Yinzhen looked at the ministers standing below one by one, his gaze cold and stern, his expression calm and his eyes sharp.

So cold-blooded, yet no one knew what he was thinking—was this guy really already a corrupt official? Would this guy really be stabbed to death by his wife next year after his mistress caused a scene at home? Would this guy really die suddenly from excessive drinking in three years? And this guy, could he really be a spy for the Dzungars?

How much of that strange dream was real?

Yinzhen wasn't sure, but with several more years of experience as emperor, his majesty was now more pronounced, and even his slightest smile was somewhat intimidating.

Even the Thirteenth Prince couldn't help but ask, "Is Your Majesty troubled today?"

Yinzhen glanced back; Thirteen was someone he had deliberately kept behind after court. In the dream, without Qian Shengyan's reminder, the "Yinzhen" naturally didn't examine Thirteen's leg, but he knew how serious Thirteen's leg injury was; the more than ten years of confinement had ultimately taken a toll on his health and spirit.

After sitting down, Yinzhen did not answer Thirteen's question, but instead asked, "How is your leg? Are you still getting acupuncture and hot springs every day?"

"I don't need acupuncture anymore. I'm still taking medicinal baths every day as instructed by the imperial physician," Thirteen said with a smile. "Even He Hui complained that I smelled like medicine when she saw me yesterday."

"That's good then. Continue with the soaking." Yinzhen nodded, then instructed Su Peisheng, "Go and invite Imperial Physician Liu."

Thirteen was unaware that this Imperial Physician Liu had been invited for him. To reassure his elder brother, he jumped up and down a couple of times and said with a smile, "It's really all better now."

Yinzhen didn't believe him. In his dream, even with such a large hole in the thirteenth prince's knee, he could still insist on carrying out his duties without uttering a sound. Yinzhen had to have the imperial physician examine him again before he would feel at ease.

Speaking of He Hui... Yinzhen felt very sorry for the thirteenth prince. In his dream, he sincerely chose a consort for He Hui and married her to a member of the Borjigit clan. However, He Hui passed away very early, only one year after the thirteenth prince. At that time, she was not even twenty years old.

Yinzhen sighed deeply. Although he didn't know whether the dream was real or not, he felt it was an ominous sign and decided to find a different husband for Hehui.

While waiting for Judge Liu, Yinzhen discussed matters concerning the Grand Council with the Thirteenth Prince.

In his dream, he only thought of establishing the Grand Council in the sixth year of Yongzheng's reign, but at that time, the thirteenth prince's health was already very poor, yet he still insisted on handling affairs. Now, it's almost two years earlier, and Yinzhen wants to establish the Grand Council and the Examination Hall together, one to handle important military affairs and the other to manage financial transactions.

In his dream, he had no one to rely on. Both the Examination Hall and the Military Affairs Office were put under Thirteen's management. Thirteen was foolish; he worked himself to the bone until he vomited blood without uttering a word of refusal.

Now that Yinzhen knows who is useful and who is good at using things, although the dream cannot be completely trusted, it can still be used as a reference. He and the Thirteenth Prince don't need to work so hard. It would be better if they could both live a long and healthy life.

After discussing the establishment of the Grand Council for a while, Imperial Physician Liu arrived. Yinzhen asked him to take the Thirteenth Prince's pulse and examined his leg on the spot. Seeing that he was indeed alright, Yinzhen was relieved. Imperial Physician Liu also confirmed that after this period of treatment, the Thirteenth Prince's leg ailment had improved significantly.

Imperial Physician Liu took Yinzhen's pulse again and, seeing that Yinzhen was still weak and feverish, said nothing more, intending only to report to the Imperial Noble Consort later.

Throughout the entire Forbidden City, the only person who advised the Emperor to consume less heaty food and drink more Coptis chinensis water was the Imperial Noble Consort.

Meanwhile, the Imperial Noble Consort was using a pillow to support her lower back, struggling to control her writing as she copied a new memorial.

As for this "Secretariat," Yinzhen has given it a new name, "Palace Administration Department." Qian Shengyan thinks it's quite good. Fairness and impartiality are indeed very important in handling matters in the harem. She would never dare to employ anyone who would discriminate based on personal connections.

It was dusk when the memorial was finished. A messenger from the Hall of Mental Cultivation came to say that the Emperor invited the Imperial Noble Consort to have dinner at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Qian Shengyan was really annoyed. After all that trouble yesterday, she felt uncomfortable sitting for long periods today, and she still had to walk a few miles... She needed both of her legs to be able to work properly!

I'm still shivering.

Yesterday, I don't know what happened to Yinzhen. It was as if he hadn't had sex in years. Even when she was resting, he wouldn't let her be idle. Qian Shengyan couldn't pull his hand away, and crying and begging were useless. It had been many years since he had been this crazy.

She stood up, supporting her lower back, and leaned most of her weight on Qingxue. After taking a few steps, she remembered something—she hadn't used contraception.

Forget it, it probably won't be that much of a coincidence.

Qian Shengyan was too lazy to walk back and planned to eat in the evening, but who knew that Yinzhen was in such a high mood that he asked her to stay in the Yangxin Hall to rest. The two of them had another tiff before going to sleep.

When Qian Shengyan couldn't hold back any longer, she cried and asked Yinzhen, "Does Your Majesty no longer care about health?"

Yinzhen replied, "It has already been raised."

He did try to raise him, he rested and recuperated in his dreams for eight or nine years, but it was all for naught. He was destined to die young, so it's better to seize the day while the opportunity is right.

He had lived through so many years, but Qian Shengyan hadn't! After two days of living like the dead, Qian Shengyan really didn't want to see him. On the third night, without waiting for the people from Yangxin Hall to come, she took a sedan chair and went to play cards with Geng Shi and the others. She didn't return until midnight after dinner.

However, he was still caught by Yinzhen, who was waiting in Yongshou Palace.

Day after day, Qian Shengyan could no longer contain herself: "Your Majesty, shouldn't it be time to bring in new concubines to the harem?"

Yinzhen's lips moved away from her neck, and he spoke gently, but his words chilled her to the bone: "No, I only want you."

Qian Shengyan: ...

If she doesn't live to the age of over eighty, like Empress Xiaoshengxian in history, then it must be because of that dog emperor, Yinzhen!

Fortunately, Yinzhen only had a few days of free time. A few days later, the Grand Council and the Examination Hall of the previous dynasty were established together. He and the Thirteenth Prince were busy running around. In the inner palace, they also began to select and recruit female officials for the Palace Affairs Department from among the palace maids.

Becoming a female official not only meant a higher salary, but also the title of "official," attracting a large number of applicants, but they were quickly turned away due to the stringent requirements.

Those who can read and write, and can do arithmetic, and those who have experience in managing palace affairs will be given priority. If all else fails, exceptionally outstanding candidates may be given lenient terms.

...Putting everything else aside, just the ability to read and do math is something that very few people can achieve.

Qian Shengyan had no choice but to ask Yinzhen to find a female tutor. They started a vigorous literacy campaign among the palace maids and the Imperial Household Department. At the same time, the first batch of candidates for the Palace Affairs Department were also selected.

Yinzhen allocated the main hall of Jingren Palace to the Palace Administration Office as their workspace. Initially, Qian Shengyan refused, feeling that Jingren Palace was a proper palace, and a small room in the back of the office would suffice. However, Yinzhen inexplicably insisted, leaving Qian Shengyan with no choice but to agree.