The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

After returning to the palace yesterday, Shen Tianjiao was so tired that she fell asleep without caring about anything.

When she woke up in the morning, Shen Tianjiao hadn't changed her clothes or washed up yet.

Then another palace servant came to report that Li Chaohui's burns were serious and he needed to go to the palace to seek medicine.

Shen Tianjiao sighed helplessly. The acting queen is indeed an acting queen. She performed the play from beginning to end.

"Why? Did the imperial physician I sent refuse to treat her, or was he not doing his best?"

"Since I've sent Imperial Physician Zhang, I'm going to do my best to treat her. Since the Imperial Physician is already here, how can I not give her the medicine in the palace?"

"Tell her to behave herself. I'm not in the mood to play tricks on her. I can release her, but I can also lock her up again."

The palace maid who came to report the news saw Shen Tianjiao's face change, and hesitated, not knowing whether to say the next words.

"Why, was it that I didn't explain it clearly enough, or did you not hear it clearly?"

Seeing that the palace servant didn't leave, Shen Tianjiao, who was already in a bad mood after waking up, became even more angry.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. It's not that I didn't hear clearly, but that person said he wanted to see you."

Last time, Shen Tianjiao scolded him, saying that there was no such person as the Grand Princess in the palace, so the palace people didn’t know how to address Li Chaohui.

"Hmph!" Shen Tianjiao snorted coldly and said mercilessly: "With her current status, I'm afraid she won't be able to see me. Go back and tell her to live her life peacefully and not to have any unreasonable expectations."

"The Yun Li of today is no longer the Yun Li who dominated the world back then."

"I have many government affairs to attend to and have no time to care about her affairs. In the future, if you have anything concerning her, you don't need to report it to me. Let her take care of herself."

Shen Tianjiao didn't even want to pretend to dislike Li Chaohui.

Li Chaohui and Shen Tianjiao have both family feuds and are about to face national hatred. Shen Tianjiao has no time to play any drama with Li Chaohui.

She had just been released, but she wanted to enter the palace and use her status as the queen to elevate her own status.

It seems that Li Chaohui is really thick-skinned. No wonder he was so popular back then.

After sending the palace maids away, Shen Tianjiao called Xia He to help her wash and dress up.

Originally, Shen Tianjiao was in a bad mood, but after she argued with the palace maid who reported the news to Li Chaohui, for some reason her mood suddenly improved.

"Where's my aunt? Is she up yet?" Thinking of Ruan Yuhu's appearance yesterday, Shen Tianjiao still felt a little uncomfortable.

It was difficult to be a woman in this era. Without the protection of the family, carrying the pain of losing loved ones, and fighting for revenge alone, she had to survive hard in this cannibalistic palace.

The countless glories that outsiders see are nothing but shackles that trap Ruan Yuhu.

"He's awake. I just went to check on him. Aunt Juruo made him some millet porridge, and he drank a small bowl."

While dressing Shen Tianjiao, Xia He asked, "Master, there is porridge in the small kitchen, but it is red rice porridge to replenish qi and blood."

"Let them bring it in now. Would you mind using some?"

Although today is not a grand court meeting, it is the day when court officials above the third rank gather in the imperial study to discuss matters.

On days like this, Shen Tianjiao usually waits until the meeting is over before eating.

"Okay, let them bring it in, and also bring some ginseng soup."

Shen Tianjiao could already anticipate what kind of heated debate would take place in the imperial study later. She needed to replenish her energy so that she would not be too tired to deal with it later.

"Yes, I will ask them to prepare it right away."

Hearing that Shen Tianjiao was willing to eat, Xia He was naturally happy and hurried to prepare.

Shen Tianjiao looked at herself in the bronze mirror and couldn't help but feel emotional. She had only been here for a short time, just over half a year, but she looked haggard and thinner.

Except for the first few days after she came here, she lived a relatively leisurely and comfortable life. The rest of her days were spent either dealing with various headache-inducing government affairs or solving various troubles.

This life was simply unbearable. Shen Tianjiao shook her head and sighed. Who could she blame? She had chosen this life herself. She had to persevere even if it meant gritting her teeth.

The breakfast that Xia He brought was very much to Shen Tianjiao's liking. She ate a lot. Now, only meal time was the time when she was most relaxed and comfortable.

After finishing breakfast, Shen Tianjiao sorted herself out and headed towards the imperial study.

But surprisingly, Shen Tianjiao met Ruan Yuhu as soon as she went out.

Originally, Shen Tianjiao thought that Ruan Yuhu would need to rest for a few more days after what happened yesterday.

"Aunt, why are you here?" Shen Tianjiao stepped forward to support Ruan Yuhu.

"You're going to the Imperial Study to meet those stubborn old men. How can I defeat them if I don't go with you? They're all ungrateful. I'm going to calm them down for you first."

Ruan Yuhu looked calm, as if what happened yesterday had never happened.

"Okay, with my aunt here, I wonder which of those people dares to bully me."

Since Ruan Yuhu didn't mention what happened yesterday, Shen Tianjiao naturally wouldn't mention it either.

"Well, come on, auntie will take you to kill everyone!"

Yesterday, I cried my heart out in front of my parents, husband and relatives, venting all the pain and sadness I had experienced over the years.

Ruan Yuhu now feels much more relaxed physically, mentally and spiritually. She must be extremely alert now. In her lifetime, she must kill all her enemies with her own hands.

Only in this way can she meet her parents, husband and relatives in the underworld in the future.

As expected, when Shen Tianjiao arrived at the imperial study, a large group of people were already waiting there.

Shen Tianjiao looked up at the group of people standing in front of her, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart, this Li Zhaohui's charm is really extraordinary!

Look at the people standing in front of me, there are actually some old guys who can't even attend the grand court meetings.

They couldn't participate in the state affairs, and they cared about the people's livelihood and the country. But now, because of Li Chaohui, their waist pain didn't stop, their legs stopped shaking, and they were all full of energy as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

Since these people are unwilling to be loyal to the country, there is no point in keeping them. They can no longer hold a position in the court, so they should go home and retire.

You eat the emperor's salary but don't worry about his worries. You occupy the position and waste food. It would be better to vacate the position and give it to capable and powerful people.

Let them play their roles and abilities for the stability and future of this country.

The court officials standing below saw Shen Tianjiao come in without saying anything for a long time, just staring at them coldly. Their hearts, which had just been calm, gradually became panicked.

Today, the Empress who is in charge of the government for the Emperor not only possesses the pressure and aura of a superior, but also has the means and courage.

When it comes to handling government affairs, he is swift and decisive and ruthless. He is much better than their Emperor. The two of them are simply not at that level.

"Empress, a new plan must be formulated immediately regarding the flood in Quzhou."

Seeing that Shen Tianjiao was reluctant to speak, Wang Yunzhi, as the head of all officials, was forced to speak first.

"Well, then, according to Prime Minister Wang, how should this matter be resolved?"

Shen Tianjiao sat there and asked casually.

She and Ruan Yuhu had already discussed the Quzhou matter a long time ago, so it didn't matter whether they could come to a conclusion today.

Wang Yunzhi mentioned this matter at this time just to pave the way for the next key discussion.

"In my humble opinion, Lord Wang Pengliang has limited abilities and is incompetent in his duties. He should be dismissed and investigated."

"The most urgent task now is to quickly select someone capable and experienced in flood control to go to Quzhou to handle the follow-up affairs and appease the people."

Although Wang Yunzhi did a lot of stupid things because of Li Chaohui, he still had a sense of responsibility as the head of all officials.

As long as Li Chaohui is not involved, Wang Yunzhi can still be fair and just in government affairs, without any personal connections or emotions.

Before Shen Tianjiao could say anything, the Imperial Censor Hou Zhen spoke first, "Prime Minister Wang, isn't that unfair?"

"Quzhou has suffered severe damage this time, and it won't be able to be restored and rebuilt in a short period of time. Lord Zhang Pengliang is being questioned for incompetence and is being dismissed and investigated simply because his progress is a little slow. Isn't that a bit too hasty?"

The person who was speaking, Hou Zhen, was the son-in-law of Zheng Guang, the Prince of Huai. Zheng Guang was Zhang Pengliang's backer. No wonder Wang Yunzhi was interrupted by Hou Zhen as soon as he opened his mouth.

"Hmph!" Wang Yunzhi snorted, straightened his body, and said, "I have always been fair in my work. The Empress will make the final judgment on this matter. There is no need for you to question it."

"He knows what Zhang Pengliang did in Quzhou, and I'm sure Censor Hou knows it too."

"As an Imperial Censor, you are supposed to set an example and supervise all officials. Are you going to break the law now?"

Wang Yunzhi usually looks gentle and easy to talk to, but when he starts to argue with others, he will not hesitate to do so and will not stop until the other party is pissed off.

"Prime Minister, empty words are not enough. As the head of all officials, you should always rely on evidence. You are making random accusations without any evidence. Aren't you afraid of offending the emperor?"

As the censor, Hou Zhen was also very sharp-tongued, otherwise he would not have been able to sit in the position of censor.

"Evidence? Humph! I have all the evidence you want. But if I were to present it to you, would Censor Hou be able to handle it?"

Wang Yunzhi stood straight, he didn't take Hou Zhen seriously at all.

What a joke. After being an official for many years, is Wang Yunzhi the kind of person who speaks nonsense without any real evidence?

If this is true, then all his years in officialdom have been in vain.

Hou Zhen, who was full of vigor just now, was suddenly extinguished by Wang Yunzhi.

After all, he knew very well what Zhang Pengliang had done in Quzhou. If Wang Yunzhi really had solid evidence in his hands, then it would not just be Zhang Pengliang who would be in trouble this time.

Even he and the Huai Palace would be implicated. At the very least, he would lose his official position, and at worst, he might even lose his life.

After all, the person sitting here now and in charge of Yunli’s power is not the emperor who was easy to fool in the past, but the empress Shen Tianjiao in front of him who possesses thundering methods.

"What's wrong? Censor Hou is silent? Is this a tacit admission of guilt?"

Hou Zhen stopped talking, but that didn't mean Wang Yunzhi wanted to let him go.

This King Huai, Zheng Guang, was not a good person to begin with. He relied on his own power over the years. Although he did not do all kinds of evil in Shangjing City, he did do a lot of bad things.

In the past, he had the support of Empress Dowager Liu and Concubine Feng, and the emperor was easily influenced, so there was no way to deal with him.

But things are different now. Empress Dowager Liu has been confined to the palace and Concubine Feng has been sentenced to death. Without these two backers, how rampant can Zheng Guang be?

The person in power in Yunli Kingdom now is Queen Shen Tianjiao. Judging from the various methods she has used to govern the court since she entered politics, she knows that this person is different from the easily influenced Emperor.

This person is fair and strict in her work, and has means. No matter who violates the laws of Yunli Kingdom, she dares to bring you down and punish you according to the law.

The two princes, one dead and the other imprisoned, are the best proof.

Hou Zhen took a deep breath. He didn't expect Wang Yunzhi to be so persistent this time. It seemed that Wang Yunzhi had set his sights on him and the Prince Huai's Mansion this time.

At this moment, Hou Zhen couldn't help but feel regretful. He shouldn't have said too much just now. The saying "too much talk leads to mistakes" was indeed true.

"I have nothing to say. Since Prime Minister Wang insists on dismissing Lord Zhang and investigating him, then this matter can only wait until Lord Zhang returns to the capital, and then the Empress will make the final decision."

Hou Zhen now has no choice but to use this method of changing the subject to calm the dispute.

If he continued to harass her like this, he and the Huai Palace would be in big trouble before Zhang Pengliang even returned.

"Is there nothing to say, or are you afraid to say it?"

Hou Zhen has shown weakness, but Wang Yunzhi has no intention of letting him go. Zheng Guang has been causing trouble for Wang Yunzhi many times over the years.

If Wang Yunzhi doesn't take this opportunity to vent his anger today, when will he take it?

Wang Yunzhi turned and looked at Hou Zhen coldly, and said in a tone even colder than his own: "Don't think that you can get away with it just because Prince Huai is backing you up."

"After Zhang Pengliang is escorted back to the capital, we will invite Prince Huai and Censor Hou to testify on the spot."

"The Queen will decide what is right and what is wrong!"

Behind every official in the court, there are more or less different forces backing them. This has become a secret that is exposed to the public, but no one will tell it.

But because this secret was spoken so openly through Wang Yunzhi's mouth, not to mention the court officials below were shocked.

Even Shen Tianjiao was shocked. She didn't know how Zheng Guang had offended Wang Yunzhi?

Wang Yunzhi was so determined that he would not give up until he destroyed the Prince Huai's Mansion?