The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

"Shen Tianjiao, what nonsense are you talking about?" Xue Yuqin screamed in despair.

"Xue Yuqin, who gave you the right to address me by my first name?" Shen Tianjiao looked at Xue Yuqin with a suddenly fierce look in her eyes. "If you dare to be so arrogant and ignorant again, I don't mind stripping Xue Changxing of his title and making him a commoner without any official title."

As expected, nothing could be more fatal than this sentence. Xue Yuqin instantly became obedient. She whispered, "No, no, you can't strip my father of his title."

"You can't do this, you can't do this, I want to see the emperor, I want to see the emperor."

"Humph!" Shen Tianjiao looked at Xue Yuqin coldly, mocking her naiveté. "You've been in the palace for many years, and you've only seen the Emperor a handful of times. How can you see the Emperor whenever you want?"

"If you really had that ability, you wouldn't have been in the palace for so many years and still be just a concubine."

"For the sake of the late Grand Empress Dowager, I would like to give you a piece of advice: stop making trouble and behave yourself. It will be good for both you and the Xue family."

There are some people in this world who won’t turn back until they hit their heads hard. They are people like Xue Yuqin.

Things have come to this point, she would have just kept quiet and accepted the punishment, but she refused to do so and insisted on arguing and making a fuss.

"You have no right to punish me, nor do you have the right to punish the Xue family." Xue Yuqin stared at Shen Tianjiao with red eyes, and she looked like a madman.

"I'm not qualified?" Shen Tianjiao laughed in anger. "I'm not qualified, then who is? You?"

"I am the head of the Central Palace, the current Empress, and in charge of the six palaces. If any concubine in the harem makes a mistake, I have the right to punish her."

"Besides, I am now acting as regent on behalf of the Emperor. Let alone punishing a single concubine in your harem, even if I were to punish your entire Xue family for this matter, no one would dare to say anything."

"Originally, I wanted to consider the Empress Dowager's face and not revoke your title. I only planned to give you a minor punishment and a serious warning."

"Since you, Xue Yuqin, are so audacious and presumptuous, then I don't need to be soft-hearted. After all, you, Xue Yuqin, don't need my charity, right?"

Shen Tianjiao glanced at Xue Yuqin, who was now pale, and said, "Come here, strip Concubine Fang of her clothes and send her directly to the cold palace."

"The imperial edict stripping you of your title will be issued shortly, along with a confession of guilt. I will have it delivered directly to the Xue family."

How dare you provoke Shen Tianjiao? Do you really think that she is a soft persimmon that can be bullied by others?

This made Shen Tianjiao start to reflect on herself. Was she too easy to talk to, which made these people in the harem think she was weak and could be bullied, and anyone dared to act like a spoiled child in front of her?

It seems that I really need to change my image in the future to prevent such things from happening again.

A person with a vicious mind like Xue Yuqin would be a disaster if she stayed in the harem. It would be better to deal with her as soon as possible to prevent more people from being harmed.

After Shen Tianjiao finished speaking, Xue Yuqin rolled her eyes and fainted.

If time could go back, I believe Xue Yuqin would definitely control her mouth and not say a single word of nonsense.

It's a pity that it's too late to say anything now. Words spoken are like water spilled and cannot be taken back.

Shen Tianjiao looked up at Lady Du and ordered, "Xia He, take Lady Du down to rest first. Also, call the imperial physician to treat the mother and daughter."

After thanking her, Lady Du followed Xia He out.

Qiong Niang, who had been hiding and eavesdropping with Ruan Yuhu, came out at this time and brought a bowl of sour plum soup that she had made herself to Shen Tianjiao, who was in a bad mood.

Qiong Niang had never seen Concubine Du. Concubine Du entered the palace after she was imprisoned in Youming Palace.

But this did not prevent Qiong Niang from sympathizing and pitying Lady Du. After all, she knew very well what kind of person Xue Yuqin was.

When she was still Concubine Chun, Xue Yuqin was Concubine Fang.

At that time, Xue Yuqin relied on the fact that she was the great-granddaughter of the Empress Dowager and offended many people in the harem. She didn't even take Shen Tianjiao seriously, so how could she not provoke Concubine Chun?

She had suffered a lot from Xue Yuqin in the past. Who would have thought that after so many years, she would still have the opportunity to take revenge?

It seems that this person should live a long and good life, so that he can encounter all kinds of things.

Ruan Yuhu also came over. She looked at Shen Tianjiao and said, "Jiaojiao, although Concubine Fang deserves death, she cannot be banished to the cold palace."

"Yeah, I know." Shen Tianjiao felt a little uncomfortable thinking that she couldn't send Xue Yuqin to the cold palace.

Shen Tianjiao was also angry just now, so she said in desperation that she wanted to send Xue Yuqin to the cold palace.

The reason why Xue Yuqin couldn't be banished to the cold palace was not because of any other reason, but because of the need to save the face of the late Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was an extremely virtuous person during her lifetime. Not only did she manage the harem well, she also loved the people like her own children. She had a good reputation and a high status both in the court and among the people.

This is also the reason why Xue Yuqin, a small concubine, dared to run rampant in the palace for many years.

If Shen Tianjiao throws Xue Yuqin to the cold palace this time, then those aristocratic families will incite the ignorant people to use public opinion to attack and slander Shen Tianjiao and the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion.

By then, Shen Tianjiao and the Zhenbei Marquisate will be attacked from all sides, and their prestige and influence will decline. This is not a good thing.

"In my opinion, we should find a secluded place to lock her up. Her daily diet and other things should remain the same, but she should not be allowed to go free. This will not only save the Empress Dowager's face, but also prevent her from coming out and doing evil again."

"However, this edict of apology must still be sent to the Xue family. It will also serve as a warning to Xue Changxing. A new emperor appoints new ministers, and each generation is new."

"The reputation of the Grand Empress Dowager cannot protect the Xue family forever. It is better to know when to advance and when to retreat."

Ruan Yuhu's arrangement not only took into account the reputation of the Empress Dowager, but also avoided bringing discredit to Shen Tianjiao and the Zhenbei Marquisate, which could be said to kill two birds with one stone.

"Okay, let's do as my aunt says." Shen Tianjiao didn't want to bother with a brainless person like Xue Yuqin. She had a lot of things to do.

After being disturbed by Xue Yuqin, Shen Tianjiao suddenly felt powerless all over and didn't want to go to Taihe Hall to deal with Li Rui.

"Jiaojiao." Ruan Yuhu put down the sour plum soup in his hand, looked at Shen Tianjiao and asked, "What are you going to do with Lady Du's child?"

Shen Tianjiao raised her head and thought for a moment before saying, "How else can we arrange this? Give Du Meiren a position, promote her to concubine, and grant Fanghua Garden to the mother and daughter to live in. They should be given more care on a regular basis."

Ruan Yuhu shook his head and said, "This placement is inappropriate."

"Inappropriate? Aunt, what's wrong with this?" Shen Tianjiao looked at Ruan Yuhu blankly, not knowing why it was inappropriate for her to do so.

"Girl, Lady Du is more insightful than you." Ruan Yuhu smiled and said, "Lady Du is right. She can't protect her own daughter."

"Even if you promote her from a beauty to a concubine, she won't be able to protect her daughter."

"There are too many women in the harem, and quite a few of them come from prominent families. If Concubine Fang leaves, someone else will come and take Concubine Du's child for their own purposes."

"You can't always support Miss Du every time you encounter something like this. If you don't care about so many things, you will offend everyone."

Shen Tianjiao lowered her head and thought for a while. Ruan Yuhu was right. She didn't think much about it just now. She just felt sorry for Lady Du and her daughter. She wanted to provide them with protection so that the child could grow up safely.

But now that I think about it carefully, it is indeed inappropriate to do so.

These women in the harem were all Li Rui's concubines. Now that Li Rui had lost his fertility, it was impossible for him to give birth to any of them.

Moreover, after Li Rui's death, these concubines without children were sent out of the palace and sent to nunneries to end their lives in loneliness.

Under such circumstances, Lady Du's daughter becomes extremely precious and will inevitably become the object of competition among everyone.

"Aunt, do you want me to keep the child with me?"

"Yes, that's right." Ruan Yuhu nodded and said, "Yes, Jiaojiao, Concubine Du is right. Apart from you, no one in the harem can protect that child."

"Okay, then stay with me." Shen Tianjiao no longer hesitated. It was a good thing to be able to protect the child and let her grow up safely.

At worst, Concubine Du could also move to Yuxiu Palace so that she could take care of her daughter nearby and the mother and daughter wouldn't have to be separated.

Shen Tianjiao just felt tired and was tripped up by these tedious things all day long. She was simply too busy to properly deduce military strategies and prepare for future wars.

"Go and bring me some cakes. I need to eat my fill so I can have the energy to go to the Taihe Hall."

Shen Tianjiao looked listless and couldn't muster up any energy.

Qiong Niang hurried downstairs to prepare food for Shen Tianjiao. Ruan Yuhu reached out and patted Shen Tianjiao on the shoulder, saying, "Thank you for your hard work."

"After a while, when things are back on track, you can go about your business with peace of mind."

Ruan Yuhu understood Shen Tianjiao's thoughts best. He knew that her ambition was not in the court, but in the martial arts world and on the battlefield.

Shen Tianjiao, who was comforted, felt a lot more relaxed.

After being served delicious food and drinks, Shen Tianjiao, who was full, got up and prepared to go to Taihe Hall.

Even if she didn't want to go, some things could not be avoided.

When Shen Tianjiao was heading towards Taihe Palace, she met her eldest son Li Muyang on the road.

"Mother." The little boy's eyes lit up immediately when he saw his mother.

"Well, where has Mu'er been?" Shen Tianjiao was tidying up Li Muyang's messy hair, wondering if this kid had gone to fight with someone. Not only was his hair messy, but his clothes were also extremely dirty.

"I'm going to study." Li Muyang looked at his mother in confusion. He had clearly told his mother that he was going to study.

"Oh." Shen Tianjiao looked at Li Muyang. He didn't look like he was going to study.

Seeing his mother's puzzled look, Li Muyang looked down at his clothes and smiled embarrassedly. He looked up at Shen Tianjiao and explained, "My son's clothes got dirty because he accidentally knocked over some ink."

"What about your hair?" Looking at Li Muyang's messy hair, Shen Tianjiao couldn't help but ask.

"His hair." Li Muyang smiled sheepishly and said, "My son scratched it himself because he couldn't write a policy paper."

Shen Tianjiao couldn't help laughing for a moment, "Alright, if you can't write, just write slowly, it's no big deal. Don't go back and pull your hair out, it's not worth it."

This is truly a mother. She will never show mercy when mocking her own son.

"Mother." Knowing that he was being ridiculed by his mother, Li Muyang buried his head unhappily in Shen Tianjiao's arms.

"Okay, okay, mother shouldn't laugh at our Mu'er." Shen Tianjiao rubbed the little boy's head and pulled him out of her arms.

"The Queen Mother is going to the Taihe Palace to see your father. When she returns, she will have dinner with you."

When Li Muyang heard that Shen Tianjiao was going to see Li Rui, his little body couldn't help but tremble. He really didn't like his father.

Shen Tianjiao, who noticed Li Muyang's mood change, gave him a hug that could strangle him and said, "There's a little sister coming to our palace. Ask Qiong Niang to take you to see her later."

"Little sister? Where did this little sister come from?" Li Muyang's mood was indeed diverted.

"She's Lady Du's daughter, and your half-sister." Shen Tianjiao pinched Li Muyang's cheek and said, "She's still young and sick. Be good when you go, and don't disturb her."

"Yes, okay, son understands." Li Muyang buried his head in Shen Tianjiao's arms again. After a while, he raised his head and looked at Shen Tianjiao and said, "Mother, please go and come back soon. Your son will wait for you to come back and have dinner together."

"Okay, mother will be back soon." Shen Tianjiao patted Li Muyang's shoulder and left with her people.

Li Muyang stood there and watched until Shen Tianjiao's back disappeared. Then he turned around and went back to his yard to wash and change his clothes.

Taihe Hall is actually not far from Yuxiu Palace. Rather than riding in the phoenix chariot, she prefers to walk there so that she can leisurely enjoy the scenery along the way.

When Shen Tianjiao arrived at Taihe Palace, she happened to see Doctor Wang coming out of Li Rui's bedroom.

Seeing Shen Tianjiao, Doctor Wang hurried forward to pay his respects.

"Excuse me." Shen Tianjiao looked at Doctor Wang and asked, "Your Majesty, what is the current situation?"

Doctor Wang looked up and around, Shen Tianjiao understood what was going on, and then she dismissed the people around her.

Seeing that there was no one around, Doctor Wang dared to say to Shen Tianjiao: "To reply to the Queen, His Majesty's condition is not good."