The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

Shen Tianjiao was still hungover when she was dragged up to attend the morning court. Feeling grumpy after waking up, she resigned herself to her fate, changed her clothes, and continued to fight.

I really don't know what's so good about being an emperor. You have to be exhausted every day. You have to get up earlier than the chickens and go to bed later than the dogs. You also have to use all your energy to deal with those court officials, playing tricks and competing with them in wits and courage. It's impossible not to die early.

But those people, one by one, are fighting for this position with all their might, and they are fighting to the death. They are simply fools.

Qiong Niang put a piece of cake into Shen Tianjiao's mouth and said, "Eat a little first to fill your stomach. After the court is over, there will be your favorite almond soup."

Shen Tianjiao was stunned. She was about to retort that she didn't like almond soup, but suddenly remembered that she was Shen Tianjiao with a new heart, so she nodded in agreement.

After what happened yesterday, the court was exceptionally quiet and harmonious today, and all affairs were handled quite smoothly. No matter what the ministers complained in their hearts, Shen Tianjiao was still very satisfied with their performance.

After returning to Yuxiu Palace from court, Qiongniang and Chunchao prepared a large table of sumptuous breakfast for her.

Shen Tianjiao, who always had a good appetite, didn't know why she had no appetite at all when she saw the huge table of delicious food in front of her.

"Master, why don't you eat? Is it not to your liking?" Chunchao was the most attentive. Seeing that Shen Tianjiao had been staring at the food on the plate in front of her but not using her chopsticks to eat, he asked with a little concern.

Shen Tianjiao shook her head. "It's not that it doesn't suit my appetite. I'm just too tired and don't want to eat."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room felt distressed. Things had been happening one after another recently, and Shen Tianjiao was indeed busy from one thing to another. She had no time to rest at all. If she continued to be busy like this, it would be strange if she didn't get sick from exhaustion.

"If you don't want to eat now, then let Dongyang cook some medicinal food later." Chunchao saw that Shen Tianjiao didn't want to eat, so he began to order people to take the food away.

"Leave it here. I don't want to eat it. You guys are here too. Sit down and eat it. Don't waste food." In her previous life, Shen Tianjiao had experienced hunger due to food shortage. The memory engraved in her bones made Shen Tianjiao not allow anyone to waste any food casually.

The master had spoken, and the little maids in the room did not refuse or be shy. They sat down obediently and started to concentrate on eating.

Shen Tianjiao looked up, but didn't see her adopted son. "Where's Mu'er?"

"The eldest prince has already had breakfast and is now studying in Tingyu Pavilion." Dong Yang's mouth was full of pastries and she almost choked while speaking. Xia He hurriedly poured her a glass of water.

"The eldest prince is late in learning, but he is very smart. I found some books for him to read first." Without waiting for Shen Tianjiao to ask, Qiong Niang spoke up and told her.

"Well, that's good." Shen Tianjiao nodded in agreement. "Send him some candy and cakes later. Studying should be a combination of work and rest. Don't let him get too tired."

Shen Tianjiao still cared deeply for her son and loved him. Although she had high hopes for him, she didn't want to put too much pressure on him. Children should still act like children. The time before the coming-of-age ceremony was the most precious and happiest, and they should have fun. After the coming-of-age ceremony, they would become adults and no longer have the right to be children.

"Your servant has prepared it and will send it to you shortly." Dongyang loves to eat and also loves to tinker with food. It is her ambition to make everyone happy when they eat the food she cooks.

"Well, okay." Shen Tianjiao looked at the people eating and said with a smile, "You guys eat, I'm going to the garden to get some fresh air."

My current body is still a little too weak and too fragile. If I want to become stronger as soon as possible, I must start training quickly.

In his previous life, Chu Qingge had been practicing martial arts since childhood and was proficient in all eighteen kinds of martial arts.

After practicing a set of Chu family spears, Shen Tianjiao was sweating all over. Before she could wipe the sweat off, she heard the sound of applause, "Mother, you are so good, you are really amazing."

Shen Tianjiao looked up and saw Li Muyang standing in the distance, looking at her with shining eyes and a look of envy and admiration.

Shen Tianjiao had never been praised so directly before, and she actually blushed a little. She waved at Li Muyang, and Li Muyang ran over and hugged Shen Tianjiao.

The soft and sticky little dumpling made Shen Tianjiao's heart melt. She picked up Li Muyang, looked at him and asked, "Do you want to learn?"

"Can I learn?" Li Muyang's face flushed with excitement. "Mother, will you teach me?"

"Well, if you want to learn, I will teach you." Shen Tianjiao touched the little girl's head. "However, I have to say that practicing martial arts is very difficult and painful. You have to think carefully about whether you still want to practice."

"Yes." Li Muyang answered decisively without any hesitation.

"Okay, then your mother will teach you." Whether in the previous life or this life, Chu Qingge and Shen Tianjiao were people with shallow kinship, and they died childless. In her new life, she had this little girl by her side, which made her realize the joy of being a mother.

"Then would Her Majesty mind taking in another disciple?" Qiong Niang, who came with Li Muyang, was eager to join after seeing Shen Tianjiao's marksmanship.

"Why not? As long as you can endure the hardship, just follow along and learn." Thinking of what Qiong Niang had told her last night about her lofty ambitions, Shen Tianjiao couldn't help but smile and said, "If you can really persist in learning, then maybe one day in the future you'll really become a powerful female general leading troops into battle."

Qiong Niang was amused by Shen Tianjiao. She pointed at herself and said, "Me? I want to be a female general. I don't have that ability. I just need to know some martial arts. If I can save my life when I encounter danger, I'll be thankful."

"It's amazing to be able to protect yourself when encountering danger. This world has always been harsh on women, so it's always a good thing to have more skills." It's not easy for women to survive, and Shen Tianjiao has the most say in this matter.

"Okay, then I will take advantage of the eldest prince's influence and learn with the empress. But I am stupid, so please don't despise me, empress, and don't punish me if I make mistakes." Qiong Niang bowed and made a blessing salute to Shen Tianjiao.

"You're welcome, you're welcome. It's the same for you." The two smiled at each other. Qiong Niang couldn't help but sigh in her heart that life is better now. In the past, it seemed that she had a lot of glory, but in fact, she was just a canary in a cage. She had to watch other people's faces and guess other people's thoughts to survive. It was not as free and happy as now.

Li Muyang and Qiong Niang are just beginners, so there is no need for Shen Tianjiao to teach them personally. Qiu Tong is more than enough.

Shen Tianjiao, who had left Li Muyang and Qiong Niang behind, returned to her bedroom and was just about to take a nap to recuperate when Chunchao hurried in, "Master, the eunuchs have begun investigating the fire in Youming Palace."

"Hmph! That happened several days ago, and the eunuchs only remembered to investigate now. What were you doing before?" Shen Tianjiao sneered. The most ruthless people were the imperial family. The fire she ordered burned down the entire Youming Palace, but Li Rui only ordered an investigation into the fire in Youming Palace now, and he didn't worry about the people living in Youming Palace at all.

"Let them investigate. That fire burned down the entire Youming Palace. Nothing was left. This ending is perhaps the most perfect for our Emperor."

Shen Tianjiao had long seen through Li Rui's ruthlessness. Before Chunchao could say anything, Shen Tianjiao shook her head and said, "This ending is also the best for Qiong Niang. From now on, there will be no more Wang Danyang in the world, only Wang Qiong Niang."

"Yes, I understand. I just feel sorry for you and Empress Qiong." Chunchao's eyes turned red as she spoke.

"Silly girl, how many men in this world are reliable, not to mention that man is a king. No matter what happens, the only one you can rely on is yourself." Shen Tianjiao raised her hand and patted Chunchao's shoulder.

"Master, General Bai is here." Xia He hurriedly ran in from outside and reported.

Shen Tianjiao shook her head and smiled bitterly. Okay, she won’t be able to sleep today.

Shen Tianjiao, who had dressed up again, came to the conference room and saw Bai Qishan walking back and forth in circles there.

Shen Tianjiao felt inexplicably panicked. Bai Qishan was known for his calmness and composure, so something that could make him so uneasy must be no small matter.

"General Bai, what happened?" Shen Tianjiao was also a straightforward person. She went straight to the point without beating around the bush.

"Something big has happened to the Queen." Bai Qishan saw Shen Tianjiao coming and said this without even bowing or greeting.

Shen Tianjiao, who had already prepared herself mentally, looked at Bai Qishan and said calmly, "What's the matter? Tell me."

"General Yan's son was assassinated last night." Bai Qishan was shocked when he received the news just now. Yan Mingde led his troops to quell the rebellion, and his son was assassinated in Shangjing City. Who would believe that this was a coincidence?

"Assassinated? Last night?" Shen Tianjiao stood up suddenly. The first thing that came to her mind was that this was a conspiracy.

"Where was he assassinated? Was he in the general's residence?"

Bai Qishan shook his head and replied, "He was not in the General's Mansion, but was assassinated outside."

"Was he assassinated outside?" Shen Tianjiao frowned. Yan Mingde had just led the army to war yesterday evening. Logically, his son should have been at home comforting his mother and taking care of household affairs. Why would he run out?

Seeing Shen Tianjiao's confusion, Bai Qishan sighed quietly and said, "General Yan's son is a well-known playboy in the capital. He is proficient in eating, drinking, whoring and gambling. He is known as one of the three most unfilial playboys in the capital, along with the unfilial son in my family and the son of Master Zuo in the Hanlin Academy."

"He was assassinated last night in Yanliu Lane in the south of the city, where..."

Bai Qishan was too embarrassed to continue, but Shen Tianjiao understood everything. The Yanliu Alley in the south of the city was a place of prostitution, so it was self-evident why Yan Mingde's son would go there. What Shen Tianjiao couldn't understand was that both Yan Mingde and Bai Qishan were high-ranking generals with strict military discipline, who trained their soldiers to obey the rules and regulations. So how could their sons be so useless?

"Have you checked? Why was he assassinated?" How other people's sons were brought up was their own family affair, and Shen Tianjiao didn't want to ask or say anything more.

"We've investigated. Now we only know that he had an argument with someone over an Oiran in Zuichunlou last night and beat the other person up. As for how he died, further investigation is needed." Bai Qishan lowered his head and didn't dare to stand up straight.

"Let's block the news first and appease Madam Yan. As for General Yan, it's better not to let him know for the time being. The pain of losing a son is not something that ordinary people can bear. He is now leading the army to quell the rebellion and he must not lose his mind because of this. When he returns to the court, I will personally apologize to him." Now that things have come to this, the person is dead, and it is useless to think too much about it. The most important thing now is to ensure that Yan Mingde is not disturbed by this incident and can fight on the front with peace of mind.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The news has been blocked. It's just that Madam Yan is making a big fuss. She insisted on going to Jingzhao Yin to ask them to send people to arrest the murderer and avenge her son. However, I have sent people to secretly guard the Yan Mansion to ensure that no one in the mansion can enter or leave freely, and the news of Master Yan's assassination will not be spread. Moreover, I have privately ordered that Master Yan's body be sent to the charity cemetery in the suburbs and stored there temporarily until General Yan returns to deal with it." With the enemy at hand, Bai Qishan still knew clearly what was more important.

Although Bai Qishan said so, Shen Tianjiao still felt a little uneasy for some reason. "General Yan only has this one son, or does he have other sons?"

"General Yan had two sons. The one who died was the legitimate son born to Madam Yan, named Yan Jun'an. He also had a illegitimate son, but I heard that he was extremely unpopular at home. Some time ago, for some unknown reason, he was punished by Madam Yan, and now I heard that he was punished to guard the ancestral temple." Although Bai Qishan and Yan Mingde have been colleagues for many years, their relationship is not that good. Apart from official business, they do not have much contact in private. He only found out about these things just now after inquiring about them.

Shen Tianjiao understood in her heart that Madam Yan was probably not a tolerant and good wife and mother. She only loved her own children and attacked her illegitimate son who made things difficult for her. Now that her beloved only son had died unexpectedly, it would be strange if this was not a big blow.

"Send someone to protect General Yan's bastard son. We must not let him get into any more accidents."

"Yes, Your Majesty, don't worry. I will arrange this matter myself." Even without Shen Tianjiao's instructions, Bai Qishan planned to send someone to protect the illegitimate son. He had already lost one son, and he had to protect the remaining one for Yan Mingde.

Shen Tianjiao thought about it again and again. Although she felt that it was inappropriate, she still had to say some things. Bai Qishan and Yan Mingde were people she wanted to use for great things. Not only could nothing happen to them, but neither could anything happen to their families.