“Come, come, everyone report your shoe sizes.”
Liu Si added thoughtfully, “Length and width both. If left and right feet differ, specify clearly.”
The officials exchanged confused looks.
“What… what is this for?”
“Is Your Highness planning to make new boots for us?”
Under the watchful gaze of the scarecrow overseers, they reluctantly complied.
“Mine is nine cun and three fen long.”
Lin Zhengyan spoke first.
“My foot is slightly wider—nine cun and five fen long, three cun wide,” said Chu Heng.
Soon, attendants measured the slightly dazed Xiao Mingrui.
“The Third Prince’s foot… eight cun and eight fen.”
Xiao Mingrui snapped back to attention, face darkening.
“My feet are not small.”
He shot a cold glare.
“One more nonsense word, and you’ll lose your tongue.”
【Oh? Embarrassed already?】
【So what if your feet are a bit small? Is that really a big deal?】
The system chimed in.
【Host, in ancient times men valued being ‘upright and towering.’ Big feet meant stability and strength!】
【Small feet? People would laugh and say you can’t even stand firm—meaning you’re useless!】
【Hahaha, so that hit a nerve!】
Soon, all measurements were recorded.
In less than fifteen minutes, over a hundred sets of data were collected.
Feng Zexuan scanned the list and activated her system shop.
【Ding! Exchanged: 120 pairs of sneakers, cost: 12,000 points!】
【Host, I picked the best quality for you.】
She grinned.
【Time to let them experience what true ‘cloud-like cushioning’ feels like!】
【Once they wear them, they won’t want to take them off!】
Instantly, a huge pile of strange, colorful shoes appeared on the ground.
Soft fabric uppers, thick elastic soles, and white laces.
Even more bizarre—some had strange logos printed on them:
“Nike”, “Adidas”, “Anta”, “Li-Ning”…
The officials gathered around in shock.
Lin Zhengyan crouched down and picked up a black sneaker, frowning.
“This sole… why is it so thick?”
Chu Heng poked it.
“It’s elastic? What material is this?”
Lu Wenbin lifted one up and examined it closely.
“What do these symbols mean? Which country’s writing is this?”
At the back, Xiao Juechen stood watching.
The phrase “cloud-like cushioning” echoed in his mind.
His carefully maintained “dominant emperor aura” nearly cracked.
What does that even mean?
Step on… something like poop?
His expression stiffened slightly.
But curiosity still won over imperial dignity.
He stepped forward and picked a pure white pair with a black swoosh.
He removed his dragon boots, revealing white socks, then slipped his feet into the sneakers.
The moment his feet sank into the insole—
A wave of elastic cushioning surged upward.
He froze.
This feeling…
Like stepping onto freshly steamed buns—soft, yet resilient.
He stood up and took a few cautious steps.
Light. Incredibly light.
He even started jogging lightly.
The shock absorption made every landing feel effortless.
He sped up, then ran a few laps without realizing it.
【Hahahaha, look at his face!】
【Like a kid who just got a new toy!】
【Wait until they get used to this… then go back to official boots…】
【Heh. That reaction will be priceless.】
Xiao Juechen heard the thoughts and paused slightly.
But he quickly regained composure and continued testing the shoes expressionlessly.
Seeing even the emperor “give in,” the others no longer hesitated.
Chaos erupted as officials scrambled to change shoes.
Lu Wenbin tied his laces into a knot so tight he panicked.
Cheng Ying shoved his laces into his shoes and didn’t care anymore.
Xiao Mingrui even put his shoes on backwards without noticing.
Liu San and Liu Si ran through the crowd teaching them how to tie laces.
In less than half a quarter hour, everyone had their new shoes on.
They all tested their steps.
Lin Zhengyan frowned thoughtfully.
Chu Heng jumped a few times, clearly surprised.
Then suddenly sprinted along the ridgeline.
“This shoe… something is strange!”
He panted as he stopped.
“I actually run faster than before!”
Cheng Ying got even more excited, sprinting like a gust of wind.
“Hahaha! These shoes are amazing!”
“More comfortable than my battle boots!”
Feng Zexuan looked at the fully converted crowd.
She raised her whip and pointed toward the fields.
“Good. Since the shoes fit, we begin morning exercise.”
“Three laps around the farm. Generals in front, civil officials behind.”
“Finish the run before breakfast!”
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