110 (police officer) should call her "Madam".

"She wants to [do something]?"

"Minister Shen," Emperor Xingwu began slowly, "this matter concerns the very foundation of the nation, and I find it difficult to make a decision in this short time. But what you say is not without merit; things must be done by someone. So, regarding the selection of talent through examinations, I will not make it mandatory; it will be entirely based on voluntary participation from various regions. What do you say?"

This was also the strategy they discussed last night: to take it easy, get started first, and then plan for other things later.

“This…” Shen Suqin pretended to be embarrassed.

"Let's leave it at that for now," Emperor Xingwu said, putting pressure on the nation. "The treasury is depleted, and we can't delay any longer. I've heard that the Shatuo in the north are recruiting soldiers again, and a major battle is probably just around the corner. Everyone, please be vigilant."

Shen Suqin said reluctantly, "Then we will follow His Majesty's decree and leave it entirely to the voluntary consent of each region."

In the eyes of the aristocratic officials present, if it were entirely based on voluntariness, then no one would be willing to make that exception.

Therefore, no one voiced any objection, only saying, "We will obey His Majesty's decree."

But in reality, minor official positions like Salt Commissioner and Land Commissioner, which didn't even have official ranks, were looked down upon by the sons of powerful families. There would definitely be people who would actually recruit people to do the work through examinations for the sake of convenience.

In their view, this is not a matter of sharing power among the poor, but rather finding a dog to do the work.

Having achieved her goal, Shen Suqin remained silent afterward.

Everyone assumed that she was unhappy because her opinion had been rejected.

After the court session, Shen Suqin was left behind alone.

"What's the situation on the Shatuo side?" Shen Suqin asked directly.

She's been busy lately and hasn't been paying much attention to news from there.

"Actually, it's nothing. It's just that Jin'an told me that the new king of Shatuo has recruited several surrounding tribes, and he probably wants to launch another big attack," Shi Ye said.

Shen Suqin was puzzled: "As far as I know, the Shatuo have suffered repeated defeats in recent years and have almost exhausted their forces. Why are they still acting like madmen and insisting on fighting no matter what?"

If it were her, she would definitely take a few years to rest and recuperate, and only talk about fighting when the army is strong and well-equipped.

Shi Ye: "Do you know that the Shatuo royal court was built against the mountain, and the entire country survives on a tiny patch of green land at the foot of Mount Nichijin? But the Shatuo people live by raising sheep, and the grass is getting less and less, while the sand is getting more and more. It is said that once you leave the royal city, you can no longer see any green."

"This isn't a situation that just emerged in the last year or two."

"Indeed, but it is said that the sacred river on Mount Nichijin suddenly dried up starting last autumn. Although it later recovered, the water volume was much less than in previous years."

“Oh,” Shen Suqin suddenly realized, “no wonder they were so crazy last autumn.”

"Therefore, the Shatuo's eastern expedition was inevitable; it was only a matter of time."

Shen Suqin nodded: "We really need to save money. Fortunately, I expanded my cotton and wheat planting this year, so next year we should be able to provide the Black Flag Army with cotton winter clothing. Food rations won't be a problem either; wheat yields are plentiful, enough to eat. But should we send more troops?"

Shi Ye shook his head: "Jin'an said we should wait and see how many soldiers the Shatuo can recruit before deciding whether to recruit any more."

Shen Suqin chuckled: "Is he being so meticulous because he's afraid I can't afford to support him?"

"It shouldn't be. New recruits always need training and adjustment, and he might not be willing to put in the effort."

"That's true. I've fought against Shatuo soldiers before, and they are indeed brutal. It's very difficult for newcomers to survive."

The two chatted smoothly back and forth when Shen Suqin suddenly asked gossipily, "Your Majesty is not young anymore. Is there anyone in the court urging Your Majesty to fill the harem?"

"Cough cough," Shi Ye suddenly choked, "Why are you asking this?"

"Are you curious? His Majesty is quite a handsome man, he should be married and have children." She suddenly stopped, puzzled, "Wait a minute, that's not right. So it's not just you who isn't married. My brother Yan and Master Su are both getting on in years, why aren't they married either?"

She looked up, her eyes wide, and asked curiously, "Why? Do you know?"

Shi Ye avoided her eyes and said, "If you don't want to marry me, then you don't want to marry me. How am I supposed to know?"

"I figured you're all the same, and probably all have the same thoughts, which is why I asked you. Never mind, if you won't tell me, I'll just ask them next time we meet."

Shi Ye remained noncommittal, but he did ask a seemingly random question: "I remember you had a divorce agreement, do you still have it?"

Shen Suqin tilted her head. "Why are you asking this?"

Shi Ye's smile faded: "Gone?"

"Ugh, I tore it."

Shi Ye sat up straight: "Why? Who tore it for you?"

"I tore it myself, why should I? What's the point of asking why?" With that, she stood up. "I'm tired, I need to go back to my residence to rest."

Shi Ye lowered his eyes, waved his hand, and gestured for her to leave.

Because the Three Departments Office had only just begun and there were many miscellaneous matters, Shen Suqin was unable to get away for the time being, so he stayed at the General's Mansion in the capital.

Yuanxiang no longer cares about saving face. She pretends not to see her every day and never looks at her when she comes in or out.

Shen Suqin found it amusing and would occasionally go up and tease the man.

The sun was shining brightly that day. Yuanxiang was drying her books in the courtyard when Shen Suqin walked to the porch, fanning himself, and said slowly, "The General said he's coming back for the Mid-Autumn Festival in a couple of days. Are you happy?"

Yuanxiang paused in turning the pages of her book and asked, "What do you want to hear me say?"

Shen Suqin said, "I don't want to hear it, I'm just telling you. But I'm a little curious, do you think the general knows you like him?"

Regarding this, Shen Suqin tended to believe that Xiao Pingchuan didn't know, since she had observed that the two of them seemed to be talking quite normally when they were in Ningyuan.

Upon hearing this, Yuanxiang's expression suddenly turned grim. She tilted her chin slightly and asked, "What do you think?"

Shen Suqin replied, "I guess he doesn't know."

“You’re wrong, he knows. He knew long before he went south to marry you, I told him myself.”

Shen Suqin was stunned, and after a long while, she asked, "And then?"

"And then you know, right? He refused, but let me stay in the General's Mansion. Even after he found out that I was the one who instigated Zhou Yuan to sow discord between you, he didn't kick me out of the General's Mansion. Instead, he let me come here and even let me live with you." At this point, Yuan Xiang curled her lips into a provocative smile. "Surprised? So now you know why I didn't leave, right?"

Shen Suqin nodded slowly, because Xiao Pingchuan was still giving her hope.

She suddenly remembered telling Yuanxiang that she had slept with her brother Jin'an.

Looking back now, it seems there's nothing to brag about.

Soon, the Mid-Autumn Festival arrived.

Xiao Pingchuan led a dozen or so iron cavalry guards into the city in a grand manner, because His Majesty had personally ordered him to return for the Mid-Autumn Festival to report on his duties.

This time, the city gate of the capital was still wide open, and the iron cavalry rushed in like thunder and lightning, the sound of their hooves could be heard several streets away.

Upon entering the city and reaching the main street, the carriage with the character "沈" (Chen) stopped in the middle of the road.

Xiao Pingchuan smiled as soon as he saw it, led his horse over, stood in front of the carriage, and asked gently, "Zhaozhao, have you come to pick me up?"

After he finished speaking, the carriage curtain remained unopened for a long time.

Xiao Pingchuan was patient enough to ask, "How long have you been waiting?"

As they were speaking, a slender hand rested on the curtain. Xiao Pingchuan's expression changed; it wasn't Shen Suqin's hand.

Then, the curtain was lifted, revealing Yuanxiang's face.

Xiao Pingchuan's face turned cold: "Why is it you?"

“Miss Shen is waiting at home. She asked me to come and pick up the General,” Yuanxiang replied.

Xiao Pingchuan mounted his horse and said, "Call her Madam."

Then he rode away, leaving Yuanxiang alone on the carriage, surrounded by onlookers.

Xiao Pingchuan didn't want to waste a moment, so he rode his horse through the city and headed towards the general's mansion.

As soon as he entered, he shouted, "Zhaozhao, Shen Zhaozhao!"

Shen Suqin walked out from inside, fanning herself, and deliberately asked, "Did you come back alone? Where's Yuanxiang?"

Xiao Pingchuan hadn't yet realized something was wrong and replied, "She's behind me, I thought you were going to pick me up."

Shen Suqin laughed: "Isn't Yuanxiang good?"

"What's good or bad about it?" he said, taking off his cloak and reaching for Chen Suqin's hand.

Shen Suqin avoided him, not letting him hold her hand.

Xiao Pingchuan then realized that something was wrong.

He stopped and asked carefully, "What's wrong?"

Shen Suqin looked at him expressionlessly and said, "Yuan Xiang has been targeting me at every turn. Do you know why?"

"Zhou Yuan likes you. She instigated Zhou Yuan to provoke me. Do you know why?"

"Aunt Jiang always thought she could be your mother-in-law, do you know why?"

"Why?" Xiao Pingchuan asked.

“Because she likes you,” Shen Suqin said, enunciating each word clearly.

Xiao Pingchuan's face went blank for a moment, as if he suddenly couldn't understand human speech.

"What did you say? She likes me? Yuanxiang likes me? What would she do with me? I'm her brother, is she trying to commit incest?"

Shen Suqin: "..."

Xiao Pingchuan seemed genuinely bewildered: "She told you herself?" He then continued, "Of course she did. You're not the kind of person who would care about these things, are you? You believe me? I hadn't been back to Ningyuan for years before you went there. What could she possibly like?"

Shen Suqin: "She said it herself, and she also said that she had already told you, and that you don't mind."

“Of course I mind! Ask her if she would dare say such a thing to my face. She's been in our family since birth, and I've always treated her like a younger sister. Does she not know that?”

"You really never liked her from beginning to end?"

"No."

"You never gave her the wrong impression?"

"I'm not even in the manor, what kind of misconception could I possibly give her?"

Xiao Pingchuan felt he had no way to defend himself, and hurriedly assured, "I really didn't have any other intentions, I swear."

Just as he said this, Yuanxiang returned and stood quietly behind him.

Shen Suqin saw her first. She originally thought that she would mock her with the attitude of a victor, but to her surprise, she looked at her with a pitiful look.

For some reason, Yuanxiang suddenly burst into tears.

The pent-up resentment that had been building up over her for so long suddenly surged through her body. She felt so uncomfortable that she wanted to curl up, but she didn't want to lose face.

She heard Xiao Pingchuan ask, "Or should I send it to a country estate? In this situation, wouldn't it be better to be somewhere far away?"

Shen Suqin didn't reply to him, but instead took a slight step aside and peeked to see Yuanxiang's reaction.

She gently shook her head.

Shen Suqin withdrew her gaze and said, "She doesn't want to go, you can talk to her yourself."

Xiao Pingchuan then realized that Yuan Xiang was also in the room. For the first time, he felt somewhat at a loss and didn't dare to turn around. He earnestly asked Shen Suqin for her opinion in a low voice, "What should I say to her?"

Shen Suqin rolled her eyes at him: "Think for yourself."

After saying that, she left, leaving behind the words, "Make things clear now."

Xiao Pingchuan turned his head and watched her departing figure, sighing silently.