The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

When only Shen Tianjiao and Qiong Niang were left in the hall, Qiong Niang asked, "What do you think about Zuo Beichen entering the palace?"

Shen Tianjiao shook her head, slumped in the recliner, and said, "I don't know either. I always feel that Zuo Beichen is no ordinary person. If I don't keep him by my side, I won't feel at ease. If I keep him by my side, I'm afraid he will be difficult to control and do something earth-shattering. Then it will be difficult to deal with it."

Qiong Niang lowered her head and thought for a long time before she spoke: "Now it's too late to back down. If I don't let him enter the palace, I won't be able to explain to Wang Yunzhi."

"How about this, put him next to me. Although I can't guarantee that I can keep an eye on him, at least if I have him in front of me, I think he will be hesitant and won't dare to cause trouble openly."

"Well, okay, I just want you to work harder. Your body hasn't recovered yet, so you have to pay more attention and not be careless." Shen Tianjiao closed her eyes and said lazily, "Why are there so many things to do every day? I'm exhausted!"

Since she came here, Shen Tianjiao has never had a moment of rest. Things have been happening one after another, and she has to use her brain and be cunning. She has never been so tired in her previous life combined.

"It's not easy to accomplish great things." Qiong Niang handed the brewed tea to Shen Tianjiao. "This is the tea Dongyang mixed. He said it can enhance your physical strength. Drink it and go to sleep for a while. You shouldn't have any worries today."

Shen Tianjiao picked up the tea, took a sip and fell into a daze again. Seeing this, Qiong Niang knew that she was worried about Li Muyang again.

"Cui Yi has always been a man of integrity. He's never been one to associate with the powerful, form cliques, or even take sides. I don't think it's a problem for Mu'er to study with him."

"I know. I'm not worried about Cui Yi. I'm worried about Wang Yunzhi and the person standing behind him." Shen Tianjiao put down the cup in her hand. "Cui Yi has long since retired to his hometown. He has been closed to visitors for many years. Countless princes, noble families, poor students, and even old friends have visited him, hoping to become his disciples or ask for his guidance, but he has refused them all and ignored them all."

"But now Wang Yunzhi has asked him to return to the capital, and he is teaching the Empress's legitimate son. Considering the timing, he probably didn't even try to refuse and agreed to return to the capital."

"Wang Yunzhi easily accomplished something that others had tried their best to accomplish. Why? Whose favor did Cui Yi agree to do this time?"

"Our Shen family is a family of military honors, and we have never had much contact with a family of poetry, literature, and etiquette like the Cui family. So now there is only one possibility. Cui Yi's willingness to agree this time must have a lot to do with that person."

"I just can't figure out what that person's purpose is in approaching me so hard. Is she unwilling to give up and covet that position, wanting to take back the throne that rightfully belongs to her? Or is there something else she's up to?"

"I don't believe she has suffered so much injustice over the years, and yet she doesn't have any resentment in her heart, and can still let go of the past."

"Although I've never met her in person, it's not hard to guess that she's an ambitious person. Could such a person be willing to be trapped in that small world for the rest of her life, wasting time until she dies?"

"The situation in the capital is getting increasingly muddy. The future is unclear, and it's hard to distinguish between friends and foes. If this continues, I'm worried that before the enemy even invades, we'll be torn apart by power struggles."

Shen Tianjiao's words made Qiong Niang fall into deep thought. After all, she was thinking too simply. How could a woman like Li Zhaohui be willing to live her whole life in obscurity?

The things in front of her were like a tangled mess. She couldn't find a clue and if she couldn't sort it out, she wouldn't be able to unravel the truth. Shen Tianjiao only felt chest tightness, shortness of breath and headache.

"Why don't I go to Anguo Temple and find a chance to contact that person, maybe I can find out some clues?" Qiong Niang was also confused now, this was the only solution she could think of.

Shen Tianjiao shook her head and refused. "No, it's too risky. That person was imprisoned for many years, but he was still able to reach out to the previous dynasty. Zhou Dehai is an example. A former chief eunuch who had fallen out of favor and had his power taken away, yet he inexplicably appeared in Zhenghe Hall. You can imagine what he means."

"It is still unknown how many officials in the court are her followers. Wang Yunzhi is just one of them."

"Wang Yunzhi, Prime Minister Wang, is the head of all officials. He commands the support of all in the court. Even people like her are willing to serve under her orders. You can only imagine how much conflict is hidden within the court today."

"So, we must now build up our own power. The Marquis of Zhenbei is the leader of the military commanders, and the generals of Yunli Kingdom naturally follow his lead. However, most of the civil officials listen to Wang Yunzhi. What we lack now is a civil official who can stabilize the court."

"Most of the civil servants in the court today come from aristocratic families. There are very few students from poor backgrounds. For children from poor families to become officials in the court, it is almost impossible. Many of them are obviously talented but are suppressed by these children from aristocratic families. They have ambitions but cannot realize them. Therefore, now in the court, we can only hear the voices of those aristocratic families arguing for their own interests, but cannot hear the voices of the common people. This is sad and a drawback."

Qiong Niang herself was born into an aristocratic family. She knew very well that although there were some young men from aristocratic families who had real knowledge and talents, most of them had only risen to power with the protection of their ancestors. These people had no real ability to help the country, but they were gifted in framing loyal and good people and eliminating dissidents. They had learned it by themselves and committed many evil deeds.

Even a woman living in the inner court of the imperial palace knew that the foundation of a nation did not come from these aristocratic families, but from the people of the world. Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Such a simple truth, yet those so-called wise men didn't understand it, or perhaps it should be said that they simply didn't want to understand.

Shen Tianjiao pondered in silence. She understood what Qiong Niang meant. If she wanted to build up her power in the court, she could not rely solely on military generals. Military generals could go to the battlefield to defend against the enemy and expel the invading enemies, and could even expand the territory and make other countries surrender. However, there were many things that they really could not do, and they still needed those civil officials to do them.

The current court officials in the court each have their own camps and their own family interests behind them. They are not easy to be conquered and used by one's own people. Even if they can be used by one's own people, the disadvantages will outweigh the advantages. It will be fine if nothing goes wrong. Once something goes wrong, the forces behind them will be implicated, which will definitely become a weapon to put oneself to death.

The best way now is to open a special examination and use the imperial examination to promote those poor scholars with real talents and knowledge to serve for one's own benefit.

These scholars from humble backgrounds are not from aristocratic families, and they do not have huge forces or complicated relationships behind them. Once they enter the court as officials, they can only look up to and rely on themselves, and such people will be loyal.

This was feasible, but it would be difficult to implement. The Enlightenment Examination was held every three years, and it didn't make sense to hold it again this year after it had just been held last year. Furthermore, Yunli's examination system prioritized aristocratic families, and there were quotas. Therefore, if all students were to have a fair and just chance to participate in the examination, there would have to be a struggle, and the price of that struggle was something he couldn't afford at the moment.

The more Shen Tianjiao thought about it, the more her headache became, as if it was about to explode. She felt like she had fallen into a deep abyss and the more she struggled, the deeper she sank.

Seeing Shen Tianjiao start to hold her forehead, Qiong Niang knew that she had a headache, so she hurried forward to give her a massage.

Shen Tianjiao had never suffered from any headache despite encountering so many difficult and thorny things in her previous life. Not long after she came back from her new life, she got this torturous headache, which shows how annoying the government affairs in the court are.

"Don't worry, everything will be solved eventually. There's no need to rush. What we lack most now is people." Qiong Niang's plan to cultivate useful talents has just begun, but there are not enough people around her.

"I'm not in a hurry, but I'm afraid that others will be anxious. If I can't take the initiative, I will be controlled and led by the nose." Shen Tianjiao is a person who likes to take the initiative. She doesn't like to be controlled by others in everything.

Qiong Niang sighed softly. The situation in the court was complicated now and anything could happen. If they didn't have a way to deal with it, they would definitely be the ones who suffered in the end.

"Mu'er, you are the one who arranges the study. If it can't be in the palace, then it will have to be outside the palace." Shen Tianjiao could not find any reason to refuse Cui Yi from being Li Muyang's teacher. After all, she was the one who brought up this matter first. No matter what the other party's purpose was, she could only take it one step at a time for the time being.

"Don't go too frequently. Once every five days is enough. Send some reliable people to follow and tell them to stay close to Mu'er and not leave his side."

"Yes, I know. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything." Qiong Niang massaged Shen Tianjiao's head and comforted her, saying, "The Qinghe Cui family is a prominent family and a home of great Confucian scholars. Cui Yi himself is a highly respected and elegant man with a gentlemanly demeanor. I'm sure he wouldn't use Mu'er to do anything dirty."

"Don't have the intention to harm others, but be wary of them." Shen Tianjiao will never forget the painful lesson of her past life, and she will never, and dare not, make the same mistake again in this life. "It's always right to be cautious in everything you do."

"That's right. I will arrange people. If it doesn't work, I will go with you in person. I can also meet Cui Yi in person. Maybe I can get some information from him." Qiong Niang is now much braver than before. She is no longer the one who was imprisoned in the deep palace and could only stand behind a man.

"You want to take the opportunity to leave the palace and play outside." Shen Tianjiao joked with Qiong Niang with a smile, "Oh, you can see it all." Qiong Niang also responded to Shen Tianjiao with the same joke.

Shen Tianjiao reached out and held Qiong Niang's hand, and whispered, "Be careful in everything you do. Nothing is more important than your life. No matter what happens, you must put your own safety first."

"Yes, I know." Qiong Niang held Shen Tianjiao's hand with her backhand. The two of them were now like lonely wanderers in the sea, and they needed to rely on each other to survive.

Shen Tianjiao called Li Muyang over and told him that he would soon leave the palace to become Cui Yi's disciple, and also reminded him of some things he should pay attention to.

Originally, Shen Tianjiao thought that Li Muyang would be reluctant given his personality, but unexpectedly, the little guy was much more excited than she expected.

"Are you so happy about leaving the palace to study?" Looking at Li Muyang who was about to jump for joy, Shen Tianjiao felt that this child finally looked like a child.

"Yes." Li Muyang nodded heavily, looking at Shen Tianjiao and said, "My mother-in-law said that only if my son studies hard and becomes a sensible person can he protect me. My queen, I am willing to study hard with Master Cui. I am not afraid of any hardship or fatigue. I want to grow up to be a man who can stand tall and proud, and protect you and everyone around you."

At this moment, the little child's eyes were shining with determination, which made people feel soft-hearted.

"Well, mother believes that my son will become a man of great ability in the future. He will protect me and everyone you want to protect." Shen Tianjiao hugged Li Muyang in her arms. This child is really growing up.

"Mother, are you crying?" Li Muyang, who sensed Shen Tianjiao's emotional change, asked in a low voice in Shen Tianjiao's ear.

"No, mother didn't cry." Shen Tianjiao sniffed, straightened up and looked at Li Muyang and said, "Mother, I'm happy. Mu'er has grown up."

"Of course I've grown up. I'll be an adult in the future and can help my mother do many things." Li Muyang looked at Shen Tianjiao with bright eyes, as if he was already an adult.

"Okay, go find Sister Dongyang and ask her to get you some pastries." Shen Tianjiao patted Li Muyang's head and watched him go to Dongyang to ask for pastries.

"Master." Chunchao presented the prepared cakes to Shen Tianjiao. After Shen Tianjiao looked at them, she nodded with satisfaction and instructed, "Go to the warehouse and get some more high-quality donkey-hide gelatin and wild ginseng and send them over."

"Yes, I'll get it right away." Chunchao handed the things in her hand to the people beside her, looked at Shen Tianjiao and asked, "Master, do you have any other instructions?"

Shen Tianjiao shook her head and said, "No, go ahead. Remember to serve Aunt Yuhu well. No matter what she needs, you must satisfy her. Also, don't forbid Mu'er from contacting her. If Mu'er is willing to stay with her, let her stay with her."

"Yes, I understand, slave."