The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

Shen Tianjiao stayed at Ziyun Manor for two days before having to leave due to matters of state.

This time, she again did not take the two children with her. Ziyun Manor is much safer than the palace now.

Shen Tianjiao thought it over and over again before deciding to let the two children return to the capital with her father.

Everything else was fine, but before she left, her two children cried their hearts out, which was heartbreaking to see.

Even after returning to the palace, Shen Tianjiao hadn't yet recovered from the emotional turmoil caused by the matter of her two children.

Chun Chao watched from the sidelines, feeling sorry for Shen Tianjiao, but there was nothing he could do.

All she can do now is stay by her side silently; there's nothing else she can do.

However, Shen Tianjiao's worries didn't last long before trouble came knocking.

"Master, something happened."

Xia He came in running, panting heavily and her breathing was unsteady.

"What happened?"

Seeing Xia He's current state, Shen Tianjiao knew that something serious must have happened.

Xia He covered her chest with her hand, trying to calm her breathing.

"The guards just apprehended two suspicious individuals near Kangning Palace."

"After interrogation, we learned that they were from the Liu family."

Shen Tianjiao sat up straight immediately. Xia He's words revealed a very important message: the Liu family was about to cause trouble.

After Empress Dowager Liu died, she was hastily taken out of the palace to be buried in order to cover up the truth and quell the situation at the time.

Shen Tianjiao could only use Li Rui's name and the fact that the Liu family was involved in Li Hong's rebellion to announce that Empress Dowager Liu was imprisoned in Kangning Palace.

She is not allowed to come out, and no one outside is allowed to come in.

The purpose was to preserve the truth that Empress Dowager Liu was dead and to prevent any further complications.

Later, Shen Tianjiao and Ruan Yuhu also tried to find a reason to announce the death of Empress Dowager Liu and put the matter to rest.

However, just when things couldn't go wrong, an accident did happen.

So the matter was put on hold again.

This delay has dragged on until now.

To Shen Tianjiao's utter surprise, the Liu family would infiltrate the palace at this time to cause trouble.

"It seems I was too kind. I originally thought that even if Empress Dowager Liu did commit the heinous crime of having an affair with a man outside the court and attempting to overthrow the government, she would be condemned by the whole world."

"But she is still Li Rui's adoptive mother and Yunli's Empress Dowager."

"In order to preserve the dignity of the royal family, the dignity of the crown prince, and the dignity of the entire Yunli."

"So we kept all these things a secret, and that's why we didn't take any action against the Liu family."

"But who would have thought that the Liu family would repay kindness with enmity? No wonder I am ruthless."

The Liu family were all wicked and reckless, relying on the fact that they had an empress dowager in their family and that they were the emperor's maternal uncles, so they did whatever they wanted.

Not only did he become a feared and universally reviled rat in the capital, but he was also a target of constant attacks.

Even within the entire Yunli region, the Liu family's reputation is utterly ruined.

After Li Hong's incident, the Liu family was dealt with so badly that the head of the family died, and they lost Empress Dowager Liu as their backer. As a result, their power gradually declined and they became insignificant.

If the Liu family could behave themselves and stop causing trouble, Shen Tianjiao originally had no intention of making things difficult for them anymore.

After all, on the surface, Empress Dowager Liu is still Li Rui's mother, and the Liu family is still his maternal uncle.

By not falling out with the Liu family, everyone could maintain some dignity and avoid becoming a laughingstock, with these scandals being spread everywhere.

Shen Tianjiao was fearless about all of this, but she needed to consider her son and make long-term plans for Li Muyang's smooth ascension to the throne.

She didn't want future discussions about the new emperor to include the disgraceful things Empress Dowager Liu had done.

This caused her son to suffer such criticism, to be manipulated and humiliated by others using these sordid matters.

Since the Liu family is determined to die, then Shen Tianjiao will grant their wish.

"Who is in charge of the Liu family now?"

Chun Chao quickly did some searching and found that after the death of the former head of the Liu family, the elder brother of Empress Dowager Liu, the Liu family fell into chaos and infighting.

The heads of each household jumped out, all wanting to become the new head of the Liu family.

Although Empress Dowager Liu was imprisoned and the previous head of the Liu family died, the emperor did not subsequently order the confiscation of the Liu family's property and their exile.

This means that the Liu family's involvement in Li Hong's rebellion has come to an end.

To save face, the emperor decided not to pursue the Liu family's responsibility in this matter any further.

Although there was little hope for the Liu family members to become officials within the next three generations.

However, as the emperor's maternal uncles, they managed to preserve their dignity in the capital.

As long as they maintain their dignity, the Liu family still has a chance to turn things around.

More importantly, in recent years, relying on Empress Dowager Liu's influence, the Liu family has amassed a fortune in Shangjing and Yunli, to the point that they cannot be described as being as rich as a country.

But that wealth was enough to ensure that the Liu family, for at least four generations, would have no worries about food and clothing.

For the Liu family, such wealth is no longer just a piece of easy money.

That was immense wealth, a guarantee for the future, and the capital that allowed them to turn their lives around.

Given such a tremendous temptation, who could resist being tempted, going crazy, or not wanting to compete for the position of head of the Liu family?

Therefore, under such circumstances, in just a few months, the Liu family had already suffered casualties on all sides.

However, the situation has stabilized recently because the internal strife within their family was too intense.

Not only the older generation, but also the younger generation has started to participate.

To prevent the Liu family from declining in number due to this conflict, several clan leaders of the Liu family stepped forward.

An agreement was reached with each of the families, which finally brought the fighting to an end.

The current head of the Liu family is Liu Pengfei, the son of the previous head, Liu Lei.

"Reporting to Master, it is Liu Lei's eldest son, Liu Pengfei."

Shen Tianjiao frowned and thought for a moment. She had absolutely no recollection of Liu Pengfei.

It seems that Liu Pengfei is not someone of any particular talent or ability.

Otherwise, how could he be completely unknown in the capital, and no one had even heard of him?

The Liu family probably pushed this person out to be the head of the Liu family because he was easy to bully.

Otherwise, how could a group of people who are scheming to the core so easily agree to let Liu Pengfei take over?

"Go and summon Liu Pengfei to me. I want to ask him who gave him the audacity to send his family to cause trouble in the palace."

"My tolerance and kindness will not last indefinitely for any one person."

"Since the Liu family is willing to test the law and continue to challenge my bottom line, then I will show them what the consequences will be."

"Yes, I understand. I'll do it right away."

Xia He turned and left in a hurry, just as she had rushed in earlier.

"Go, let Ren Dongfang investigate thoroughly and find out who has the audacity to dare to do this right under my nose."

"Letting people from outside the palace in endangers my safety."

"We must make him investigate thoroughly, and once he finds out the truth, he must be severely punished. We'll hand the person over to him to deal with."

After giving instructions to Chun Chao, Shen Tianjiao closed her eyes and sighed. She was truly exhausted; there wasn't a moment of peace every single day.

Chun Chao naturally dared not slack off, and she turned around to find Ren Dongfang.

The palace's defenses definitely need to be renovated; otherwise, if anyone could come into the palace, wouldn't it be chaotic?

Xia He didn't spend much time before she called Liu Pengfei over.

At this moment, Liu Pengfei only knew that someone from the palace had brought him there, but he didn't know what had happened.

This was the first time Shen Tianjiao had met Liu Pengfei.

But her first impression of this person was that he didn't seem like a weak person who could be bullied, but rather someone who hid his true self and was a master of playing dumb to outsmart others.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, may you be well."

"Your Majesty, what are your instructions for summoning this humble subject here?"

Although the former head of the Liu family had died, the Liu family's title remained, and Liu Pengfei succeeded him as the head of the Liu family.

This means that he also inherited his father's title.

Although this matter has not yet been reported, it is practically a done deal.

Therefore, there was nothing wrong with Liu Pengfei calling himself a sinner at this time.

Shen Tianjiao scrutinized Liu Pengfei, who was kneeling in front of her. This man was definitely not a simple person; perhaps he could become a weapon in her hands.

If this knife is used well, perhaps the powerful families in the capital will behave themselves and avoid causing trouble for themselves.

Whether this knife can be used or not depends on what the person in front of him does.

"Liu Pengfei, do you really not know why I summoned you to the palace?"

Upon hearing Shen Tianjiao's words, Liu Pengfei involuntarily trembled.

Although he had never met Shen Tianjiao before, and dared not look at her face with his head down, he felt a strange pressure that filled him with fear.

"Your Majesty, I am truly unaware of why Your Majesty summoned me. I humbly request Your Majesty's clarification."

"Humph!"

Shen Tianjiao snorted coldly and ordered, "Bring the person up."

Soon a man and a woman were brought up. When the couple saw Liu Pengfei kneeling in front of them, it was as if they had seen a savior.

He rushed over immediately, shouting, "Uncle, you've finally come! If you hadn't come, we would have been doomed!"

Upon hearing the shout, Liu Pengfei felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, wishing he could just faint and pretend he hadn't heard anything.

He knew in his heart that now was not the time for him to faint.

Liu Pengfei looked up at the two troublemakers in front of him and really wanted to rush over and slap them a few times.

"How dare you! Can't you see Her Majesty the Empress is here?"

"Upon seeing the Empress, instead of paying respects and exchanging greetings, they cry and make a scene before the Emperor. Do they think their lives are not long enough?"

The people crying and making a scene in front of Liu Pengfei were none other than the son and daughter of Liu Pengfei's fourth brother.

Seeing the two of them, Liu Pengfei understood everything.

The fact that these two unfilial sons suddenly appeared here must mean they secretly entered the palace to request a meeting with their aunt who is imprisoned in Kangning Palace.

They wanted their aunt to step in and solve some problems for them.

The girl in front of me is named Liu Zhenzhen. When she was born, she was betrothed to the heir of the Marquis of Yongbo's mansion.

In just a few months, it would have been their wedding day.

However, after the Liu family's incident, the Marquis of Yongbo's mansion refused to acknowledge the marriage for fear of being implicated and offending the Emperor and Empress.

So they sent messengers repeatedly, and finally managed to cancel the marriage.

Although the Liu family was angry, they could only swallow their anger and dared not do anything to resist.

After all, their family has now fallen into a state of utter destitution, where they are bullied by even the most cunning and vulnerable.

The Marquis of Yongbo's mansion is no longer someone they can afford to offend.

The adults in the family could accept, tolerate, and tacitly accept this fact, but Liu Zhenzhen couldn't stand it.

Liu Zhenzhen, who was pampered since childhood, has always been proud of her marriage. Now, she has been jilted without any explanation. How could she possibly accept this?

She's been making a scene at home, crying, throwing tantrums, and threatening suicide, causing chaos and unrest.

A few days ago, she did indeed say that she would come to the palace to ask her aunt to stand up for her.

When Liu Pengfei heard about it, he immediately called his fourth brother over and scolded him, telling him to keep an eye on his child and not let her cause any trouble.

His fourth brother had promised to keep a close eye on the girl and prevent her from causing trouble, but in just two days, she came to the palace and caused a huge mess.

This girl not only caused trouble herself, but also dragged someone else into it.

Liu Pengfei felt a chill run down his spine; he could already foresee his fate and that of the entire Liu family.

After all, Liu Pengfei knew very well what his aunt, the Empress Dowager, had done, even if others didn't know.

When his father was still alive, he often helped his aunt clean up her messes.

These things have become an unwritten, open secret within the Liu family.

"Uncle."

Liu Zhenzhen, who was already frightened, did not receive comfort from Liu Pengfei. Instead, she was scolded and immediately felt wronged.

This young lady is a spoiled, naive, and brainless girl who has been pampered.

They've already come all the way to the palace, been caught and brought before Empress Shen Tianjiao, and they still don't know fear.

She was still only thinking about her own grievances and that her great-aunt was the Empress Dowager, who would support her.

She never even considered that the reason she was jilted was because her great-aunt, who was the Empress Dowager, had lost power.