The wives of the concubines are empresses

Shangguan Wanjun left, leaving the two of them staring at each other.

"Princess Li, what should we do?"

"Cold dish." Concubine Lu Liu Haiming stood up and left.

Xuanpin Song Xuanyi was anxious: "Where are you going?"

Concubine Lu said without turning her head: "I am familiar with official business."

Upon hearing this, Concubine Xuan Song Xuanyi accepted her fate and stood up to follow.

"Wait for me."

A distinguished guest arrived at the residence of Grand Tutor Yun.

Taifu Yun and his family respectfully welcomed the emperor: "Your Majesty, long live the emperor."

"No need for formalities." Shangguan Wanjun bent down and helped Master Yun up.

"Teacher, please get up. Sorry to bother you today."

Taifu Yun bowed and said, "Your Majesty, you are joking. Please come in!"

In the main hall, Shangguan Wanjun sat in the main seat.

Seeing that Taifu Yun was about to sit down, Shangguan Wanjun hurriedly stopped him.

"Teacher, come and sit down."

"I dare not." Wouldn't that mean I am on an equal footing with the emperor, which is really inappropriate.

"Teacher, I came here suddenly, how can I let the head of your family sit at the head?"

Seeing that Master Yun still refused, Shangguan Wanjun pretended to be angry.

"Teacher, are you looking down on me?"

Grand Tutor Yun was terrified: "I dare not."

"That's all, Xiao Chengzi, quickly help the teacher come over and sit down."

Master Yun sat down nervously, feeling as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

"Teacher, could you please introduce your family?"

Taifu Yun sat down and saluted: "This is my first wife, Yun Liu."

Shangguan Wanjun looked at the wife of the Grand Tutor who was paying her respects. She was a gentle, quiet and dignified woman, about forty or fifty years old.

"Your Majesty, your servant has greeted you."

Shangguan Wanjun stood up and performed a standard student salute.

"The student has met the teacher's wife."

Seeing the emperor bowing to his wife/mother, everyone stood up, eyes full of disbelief.

The wife of the Grand Tutor did not expect the Emperor to do this and stood there in a daze for a moment.

"My wife is terrified."

Shangguan Wanjun sneered, "Master's wife, you are too polite. I am the Taifu's student, so I respectfully call you Master's wife. It is well deserved."

In order to change the subject, Shangguan Wanjun looked at several men.

"Teacher, these two young masters must be your beloved sons."

The two young masters bowed in unison, "Your Majesty, I greet you."

At this time, Taifu Yun spoke up: "Your Majesty, these two are indeed your sons, and both have entered the court as officials."

Shangguan Wanjun became interested: "Which department?"

Master Yun looked at his two sons and nodded slightly to them.

The eldest son, Yun Yangfei, bowed and said, "I serve as a Langzhong in the Military Selection and Clean Personnel Division of the Ministry of War, a fifth-rank official."

Shangguan Wanjun felt puzzled. The eldest son of the Grand Tutor was only holding a fifth-rank official position in the Ministry of War. Was there something fishy about this?

The second eldest son, Yun Yangfan, bowed and said, "I hold the position of Chief Clerk of the Chancellery Office, a rank of seventh."

Shangguan Wanjun was puzzled and was not impressed by this department.

"I remember this is a department set up specifically for the Crown Prince, right?"

Taifu Yun nodded slightly. "Indeed, there was no crown prince during the previous emperor's time, and the Chancellery has been a sinecure until now."

Shangguan Wanjun understood. To put it bluntly, a sinecure meant not much to do, especially for the past twenty years or so. Now that she had just ascended the throne, the matter of the Crown Prince would probably take many years to resolve.

She has to see the other person's real talents and if possible, she must make use of him and not waste the salary of such a talented person.

"Since that's the case, I'll test you. Lord Yun, please tell me about the situation I'm facing right now."

Yun Yangfan looked at his father, and Shangguan Wanjun asked.

"Just wait for my answer." The implication is that she only wants to listen to you and doesn't want to have any concerns.

Yun Yangfan took a deep breath and exhaled: "Your Majesty is facing a situation of internal and external troubles."

"How are we dealing with internal and external troubles?" Of course she knew that she was facing internal and external troubles, but she wanted to hear something more specific.

Taifu Yun also understood what the emperor meant and nodded cautiously to the second son, meaning that he had to give a serious reply.

"Internally, officials are corrupt and ineffective, leaving the treasury empty for years. Externally, foreign tribes frequently harass the border, leaving our people living in dire straits and our soldiers often without enough food and clothing."

The emperor's actions since he ascended the throne allowed him to see the future of the Yuan Dynasty.

Shangguan Wanjun pondered in silence, with one hand on the coffee table, as if she was thinking seriously.

"You're right. It's even worse than what you said."

Everyone was surprised by what the emperor said, it turned out that the emperor understood everything.

"The mess my father left me is truly terrible. Haha, there's no money, no people. To put it bluntly, it's just an empty shell."

Taifu Yun understood the emperor's situation and felt the same way.

"Your Majesty, it is our incompetence that has put Your Majesty in such a dilemma."

Shangguan Wanjun shook her head: "Teacher has tried her best, you have done well enough."

Shangguan Wanjun suddenly stood up, walked under the eaves, looked up at the blue sky above, and muttered to herself.

"What our ancestors said is true: defending the country is even more difficult than conquering it."

Taifu Yun, Yun Yangfei, and Yun Yangfan looked at each other and agreed with the emperor's words.

Shangguan Wanjun turned around and looked at everyone with a slight smile.

"My dear ministers, do you think I can manage this country well?"

Taifu Yun bowed solemnly and said, "Your Majesty is also working hard. I will continue to assist Your Majesty until my death."

The brothers Yun Yangfei and Yun Yangfan also expressed their loyalty.

"As long as the emperor is still the emperor, I will never refuse to die." As long as the emperor continues to serve the people as always, they will serve him for the rest of their lives.

"I will do my utmost to assist the Emperor and relieve his worries. Unfortunately, my position is low, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help."

Shangguan Wanjun suddenly smiled, like the bright sun, shining into the hearts of everyone present.

"What does it matter if your position is low? The world is so big, there will always be something suitable for you."

During the quarter of an hour or two in Master Yun's mansion, Shangguan Wanjun saw a lot of things and felt that the trip was worthwhile.

Everyone sat together in the Yun family's dining hall.

Shangguan Wanjun offered a cup of tea to Taifu Yun: "Teacher, you have worked hard during this period. I offer you a cup of tea instead of wine. I hope you will take care of your health and provide more assistance in the future."

Taifu Yun was deeply moved. "I will take good care of myself and help Your Majesty with your worries. Your Majesty, please also take good care of yourself and give birth to a prince for our dynasty in the future. I look forward to teaching him and his grandson."

Shangguan Wanjun smiled with emotion: "Okay, you agreed, you can't go back on your word. I'll do it, teacher, please do as you please."

After drinking a glass of wine in one gulp, Master Yun felt a great sense of responsibility.

Madam Taifu looked at the dishes on the table and smiled at the emperor.

"Your Majesty, please try this white-cut chicken, it's a delicious home-cooked dish."

"Yes, Master's wife."

There was a happy atmosphere at the dinner table. After eating and drinking their fill, Shangguan Wanjun and Taifu Yun and others went into the study to discuss things.

"Your Majesty, I heard that you went on a private patrol today?"

"Correct."

"Did anything happen?"

"I have demoted Zuo Fengyi, the prefect of Jingzhao, to the level of a commoner and have confiscated his property as a punishment."

The three were shocked that the emperor had done such a big thing when he left the palace today.

Taifu Yun frowned, "Your Majesty, didn't the Jingzhao Yin just step down? I'm afraid this will have an impact."

Shangguan Wanjun waved her hand: "Don't worry, I have arranged for Concubine Lu and Concubine Xuan to temporarily take over the two positions. Let them practice and supervise each other and the Jingzhao Yin staff."

Master Yun was stunned. He was not very familiar with the concubines in the emperor's harem.

"Who are Concubine Lu and Concubine Xuan?"

Yun Yangfei and Yun Yangfan also looked at the emperor.