A farmer's daughter who traveled through time: Marrying a sickly man

In the study, after Shen Hui left, Xia Tian was not in a hurry to return to Jinglan Garden.

Shen Nian told her what he had been busy with in the past two days.

It turned out that he had been sending people to collect evidence that Liu had poisoned him and sent people to hunt him down.

Both of them felt that if they wanted to completely bring down Liu, they had to start from her natal family, the Lingxiu Marquis' Mansion. Otherwise, even if there was sufficient evidence, the matter would eventually become a small one.

Xia Tian also reminded Shen Nian to be careful about safety when collecting evidence, including Mu Lin and others.

There is a saying that goes, "It is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge." I have endured it for four years, so I don't mind enduring it for a few more years.

Moreover, now that Liu knows that Shen Nian’s poison has been completely cured, it is hard to say whether he will come up with other malicious tricks in the future.

To be on the safe side, she asked Shen Nian to take out a water bag, fill it with diluted spiritual spring water, and put it in the carriage for emergency use.

Both of them knew Xia Tian's secret, but neither of them took the initiative to reveal it.

In order to thank Xia Tian, Shen Nian would give her silver, jewelry and other things from time to time. Whether there was any personal feelings involved, only Shen Nian herself knew.

But this is all for later.

At this time, after Shen Nian finished telling Xia Tian about his busy work, he started talking about another thing.

"The Emperor summoned me to an audience tomorrow morning."

"Your Majesty?" Xia Tian asked curiously with his eyes wide open.

"Yes, I used to be the emperor's study companion." Shen Nian nodded.

He started studying with the current emperor, the former crown prince, at the age of six until he was sixteen, a full ten years.

The current emperor is only two years older than Shen Nian. When the previous emperor died, the emperor was only eighteen years old. After he was poisoned, he rarely saw the emperor again.

Xia Tian was really surprised. She didn't expect that Shen Nian had such a relationship with the emperor!

"Then do you know why he summoned you?" Xia Tian was a little confused. Shen Nian didn't hold any official position. Could it be that the emperor was simply nostalgic?

"I don't know." Shen Nian shook his head. He would know after he went there tomorrow.

Xia Tian thought that there was no point in worrying now. He would know the situation when Shen Nian came back tomorrow, so he put the matter aside.

The two talked for a while, and Ningyue came over to say that dinner was ready, and then they got up and went to the main hall to eat.

After dinner, Xia Tian found two books in Shen Nian’s study, and then took Ningxiang and Ningxue back to Jinglan Garden.

Silent all night.

The next morning, in the palace.

After the morning court session, the emperor summoned Shen Nian to the imperial study.

"Your humble servant pays homage to the emperor. Long live the emperor!" Shen Nian knelt down and paid his respects.

"No need to be so polite. Chu Xuan, I heard that you have fully recovered now, right?" the emperor asked with concern.

Chu Xuan is Shen Nian's courtesy name.

"Back to the Emperor, yes!"

"I also heard that you brought back a peasant girl to be your prince's wife?" The emperor continued to be curious.

"Your Majesty, yes." Shen Nian said seriously.

"I'm telling you, don't be so restrained, just be like before." The emperor walked over from behind the imperial desk and stood in front of Shen Nian.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Shen Nian lowered his head and looked pleasing.

"Are you really going to marry that girl as the prince's wife?" The emperor asked again with curiosity. What kind of girl was it that made the prince of Wu'an Marquis's mansion, who was outstanding in appearance and talent, choose her over many other famous noble ladies?

"Yes!" Shen Nian's tone remained firm.

"Okay, I was thinking of asking you if there is a noble lady in the capital that you like, so that I can arrange a marriage for you. But now it seems that I can't match you up randomly." The emperor said with a bit of regret.

These past two days, the Queen had been mentioning her niece to him intentionally or unintentionally, and he had been thinking of becoming a matchmaker.

Since Shen Nian already has someone he likes, he won't mention it.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Shen Nian raised his eyes slightly and thanked him sincerely.

"When you have the chance, you can bring your wife to the palace to pay her respects to the empress dowager." The emperor patted Shen Nian's shoulder.

"Yes, Your Majesty." He knew that the emperor was giving him face!

"Let's get down to business. Now that you're well, you can help me." The emperor thought for a moment, "Then you can go to the Ministry of War and become a doctor in the Imperial Chariot Department. It's a fifth-rank position. Are you willing?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I will do my best." Shen Nian knelt on one knee and kowtowed to the emperor. He didn't expect that the emperor would directly arrange an official position for him, and it was a fifth-rank official.

"I know that with your talents, being a doctor in the Ministry of War is a bit of an understatement, but since you are a graduate of the imperial examination system, you must be capable of more than that. Work hard first, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to display your talents in the future." The emperor explained with a smile.

Shen Nian bowed to thank the emperor again, "Your humble servant knows that it is Your Majesty who has promoted you. I thank Your Majesty for the promotion."

How could he not know that it was the emperor who favored him? He passed the imperial examination and became an official at the age of sixteen. His future was bright, but later he had to give up his position because he was poisoned.

Unexpectedly, four years later, the emperor still remembered him and directly arranged a fifth-rank military doctor position for him. He will remember the emperor's kindness.

After the emperor finished his business, he pulled Shen Nian to play chess with him.

The servant father-in-law set up the chessboard, and the two sat opposite each other, chatting while playing chess.

"Do you know? When you were away seeking medical help for half a year, your father, Marquis Wu'an, asked Liu's son Shen Ke to take the throne of Crown Prince. But I suppressed it and did not agree."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for protecting me." Shen Nian narrowed his eyes slightly. This was all within his expectations. With that woman Liu around, his father was no longer his father.

"Well, I just want you to know about this matter. Just keep it in mind." Having grown up in an environment full of intrigue, they naturally understand the situation.

After the emperor finished speaking, the two men began to play chess intently.

When Shen Nian returned from the palace, Xia Tian was preparing to have lunch.

"Huh? You're back just now, Brother Shen?" Didn't you go to the palace to see the emperor? Why are you back so early?

"Ah."

"Have you eaten yet? If not, let's eat something together?"

"Okay." Shen Nian sat down next to the dining table.

"Ningxiang, get a set of bowls and chopsticks for your young master." Xia Tian looked like he hadn't eaten yet.

Ningxiang quickly put the dishes and chopsticks on the table. Xia Tian picked up the bowl and filled it with soup, then placed it in front of Shen Nian. "Brother Shen, have a bowl of soup to warm yourself up first."

Shen Nian picked up the bowl with a smile.

Xia Tian saw that Shen Nian seemed to be in a good mood. Could there be some good news?

"Brother Shen, why did the emperor want to see you in the palace today?" She was a little curious.

"The Emperor has assigned me a job as a doctor in the Ministry of War."

"Oh, what does a Langzhong of the Ministry of War do? What rank is he?" Xia Tian's knowledge of this kind of official position in ancient times basically came from film and television dramas. He only knew that the highest official in the six ministries was the Shangshu, and he didn't really know anything about the others.

"I'm a doctor in charge of the Chariot Department of the Ministry of War. I'm a fifth-rank official. I'm mainly responsible for horse management, vehicles and other war supplies, as well as the preparation of the ceremonial carriage for the emperor's travels." Shen Nian patiently explained to Xia Tian what he was mainly responsible for.

"Fifth rank? That's not small!" Xia Tian was quite surprised. He didn't expect Shen Nian to become a fifth rank official directly. Generally, Jinshi who entered the officialdom through the imperial examination were assigned to positions of sixth or seventh rank, right? In this case, fifth rank should be quite large.

"Then let's celebrate. So, I will cook for Brother Shen myself in the evening." Xia Tian said happily.

"Okay." Shen Nian's eyebrows softened a lot.